Leviton 2-Pole, 3 Wire Grounding Plug, 3W101-E, Black

Why I reached for this plug

A damaged plug is the kind of minor failure that can send an otherwise solid tool or appliance to the landfill. In my shop, that’s not acceptable. I keep a small kit for exactly these moments, and a simple, reliable replacement plug is the heart of it. The Leviton plug has become my go-to for restoring extension cords, shop vacs, and small appliances that have lost a blade, scorched a tip, or simply worn out from years of use.

This is a standard NEMA 5-15, 2-pole/3-wire grounding plug—the everyday 120V, 15A household style most of us use by the dozen. It’s built around a hinged body that speeds assembly, and a self-adjusting cord grip that plays nicely with a range of cable sizes. The headline for me is straightforward: it’s quick to install, holds the conductors securely, and creates a robust connection that inspires confidence.

Design and build

• Hinged housing: The two halves swing open like a clamshell, which means no juggling separate pieces or losing a screw mid-assembly. The hinge also helps keep everything aligned as you route the cord and close it back up.
• Terminals: Brass hot, silver neutral, green ground—clearly marked. The screws are sized right, with threads that bite cleanly and don’t feel soft. That’s not always a given on budget plugs.
• Cord grip: The built-in “auto” grip is the standout feature. Instead of a traditional two-screw clamp, this one cinches down as you close the housing and tighten the body screws. I found it distributed pressure evenly and didn’t deform the cord jacket.
• Materials: The black body feels rigid and dense, not brittle. I’ve dropped it on concrete and it shrugged it off. The blades are straight and true, with good alignment.
• Rating: NEMA 5-15. If you’re servicing anything that draws up to 15 amps on a standard 120V circuit, you’re in the right territory.

It’s a utilitarian design with no frills, and that’s the point. Nothing flashy, just a robust little block that does its job.

Installation experience

On the bench, I used it to replace the plug on a contractor-grade 14/3 SJT extension cord and later on a well-used shop vac with a 16/3 cord. Start to finish, each install took well under 10 minutes without rushing.

Here’s how it went:

1. Cut off the damaged plug cleanly and square.
2. Strip back the outer jacket—about an inch is plenty—being careful not to nick the insulation on the conductors.
3. Strip a short length of insulation on each conductor (about 3/8").
4. Open the hinged body, route the cord through, and seat each conductor on its color-coded terminal: hot (black) to brass, neutral (white) to silver, ground (green) to green.
5. Tighten the terminal screws firmly. Give each wire a tug. If it moves, it’s not tight enough.
6. Close the housing, making sure the jacket sits properly in the grip channel.
7. Tighten the body screws evenly.

The self-adjusting cord grip is excellent. On the 16/3 cord, it snugged down perfectly with no jacket pinching. On the 14/3 cord (slightly thicker), I had to guide the jacket into the cradle while closing the body, but once tightened, it was solid. With 12/3, expect a tight fit—it’s within the stated grip range, but you’ll want to be extra careful with jacket placement.

One note: this plug is intended for 3-conductor cables. It’s not a good choice for two-wire lamp cord; there’s no place for a ground, and the grip geometry is designed for round, jacketed cords like SJ/SJT.

In use and performance

The real test is how it holds up under load and day-to-day handling. On the shop vac, I ran cleanup sessions with repeated starts and stops—no wiggle, no warmth at the plug face, and no signs of strain at the cord entry. On the extension cord, I used it to power a 12A heat gun and an angle grinder. The plug stayed cool to the touch and sat securely in both wall outlets and power strips.

Fit and footprint are worth calling out. This replacement plug is bulkier than a molded factory plug, which is normal for field-installable designs. It still fits standard duplex receptacles and most cord-end spaces just fine, but if you’re plugging into a recessed outlet or a very tight power strip, expect a slightly prouder profile.

Grounding is straightforward and reliable. If your original plug is missing the ground pin, or if you’ve been tempted by cheap two-prong replacements, do yourself a favor and use a proper 3-wire grounded plug like this. Polarity and grounding matter, especially for metal-bodied tools.

Where it shines

• Repairing heavy-use cords: Shop vacs, compressors, heaters, and contractor-grade extension cords. The grip holds up to tugging and dragging in a way that cheaper plugs don’t.
• Quick field fixes: The hinged design genuinely speeds assembly, especially when you’re kneeling in a garage or working from the tailgate of a truck.
• Clean, secure terminations: The screws and terminal layout make it easy to get a tight, correct connection even if you’re not an electrician.

Limitations and caveats

• Not weatherproof: It’s not a sealed or “in-use” outdoor plug. If your application lives outdoors or near constant moisture, use a weather-resistant, gasketed connector or protect the plug in a proper in-use cover. I’ve used it for equipment that occasionally sees outdoor duty, but only where the plug stays dry.
• Bulkier than molded ends: It’s compact as field-replaceable plugs go, but still bigger than a low-profile right-angle molded plug. If clearance behind furniture or in recessed boxes is critical, consider a low-profile replacement instead.
• Not for two-wire cords: It’s designed for 3-conductor SJ/SJT cables. For light-duty lamp cords, pick a two-prong replacement with a proper strain relief made for flat cord.
• Standard 15A only: This is a NEMA 5-15. If you need a 20A plug (NEMA 5-20), this isn’t it.

Tips for a solid install

• Use a proper wire stripper to avoid nicking copper. A nicked conductor can break later under strain.
• Keep the stripped lengths short and tidy; no copper should be visible beyond the terminals.
• Route the jacket into the grip channel before closing the housing. The strain relief should clamp the jacket, not the individual conductors.
• After assembly, give the cord a firm pull at the entry and an overall visual onceover. A $10 outlet tester is an inexpensive way to confirm correct polarity and ground continuity.

Value

Replacing a plug is almost always the most cost-effective way to save a damaged cord or tool. This one hits a sweet spot: priced right, built well, and fast to install. I appreciate that it doesn’t try to be all things—it’s a straightforward, durable 5-15 plug that covers 90% of the repair scenarios I see.

The “one-pack” format is fine for occasional users; if you’re doing multiple repairs, it’s worth keeping a couple on hand. The black color helps it disappear visually on most cords, and it looks tidy and professional once installed.

Alternatives to consider

• Weather-resistant connectors for permanent outdoor use, with gaskets and compression seals.
• Right-angle, low-profile replacement plugs for tight spaces behind furniture or appliances.
• Heavier-duty industrial plugs if you’re regularly pushing the top of the 15A range in rough environments.

The Leviton plug sits right in the middle: everyday durability, quick assembly, and compatibility with common SJ/SJT cords from 18 to 12 AWG.

Bottom line

I keep this plug in my repair kit because it makes quick, reliable work of a common problem. The hinged design reduces fuss, the terminals are confidence-inspiring, and the self-adjusting strain relief does its job without chewing up the jacket. It’s not weatherproof, and it’s a touch bulkier than molded ends, but those are expected trade-offs for a field-serviceable plug.

Recommendation: I recommend this plug for anyone who needs to fix standard 120V cords on tools, appliances, and extension cords and wants a durable, easy-to-install solution. If you’re working in wet environments, need ultra-low-profile clearance, or are dealing with two-wire lamp cord, choose a more specialized alternative. For everything else, this is the dependable, no-drama fix I reach for first.