Grab a screwdriver, wire strippers, and your two-wire cord. You’ll also want a new 3-prong plug—they cost about the same as a cup of coffee, and you can’t drink bad wiring. Oh, and a voltage tester if you want to live to tell the tale. Trust me, electricity has no sense of humor.
Strip about half an inch of insulation off each wire. If your cord is like mine—old, dusty, and prone to shedding bits of rubber—you might end up with a few curse words for every inch. That’s normal. Just keep your wire strippers at the right setting, or you’ll nick the copper, and then you’ll be starting over.
The “Which Wire Is Which?” Mystery
Standard two-wire lamp cord has one ribbed side and one smooth side. The ribbed side is neutral (the wider prong on a plug), and the smooth side is hot (the narrower prong). If you mix them up, your lamp will still light, but you might feel a tiny tingle when you touch the metal—like a static shock from a bad joke. Don’t risk it. Mark the smooth wire with a piece of tape if you need to.
Now, open your 3-prong plug. You’ll see three screws: one brass or gold (hot), one silver (neutral), and one green (ground). Green is for grounding, not for jealousy—though your appliance might be jealous of that new plug. Since you have no ground wire, you’ll leave that green screw empty.
How to Wire a 3 Pin Plug with 2 Wires in Australia: A Step-by-Step Guide
