What type of extension cord should you buy?
With a solid power rating and durable construction, this cord can safely handle any job around a home or garage. Plus, it’s the most flexible cord we’ve tested, even in freezing temps. *At the time of publishing, the price was $75. If you buy only one extension cord, we recommend the U.S. Wire & Cable 50 FT. Extreme All-Weather Extension Cord.
Does Lowes sell extension cords?
Extension cords let you run power wherever you need it. At Lowe's, you can choose from indoor, general purpose or outdoor extension cords for household, workshop, industrial and landscape use, in 1/2-foot to 100-foot lengths.
Can extension cords be returned?
Yes, Extension Cords can be returned and have a 90-Day return period. What are the shipping options for Extension Cords? All Extension Cords can be shipped to you at home. What are a few brands that you carry in Extension Cords?
How many amps can a 50 foot extension cord handle?
For home use, a 50-foot extension cord with a 12-gauge wire thickness offers the best in portability and power. A 12-gauge, 50-foot wire can handle 15 amps, which matches most residential breakers and many older fuses. These breakers prevent overloaded circuits by cutting the power if you try to draw more than 15 A.
How long can an indoor extension cord be?
25 feetLarger Gauge Outdoor extension cords have larger gauges, thus allowing more current to flow through. Indoor extension cords typically are not made to accommodate more than 25 feet when outdoor extension cords may be available in lengths of 150 feet or longer.
What is the best extension cord you can buy?
BEST OVERALL: Iron Forge Cable 100 Foot Outdoor Extension Cord.RUNNER UP: US Wire and Cable 74050, 50ft, Yellow.BEST BUDGET: GE, Black, 3-Outlet Power Strip, 6 ft Extension Cord.BEST STANDARD INDOOR: FIRMERST 1875W Low Profile 1Ft Extension Cord.BEST SMART: GHome Smart Power Strip.More items...•
Do I need 12 or 14 gauge extension cord?
For 100 feet, the 14 gauge cord works for 11-13 Amps, while the 12 gauge cord is best suited for 14-15 amps. If your cord is 150 feet long, the 14 gauge is best suited for 1-7 Amps, whereas the 12 gauge will support 8-10 Amps. This shows that the extension cord's length also plays a part in the power it helps safely.
What kind of extension cord can I use outside?
Rating Indicator — Look for the letter “W” on the cord or on the packaging. That's the letter used to identify cords that are designed for outside electricity use. Insulation — Extension cords rated for outdoor use have additional insulation around the wires in the cord.
How often should you replace extension cords?
Extension cords and power strips: While extension cords and power strips don't come with an expiration date per sae, they do have a limited lifetime use. These items are only designed to handle so much juice over the years and will eventually short out or lose effectiveness.
Are cheap extension cords safe?
I recently learned (via a rant from an electrician's son and some internet research) that the standard buy-anywhere cheapo extension cords are a big cause of electrical fires and are not recommended to be left plugged in.
What do the colors of extension cords mean?
The green wire is the ground wire, the white wire is the neutral wire, and the black wire is the hot wire. Light-duty interior extension cords often lack the ground wire, but if a ground wire is present, be sure to connect it.
What gauge should a 100 ft extension cord be?
When using 100 feet extension cords, you'll need a: 16 Gauge for 1-10 Amps. 14 Gauge for 11-13 Amps. 12 Gauge for 14-15 Amps.
Does the length of an extension cord affect the power?
Extension cord lengths determine the cord's power capacity. Every extra foot of cord increases the electrical resistance. This decreases the power the cord can deliver to connected devices. For best results, use the shortest extension cord possible.
Can you leave outdoor extension cords in the rain?
The unstable weather condition is one of the factors that can increase the hazard associated with the use of outdoor extension cords. Water is a good conductor of electricity; therefore, any contact with rainwater could lead to electric shock or electrocution. It could also damage the cord.
How can you tell if an extension cord is indoor or outdoor?
The letter “W” on the packaging or the cord itself indicates a cord that is designed for use outside. The primary difference between an indoor extension cord and an outdoor cord is the insulation.
Are braided extension cords safe?
The braided cord has a heathered design that makes it more aesthetically pleasing than traditional power cords. This three-outlet cord supports multiple devices plugged in at once. And it has both surge protection and a braided, non-tangle cord, which are great safety features when using an extension cord indoors.
Is 16 gauge or 12 gauge extension cord better?
In general, the lower the AWG number, the thicker and higher capacity the cord. Using the incorrect gauge electrical cord can cause equipment or outlet overheating.
What is considered a heavy duty extension cord?
Heavy-duty extension cords are suitable for drawing 10 to 15 amps of power. These are always grounded extension cords that include a third wire and plug prong for grounding and have plugs with three slots for accepting grounded appliance cords.
What gauge extension cord is heavy duty?
10- to 12-gaugeA 10- to 12-gauge cord is for heavy and extra heavy duty applications (chainsaws, circular saws, shop vacs, air compressors, etc.). These are the heavier weight, and heavier duty cords designed for continual use on job sites, even in extreme weather, and are suitable for very high-amperage tools.
How many amps can a 10 gauge extension cord handle?
Longer cords always experience a significant power drop. Therefore, while a 25-foot 10 gauge extension cord can easily handle up to 20 amps, a 150-foot 10 gauge cord can only go up to 15 amps.
What to do if cable gets hot?
If you have a cable that gets hot or doesn’t seem to work correctly, it’s important to recycle it rather than passing it on to anyone else.
Can you recycle a cord that isn't long enough?
Of course, if one end isn’t long enough to create an extra cord, be sure to recycle it.
Can you recycle power cords?
The wires are surrounded by an insulating layer made of plastic or rubber. While the insulator isn’ t necessarily recyclable, the metal inside is valuable, so recyclers will strip out the wire and recycle it.
Can you splice an extension cord back together?
Note that it’s not recommended that you splice a cut extension cord back together, as it won’t have the abrasion resistance of a new cord. Instead, you can create two extension cords from the cut cord, assuming both ends are long enough. To do this, you’ll just add a new plug to the cut end.
Do you have to bring cords to recycler?
So, any time you take electronics to your local e-waste recycler, be sure to bring the cords with you. This will help reduce the number of random power cords you have lying around the house.
Can You Reuse Extension Cords?
Unfortunately, there aren’t too many ways to reuse extension cords other than for their intended purpose. Do pass the cords on to a friend or donate them to Good Will or another thrift store if the cords are still usable.
How to tell if a cord is using power?
One way to tell if a cord is using power is to touch the adapter where it plugs into the wall. If it is warm, it is likely using power.
Do vampire cords draw power?
While extension cord s themselves do not draw vampire power, if an electronic device is plugged into the cord, it may draw power even when it is off. Additionally, there are fire hazards associated with the prolonged use of extension cords, so it is better to use them only temporarily.
Does a Medium-Duty Extension Cord Waste Energy?
Medium-duty extension cords are the ones you're most likely to have lying around your utility closet in your home. They're typically used indoors for all types of jobs. You can buy them as two-prong, multiplug extension cords or as more versatile three-prong cords.
How long should an extension cord be?
A good extension cord should have a 15-amp power rating and 12-gauge wires, and be tested and approved by a third party—either UL or Intertek. It should have an elastomer sheath that makes it flexible enough to consistently lay flat on the ground and easy to coil up. We also prefer models with lighted ends, which make it easy to see whether power is running through the cord. Extension cords come in various lengths, but we think 50 feet is the most practical for all-around use because it’s long enough to reach the lawn, but not so long that it’s extremely difficult to coil up.
What is a 50 ft extension cord?
Like all of the cords we tested, the U.S. Wire & Cable 50 FT. Extreme All-Weather Extension Cord is rated for 15 A, making it hardy enough to handle any tools or equipment powered by a standard household plug, including larger items like compressors and table saws. The 12-gauge wire inside is thick enough to deliver the proper voltage from end to end, and the coating on the entire length of the cord (a jacket made of a rubbery elastomer instead of a plasticky vinyl) is not only weather resistant but also oil resistant. All the cords we tested were rated by UL to withstand UV rays and a bit of rain (marked with a “W” for weather resistance), but since our pick is also oil resistant, it won’t break down when regularly dragged across oil- or grease-covered floors in garages or workshops. That makes it more versatile and more reliable, no matter what projects pop up years down the line.
What is a cordinate cord?
Made for use with low-power devices like lamps, the Cordinate cord is grounded, has a flat plug that won’t get bent or pulled from an outlet, and looks a little nicer than most inexpensive cords.
Why are cords flexible?
We could highlight the safety advantage of flexible cords—models that lay flat when stretched out are less likely to snag or trip someone walking over them. But the real reason we think that the most flexible cords are the best is because they reduce frustration. Stiff cords will retain their coiled shape when you’re trying to use them, which makes them a pain to stretch out to their full length or to get around corners, and they are prone to pulling tools or lights out of place. Plus, more flexible cords are easier to coil and store correctly, which should extend their useful life.
How long did we freeze a cord?
We froze each cord in a zero-degree storage facility for two days , then tested them for flexibility. Some, like our pick (shown in the top video), stretched out easily, while others coiled up like a broken Slinky. Video: Mark Smirniotis
Why are flush mounted plugs and grounding pins important?
That’s why other features, like flush-mounted plugs and grounding pins that reduce the risk of shocks or fire, are more important for indoor cords. An overloaded extension cord can heat up, melt, and start a fire. Video: UL.
Can you use indoor cords outdoors?
The cord’s plastic jacket is wrapped in fabric and looks a bit nicer in a living room or bedroom than a standard cord too. Indoor cords like these aren’t meant to be used outdoors, or with high-power tools and equipment. They’re intended only for low-power use around the home or office.