Have an AC motor with bare wire leads

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
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It pulls 0.5A at 120V (nominal). The two leads have black insulation. Does it matter what the polarity is, and is it safe to insert the bare leads into an electrical socket?

I'm sorely tempted.
 

Jesusthewererabbit

Senior member
Mar 20, 2008
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If I recall correctly, most 120 motors will turn the same way no matter which is your hot and which is the neutral, so it shouldn't matter. I wouldn't recommend plugging it straight into the wall, but it can be done. You should find an old extension cord and splice that on there so you at least have the plug to plug in.
 

Loreena

Senior member
Oct 30, 2008
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Chop the cord off something and wirenut it up. You can stick wires in an outlet but the motor will probably twist and something bad will happen.
 

Elstupido

Senior member
Jan 28, 2008
643
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Take the incoming black wire and wrap it around the green screw of the motor. Polarity will not matter, in this case.
 

Sphexi

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2005
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Go to Radioshack, pay $1 or so for a standard AC two prong cord with bare leads, voila.
 

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
11
81
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Originally posted by: Howard
OK, so it is safe to put the bare wires into the socket?

Oh boy

Are you 8 yrs old and they don't teach science up there?
I'm smart enough to ask before doing something with potentially damaging consequences, unlike a certain person I know of.