It would be so convenient to always have an electrical outlet right next to where you need it. However, you don’t always get an electrical outlet wherever you want. There is nothing to worry about as you can always have an electrical extension cord to save the day.
Extension cords are usually low involvement purchases, which people hardly give much thought to while buying. But, getting the wrong specs and size of the extension cord is not only dangerous but does nothing in terms of the convenience factor. With that in mind, here are five tips to help you select the right extension cord.
1. Selecting the right kind of wire gauge
The diameter or thickness of the wire determines the amount of current it can carry without melting. As such, there are three categories to consider:
- Light extension cord: It’s used for light electrical appliances like lamps, which don’t generate too much heat. The light extension cord plug is two-pronged and doesn't have the grounding wire.
- Medium extension cords: These are the three-plug cords that have the grounding wire. It’s for the appliances that need a bit more energy than the lamps, such as computers, radios, and TV sets.
- Heavy-duty extension cords: It’s for the appliances that tend to generate added heat while functioning, such as fans, refrigerators, and toasters. A heavy-duty extension cord is what you need for devices that require ten amps or more to operate.
An extension with a larger gauge number is the lighter one with low electrical carriage capacity, and the same thing applies to heavy-duty extension cords with a smaller gauge number. This should make it easy for you to recognize the right extension cords.
2. Choosing proper indoor or outdoor cords
You need to understand the right environment for using different types of extension cords. An indoor cocktail party would not need the same extension cords as the pool party during summer. Different environmental aspects impact the use of extension cords, which might turn it unsafe for usage. Direct sunshine might get the cords to overheat and melt, or they might break, leading to an electrical shock.
Go for a light extension cord for the bright appliances if you want to use it only for rare occasions. A medium-duty extension cord is what you need for frequent or nonstop use. Finally, a heavy-duty extension cord will serve you well if you’re about to use things like air compressors and chainsaws at home. Keeping these things in mind will help you prevent an outage resulting from wrong electrical cord usage.
3. Color code the extension cords for ease of use
You have children, pets, and other family members at home, whose overall safety is of the utmost significance to you. Since they, or even your friends who come over, might decide to utilize extension cords in your absence, it's essential to have them color-coded.
For instance, you can have red for heavy-duty extension cords, yellow for light-duty, and green for medium-duty. Make sure that the use of these cords is thoroughly understood by everyone in the house who might need an extension. It will ensure that there is no confusion left about what the right cord is. Moreover, this will bring down the possibility of accidents that might arise from the use of wrong electrical extension cords.
4. Understand the letter signs used for cord usage
Every extension cord comes with a letter engraved on the outer coat that stands for the usage of that particular cord. It prevents the possible dangers that can arise from the misuse of the cord. Understanding the meaning of the letters will help you buy the right cable as per the needs of your home. Here is a list of those letters and their meaning:
- S: Overall or general use
- W: Outdoor applications
- J: Heavy-duty applications
- P: Parallel electrical use like air conditioners (denver air conditioning repair)
- T: Thermoplastic vinyl (wire topcoat material)
- E: Thermoplastic elastomer (rubber material for the top jacket)
- K: Oil-resistant wire
5. Not every item will use the electrical extensions
At times, you require more power outlets for the devices instead of more electrical extension cords. You might be under the impression that all electrical appliances can do with an extension cord. But, the truth is that many of your home appliances actually need proper outlets for functioning.
Are you wondering why that is? There are appliances that need considerable wattage for proper functioning. Extensions might have all the indications that they can take that amount of current. But, after being used for a while, they start retaining excessive heat because of resistance. They will burn or melt and lead to a fatal electrical fire in the area. Thus if you have irons, toasters, hairdryers, or treadmills in use at your place, get them plugged into proper power outlets.
Endnote
Choosing the right electrical extension cord amounts to the safety of your family and neighborhood. So, go for the right gauge, know your appliance needs, and keep your loved ones safe from electrical mishaps. Let the tips given above be your guide in this matter.
