As professional holiday decorators, one of the most indispensable items in our toolkit is the slide-on plug, often referred to as zip plugs or vampire plugs. Our toolkits are consistently stocked with hundreds of these practical plugs. We rely on them so heavily that we can hardly remember a time when we managed without them.
Nowadays, slide-on male and female plugs are used not only by expert installers but also by numerous Christmas enthusiasts who have come to appreciate these valuable tools. We sell tens of thousands annually to homeowners who can't imagine the holiday season without them.
Slide-on plugs enable installers to create custom extension cords. The cord itself, known as zip cord, is available in either 250′ or 1,000′ spools. You simply measure the required length, cut it, and attach a male plug to one end and a female plug to the other. Although the ability to create your own cords is a major advantage, the benefits don't end there. By adding an inline female plug, you can have multiple female outlets along the cord, not just at the end. Having multiple inline females is extremely useful for various lighting applications like canopy and hedge lighting, as well as many perimeter lighting setups.
Let's delve into the straightforward process of installing a slide-on plug:
Step 1: Cut the zip cord. Do not remove the insulation from the wire.
Step 2: Detach the backslider from the plug.
Step 3: Insert the zip cord into the plug, ensuring the tip is fully inserted into the end channel. Ensure the ribbed side of the zip is on the right side to maintain correct polarity (ribbed side aligns with the larger plug blade). Bend the zip to make contact with the two sharp prongs.
Step 4: Reattach the back cover onto the plug.
Looking to purchase slide-on male and female plugs or zip cord? Click the link below to visit our electrical accessories page:
Vampire Slide-On Males and Females and Zip Cord
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