Is it safe to use an air conditioner extension cord?
While a 14-gauge cord can handle that much current without overheating, a 12-gauge cord is safer and a 10-gauge cord even more so. Keep in mind that extension cords are recommended only for temporary use with an air conditioner. The fire danger posed by melting plugs and receptacles only gets worse in hot weather.
Can you use an extension cord on an air conditioner?
Yes, you can temporarily use an extension cord for a portable air conditioner. Generally, the air conditioner manufacturer and fire-fighting department recommend that you should only connect you’re AC into the wall outlet. It’s because extension cords can heat up quickly and catch fire which can result in loss of life and property.
How to connect generator to air conditioner?
How To Connect Generator To Air Conditioner. TRONGNGUYENGETTY IMAGES. Electrical Safety. 1. Size Matters Size the generator correctly so that it meets the electrical loads you intend to power with some excess capacity built in.We’ve written on this topic as have many others, so there’s no shortage of good information out there. If you undersize the generator, you produce essentially the ...
What extension cord can I use?
Selecting extension cords
- Purchase only cords that have been approved by an independent testing laboratory.
- For outdoor projects, use only extension cords marked for outdoor use.
- Read the instructions (if available) for information about the cord's correct use and the amount of power it draws.
What kind of extension cord can I use for an air conditioner?
A 14-guage extension cord can handle that much current, but remember that an air conditioner, like most appliances, draws more current when it starts up. For this reason, and to prevent poor performance because of voltage drop, it's safer to use a 12-gauge cord.
Can you run an AC unit on an extension cord?
Extension cords for PCs, washing machines, and other appliances are not fit for AC. You need a heavy-duty extension cord that can carry the high current. A window AC typically uses a 12-gauge wire that can carry as much as twenty amperes of current.
Can I plug my air conditioner into a power strip?
It is not safe to plug an AC unit into a conventional power strip as it can cause electrical fires to break out. Instead, you can use surge protectors. These devices look and function just like a power strip but with added protection against power surges, which can damage your unit.
Can you plug an air conditioner into a regular outlet?
There is no issue if you plug it in a regular power outlet. However, PACs require more electricity. If you plug it in a regular outlet, you might cause a short circuit in the room.
How many amps does a window air conditioner need?
The one you choose must be heavy enough to handle the load, which for many air conditioners is around 12 amps.
Can you use an extension cord to plug in an AC?
Normal extension cords can't handle as much electricity as permanent wiring, so if you use one to plug in your AC unit, the cord can overheat and start a fire. And if all else fails, you can go shopping for a special, heavy-duty extension cord that's designed to be safely used with electricity-hungry appliances.
Recommended Extension Cord for Portable Air Conditioners
Before we dive too deep into what makes an extension cord safe to use for portable ACs, in this section I’ll link you my personal favorite extension cords.
Prerequisites for Extension Cords for Portal ACs
Now that you know which extension cords you can use with a portable air conditioner, we can have a deeper look into what makes an extension cord safe to use.
How much current do Portable ACs use?
Portable ACs need different amounts of power. This depends on how much “cooling power” a portable air conditioner provides and also on how efficient it is.
Additional safety tips for using an extension cord with a Portable AC
When using an extension cord with a portable AC, you have to always have safety in mind. It is not enough to just buy a proper gauge extension cord that can handle the required amount of current.
Can you use a regular extension cord with a portable air conditioner?
Not always, but sometimes a regular extension cord you already have at home is suitable for your portable AC as well. It all depends on the quality of the extension cord and its power and current limitations.
Extra safe extension cords
If you are a risk-averse person, then going for a good quality extension cord is already a good choice. But if you want to be absolutely sure that you minimize the chance of an accident, you can get an even higher gauge extension cord.
How to keep extension cords from getting damaged?
Try to keep your extension cords indoors, away from moisture and water. Don’t let extension cords plugged in while they are not being used. Never use an extension cord if it is damaged or needs repairing. While disconnecting the cord from the plug, pull the plug instead of the cable.
Why do you need a 12 gauge extension cord?
This is where you need an extension cord of 12 gauge because it can easily handle this current in all situations of an AC. You can easily find one of these hardware stores in the electric section but may not be found in a local general-purpose store.
How many amps does a 5000 BTU air conditioner use?
Usually, an air conditioner of 5000 BTU takes 4 to 7 AMPs which can easily be provided with an extension cord of 14 gauge but as it is said earlier, always prefer a 12 gauge cord when it comes to air conditioning or heavy appliances.
How many amps can a 12 gauge extension cord handle?
The length of the wire also affects the amount of current. For example, a 12 gauge extension cord of 25 feet can easily handle 16 to 20 amps of the current, while the 10 gauge extension cord of 100 feet will carry this current without hassle.
What does 10 gauge wire mean?
A larger number of gauge means the wire will be thinner in size, it eventually means that the wire will carry less power and may not be able to handle heavy appliances such as air conditioners. 10 gauge is probably the thickest and most powerful wire when it comes to different choices between extension cords.
How to supply current from one place to another?
One of the most common and easiest ways to supply current from one place to another is an extension cord . We all know that every electric thing provides us with benefits on one side and keeps a dangerous hazard on the other.
Do you need an extension cord for an air conditioner?
Extension cord for air conditioner. An air conditioner should be placed close enough to the outlet that the cord can easily reach it, but if you are in a hurry and need immediate relief from the heat, you can get benefit from the extension cord for the air conditioner.
How to use extension cords?
You can always use extension cords, when taking care of two things: 1 the extension cord needs to be rated to (at least) the same current as the socket 2 the extension cord needs to be unrolled, so it can get rid of heat buildup.
Why do you need to unroll an extension cord?
the extension cord needs to be unrolled, so it can get rid of heat buildup. If (2) cannot be achieved with certainty, then the solution can be to increase the current rating of the cord, as that will have ticker leads, thus less resistance, and less heat.
How long should a window air conditioner cord be?
Window air conditioners have the minimum rated cord attached and it is usually only long enough to reach a couple feet. If you need to extend that then I would recommend only the length needed to reach the outlet and an AWG guage equal to or greater than that on the unit.
Why is it bad to remove the ground pin on an air conditioner?
Removing the ground pin of a cord is a bad idea, because it defeats an important safety feature.
Is it safe to use a 2.5mm extension cord?
Consult an electrician for proper sizing and recommended type of cord. Otherwise, avoid it like the plague. Not at all unless it’s a 2.5mm thick coil (industrial grade) extension coil due to the high current passing through the cables.
Can I Use Extension Cord In Window Air Conditioner?
You can use an extension cord in the window AC. People use it mostly to connect the AC to the wall outlet.
How To Choose The Right Extension Cord?
Before choosing the extension cord for window AC, there are some tips to follow as we want the best and secure one.
Difference Between Light Duty And Heavy Duty Extension Cord
There are two kinds of extension cords. They are light-duty and heavy-duty.
Does Extension Cord Use More Electricity?
No, the extension cord does not use more electricity than it needs. Actually, it does the work of supplying power to electronic appliances.
Safety Rules For Extension Cord
Everything needs to be used with safety. When we follow some safety rules, that thing lasts long and the risk rate decreases.
Cautions To Remember
There are some cautions to remember to ensure safety because a small carelessness can cause a huge risk.
5 Top Rated Extension Cords
Before buying extension cords, you need to look for them and evaluate the best one.
