Can you plug an air conditioner into an extension cord?
If your home is boiling on a summer night and you can’t plug the AC into the wall outlet because the air conditioner’s power cord is too short, the only option is to use an extension cord. Can You Plug An AC Into An Extension cord? Air conditioners use too much power.
Why does my air conditioner turn off when using an extension cord?
This is because thinner extension cords have higher resistance, leading to voltage drop. You don’t want to expose air conditioners (or any appliance with a motor) to low voltage fluctuations because you can cause the motor to stall.
Can you replace the cord on an air conditioner?
If the outlet is less than 10 feet away from the air conditioner, you may be able to replace the built-in cord with a longer one. This is a fairly simple procedure as long as you do it before you install the unit. You can leave this cord permanently plugged into the outlet without any safety worries.
Is the current rating of AC and extension cord the same?
Both ACs and the Extension cords are available in different ratings. Both have to be matched so that Current rating (in Amps) of Extension cord is more than the the current rating (in Amps) of your AC. It should not be difficult to know the current rating of AC as it is given on specification plate of the AC.
Can You Plug An AC Into An Extension cord?
Air conditioners use too much power. You are more likely to start a fire because the extension cord is transmitting more energy than it was meant to carry, the device will overheat, melting the insulation and igniting the flammable objects in the vicinity.
Is It Safe To Plug An AC Into Extension Cord?
It is not safe to plug an AC into an extension cord. You have two primary concerns, namely:
Safety Tips To Use Extension Cord
You should only rely on extension cords in situations where the nearest outlet is just a few feet away. Otherwise, an extension cord long enough to cover the significant distance between an AC unit and the wall outlet is more likely to overheat. Have you looked at the length of the air conditioner’s power cord? There’s a reason why it is so short.
Are There Extension Cords For Air Conditioners?
People don’t make extension cords specifically for air conditioners. However, many manufacturers make heavy-duty extension cords designed to safely transmit the current that large appliances such as air conditioners use.
What Gauge Extension Cord Is Best For AC?
You need an extension cord of 12 or 14 AWG to support an air conditioner safely. Technically speaking, you can get by with 14AWG wire, especially for an average AC of 1,440 watts.
How Long Can AC Extension Cord Be?
The maximum length of an AC unit’s power cord is 10 feet (120V) and 6 feet (240V). Because an increase in length leads to a rise in resistance, AC units have thick, short power cords. Your extension cord should match these attributes. Look for the shortest extension cord possible.
When Should You Use AC Extension Cord?
Because extension cords can start fires, you should only use them as a last resort. If you don’t have any wall outlets in the vicinity of your air conditioner, don’t be so quick to use an extension cord. Try the following alternatives:
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 many watts does an extension cord use?
Typical wattage for a window air conditioner is between 900 and 1,500 watts. Extension cords are rated by the number of amps they can handle, however, so you have to convert ...
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 extension cords with an air conditioner?
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. Extension cords can also get dangerously hot, especially when covered by carpeting or taped to the wall, but if you leave them uncovered, ...
Can an extension cord void a warranty?
In addition, use of an extension cord may void the air conditioner manufacturer's warranty on the unit as well as affect your homeowner's insurance. Undersized extension cords have historically been a leading cause of fire and death. If the unit is permanent, you should replace the cord or install a new outlet. Advertisement.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Is water coming out of an A/C distilled?
So, I think, the water coming out of A/C is most probably distilled. Distilled water lacks minerals and ions. It is pure.
