How to Replace an Electrical Plug in a Refrigerator

Common refrigerators operate on 120-volt, 20-amp circuits. Refrigerators today generally plug into a dedicated circuit, with the outlet behind the refrigerator. To prevent the plug from holding the refrigerator too far out from the wall, it is a good idea to replace the plug with a right angle plug.

Step 1

Unplug the refrigerator.

Step 2

Cut the old plug off the cord using a wire cutters. Cut as close as possible to the plug, right behind the knurled strain relief rubber. Cut the wire, not the strain relief.

Step 3

Remove the two screws from the prong side of the right angle plug. These screws will typically be below the plug’s prongs.

Step 4

Pry the plastic cap off the side of the plug with the prongs to reveal the terminal screws beside each prong.

Step 5

Pull apart the three wires of the refrigerator cord so that they are separated for about 3 inches.

Step 6

Strip 3/4 inch of the covering from each wire at their ends using the wire strippers.

Step 7

Connect the middle wire of the cord to the ground prong terminal. This prong is U-shaped. Loosen the terminal screw, wrap the stripped part of the wire clockwise around the screw, and tighten the screw so that it holds the wire firmly in place beneath it.

Step 8

Connect each of the other wires to the other two terminals next to the flat prongs. Loosen the terminal screws, wrap the stripped part of the wires clockwise around the screws, and tighten the screws so that they hold the wires firmly in place beneath them.

Step 9

Lay the wires into the cradle at the base of the plug.

Step 10

Slide the cap removed in Step 4 back onto the plug, fitting it over the prongs and bringing it down against the wires going into the plug.

Step 11

Install the two screws removed from the plug in Step 3.

Step 12

Push the plug into the outlet.