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When the outlet is more than 40 feet away, or when you are operating 2 or more tools from it.

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Q: When should you use a 10 gauge Extension Cord or a 12 gauge Extension Cord in construction?
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What can I do about new Friedrich air conditioner's cord which is 2 feet too short looks ugly in reaching outlet does a 9' extension cord risk harming the unit violate the warranty?

I don't know about the warranty, but the unit will run fine using an extension cord IF you buy one that is heavy-duty. Look for a cord that is 12 gauge or even 10 gauge. If you use a 14, 16, or 18 gauge cord (these may be too small), the unit could be damaged.


A gauge 14 extension cord can safely carry 15 A What will happen if several appliances drawing a total current of 18 A will be connected to it?

A 14 gauge extension cord can safely carry 15 amps, but not very far. Number 14 gauge extension cords are only rated for about 13 amps according to the labels on the cord. This is because the insulation is not intended to withstand the heat of currents above this level. Running this cord over 50 feet or loading it to 18 amps would be unacceptable.The likelihood of the cord maintaining the 18 amps for any amount of time for the high current to do any damage to the insulation of the cord is not very great. Extension cords are only an extension of the 15 amp wall circuit that they are plugged into. On overloading the extension cord by that amount the overload will trip the 15 amp supply breaker. An example of this is jamming a circular handsaw when it is plugged into the end of a 50 foot extension cord. The next action that is taken is to reset the tripped breaker.


Who invented the first electrical extension cord?

The extension cord was invented in 1904 by S. W. Atherton, an American inventor and electrical engineer.


How do you re-wire an extension cord green white black?

You can rewire your extension cord by replacing the existing wire with green, black and white wires. In most situations it is safer and cheaper to buy a new extention cord.


How do ibidentify the wire of an extension cord two wires?

It depends on the extension cord but I will give you 2 ways and they are each very simple. On a residential type (what I call a house burner) extension cord with just 2 conductors, you will find that the jacket of one wire is smooth and the other one has ridges. The one with ridges is your neutral or white conductor. On a more commercial type extension cord with conductors covered by a protective jacket, your conductors in the cord will be color-coded, with black being hot, white being neutral and green or bare being ground.

Related questions

Does a long extension cord draw more power than a short extension cord?

No. However, a longer extension cord has higher resistance for a given wire gauge or size compared to a short extension cord and the voltage at the load device may drop so low that it doesn't work properly. This may also be accompanied by a noticeable rise in the temperature of the extension cord. As a rule, use the shortest extension cord that will get the job done. If the extension cord must be long, use one that has heavy gauge wire to minimize voltage drop at the load.


How long can you run an electric extension cord?

It depends on the gauge of the wire, the length and the total current draw of the appliances. You said "heavy duty outdoor extension cord" so I'll assume 12 gauge wire. You can run a MAXIMUM of 20 amps for a MAXIMUM of 100 Ft on that wire. If the current draw goes up, so should the wire size. If the distance goes up, so should the wire size. 10 Ga wire - 30 amps for 100 Ft.


Why is the voltage at the end of a long extension lead used with an electric drill less than the mains supply voltage?

Resistance in the length of wire that makes up the extension cord causes voltage to drop. But it needn't be a problem with the right extension cord. For an electric drill, up to a 25 foot cord of 16 gauge wire will cause a voltage drop so small as to be negligible. For 50 feet, switch to a 14 gauge cord. For heavier power tools (circular saw in particular) you should use a 14 gauge extension from the get-go.


What cords do you need to power a TV?

Any extension cord that has the capacity to carry the amperage that the TV draws. Any extension cord that the hardware store sell will be sufficient to do the job.


Can the cord on an electric heater be lengthened?

Yes, but with a heavier gauge wire <<>> If the cord on an electric heater needs to be lengthened as a perminant feature then the whole cord should be replaced with a new cord of the same type and wire size. What this prevents is aquiring bad splice connections at the point the connection is made. Bad splice connections will create hot spots in the cable. If the lengthening of the cord is just a temporary fix, just use an extension cord. The extension cord should be the same wire size as the heater cord. Keep the extension cord under 20 feet in length.


What size extension cord should you use for your 120 volt 1725 watt iron?

#16 <<>> To load an extension cord to 1725 watts depending on the length of the cord, the bare minimum should be #14. A better size cord and my recommendation would be a #12 wire size extension cord.


Is it acceptable by OSHA to plug an extension cord into another extension cord-?

You can plug an extension cord into another extension cord. A extension cord is to help make doing something easier.


Extension Cord?

form_title= Extension Cord form_header= Install extension cords in your office. What size extension cord do you need?*= _ [50] What color extension cord do you need?*= _ [50] Do you need a 3 prong extension cord?*= () Yes () No


What can I do about new Friedrich air conditioner's cord which is 2 feet too short looks ugly in reaching outlet does a 9' extension cord risk harming the unit violate the warranty?

I don't know about the warranty, but the unit will run fine using an extension cord IF you buy one that is heavy-duty. Look for a cord that is 12 gauge or even 10 gauge. If you use a 14, 16, or 18 gauge cord (these may be too small), the unit could be damaged.


How many watts will a 14 gauge extension cord handle?

Assuming that the extension cord is plugged into a normal household receptacle rated at 15 amps the cord will handle 15A x 120V = 1800 watts. If the cord is of any length, at that wattage, you will feel the cord start to get warm like a heating cable.


Can you connect a 6 outlet power bar to an extension cord?

There are several variables:First and most important, what will be the current draw? If the total number of amps exceeds the rating of either the power strip or the extension cord you're creating a fire hazard.Second, the wire gauge and length of the extension are important. You will loose voltage over distance and that is a function of the current draw, wire type and wire gauge. If you're trying to run 20 amps, don't use any less than a 12 gauge extension cord up to a maximum of 100 Ft. 15 amps, minimum 14 gauge.


Can a microwave be plugged into an extension cord?

Yes, as long as the extension cord is rated for the load. Most microwave ovens use 1000W or more, some less. A standard two wire extension cord would be unsafe. There are, however, extension cords which have the proper gauge of wire and the necessary 3-prong outlets which a microwave would need to operate safely.