How do I know what wattage my extension cord is? Typically, you can find a cord's gauge rating printed on the cord jacket. If you're replacing an old cord , look for the AWG number printed on the jacket, and select a new cord with the same gauge.
How do I determine the amperage rating of an extension cord?
The amperage rating for each extension cord should be labeled on a tag attached to each cord, but this label may not always be present or visible. What’s important when choosing an extension cord is to determine the amount of the wattage and amperage that will be drawn by the tool or appliance connected to the extension cord.
How do I know if my extension cord is bad?
If your extension cord is starting to show any signs of wear and tear, it may not provide enough power or a proper ground connection for you. For example, suppose you are working with large appliances (heaters, air conditioners), heavy-duty tools (saws), or other high-wattage items.
How to size an extension cord?
Sizing an extension cord is easy! All you need is the cord as well as a general idea of the types of appliances you will be using. Choosing the right wire size is important because some tools like saws use much more power than small hand drill and you don’t want to damage your electric motors!
How many watts can a 16 gauge extension cord handle?
If you check the extension cord wattage charts below, you can see that 16 AWG extension cord can handle 1,430 watts (25-feet and 50-feet cord), 1,100 watts (100-feet cord), and less than 770 watts (150-feet cord). Amps: How many amps can a 12 gauge extension cord handle?
Extension Cord Sizing Checklist
1. Determine amperage of tool/appliance 2. Calculate cord length - use the shortest possible cord. 3. Wire gauge determines amperage load 4. Watts...
How Do You Start to Size An Extension cord?
You start to size an extension cord by obtaining the motor amperage from the plate on the tool. You'll find this information on the small metal pla...
How Do You Size An Extension cord?
You size an extension cord by first determining the appliance or tool that will be plugged into the cord.Determine the amperage of the tool(s) bein...
Is The Length of The Cord Important?
Yes, the longer the cord is the greater the voltage drop will be. If you must go a distance greater than 100 feet, then upsize the extension cord.C...
What Does Wire Gauge Mean?
Wire gauge is the measure of the diameter of the metal conductors in the extension cord. Common extension cord wire gauges are: 1. 18 2. 16 3. 14 4...
What Load Can Each Gauge Wire handle?
16-Gauge Cords: Any 16-gauge cord between 0 and 100 feet long will adequately handle tool loads up to 10 amps. 14-Gauge Cords: Any 14-gauge cord be...
How far can you go with an extension cord?
If you must go a distance greater than 100 feet , then upsize the extension cord. Calculate the length of the cord you will need. Of course, you want to determine the maximum distance you think you will be from a permanent electrical outlet.
What happens if you undersize an extension cord?
The size of your extension cord is very important. If you undersize one you can start a fire or ruin an expensive tool. CLICK or TAP HERE or my face to ensure you get the CORRECT extension cord so you or your family doesn't DIE IN A FIRE. Fortunately, many common small hand-held electrical tools can operate without danger ...
How long is a 16 gauge cord?
Fortunately, many common small hand-held electrical tools can operate without danger of motor damage when powered by a 16 gauge cord that is 100 feet long . To make sure you're properly protected, use the following sizing guidelines below. CLICK or TAP HERE to get FREE ANSWERS from local electricians if you have extension cord questions.
How to convert watts to amps?
If for some odd reason, you see watts listed instead of amps, you can convert watts to amps easily! Here is how you do that: The formula for the conversion is: Voltage x Amps = Watts.
What is the gauge of copper wire?
Remember, wire gauge refers to the thickness of the actual copper wire. As a wire gets thicker it can carry more electricity (amps). To confuse us, some idiot decided that as a wire gets thicker (bigger) the gauge number should get smaller! The orange cord is only 18 gauge.
What is wire gauge?
Wire gauge is the measure of the diameter of the metal conductors in the extension cord. Common extension cord wire gauges are: Use the following list to select the proper gauge extension cord. Remember, wire gauge refers to the thickness of the actual copper wire.
Can you have multiple tools on one extension cord?
Yes, you can have multiple tools operating on one extension cord. You just have to be sure the cord is large enough to handle the loads. I was guilty of this infraction many years ago before I fully understood all that's involved. On construction sites, we'd commonly feed multiple saws and drills from one cord.
What is extension cord?
Extension cords offer a means of extending a home's or workshop's electrical circuits when a lamp, appliance, or tool has an attached cord that is too short to reach the needed location. Most people have several extension cords they keep on hand for this purpose.
What is the importance of an extension cord?
What’s important when choosing an extension cord is to determine the amount of the wattage and amperage that will be drawn by the tool or appliance connected to the extension cord. With simple devices, such as lamps, radios, televisions, and other electronics, the familiar basic household extension cord is perfectly acceptable in most cases.
Can you use an extension cord with a motor?
The electrical load of these items is substantially higher, which means light-weight extension cords should not be used with them.
Can you plug a heater into an extension cord?
You should never use an extension cord to plug one of these heaters into a power source. Numerous house fires have occurred when heaters are plugged into extension cords, due to their high wattage and amperage demands.
What does it mean when a power tool has longer wires?
Longer wires mean more resistance and less power getting through to your pump or power tool. In some cases this is not a big deal and you won’t even notice anything is wrong. In other cases the motor may short out, randomly die, or over heat and burn out!
How much voltage drop can a power tool handle?
Most power tools can handle 10% voltage drops without experiencing any problems but this number varies from tool to tool and manufacturer to manufacturer. Even the power circuit into your home from the street experiences a 5% fluctuation in voltage. Watch Out for Low Quality Cords!
What gauge extension cord for refrigerator
The best size extension cord for a refrigerator is 14 gauge awg. This will carry up to 15 amps of current over a distance of 30 feet without any issues. It is not recommended to use a smaller size than that as it could cause a voltage drop in the cord, causing the cord to heat up and harm the refrigerator.
Can you use a 14-gauge extension cord for a refrigerator?
A 14-gauge extension cord is usually used for lights or other appliances that use less than 15 amps of current.
What amp extension cord do I need for a refrigerator?
The best extension cord for a refrigerator is 14 gauge awg with at least 30 feet of length or shorter. As mentioned it is actually preferred that you do not use extension cords on appliances.
Do I need a special extension cord for a refrigerator?
One of the most common questions when looking for an extension cord is whether or not you need a certain type for a refrigerator.
Can I use a 16 gauge extension cord for a refrigerator?
No, the cord will not be able to carry enough electrical current with an appliance like a refrigerator or stove. These size extension cords are really only good for small hand tools and lights. They will not even run a table saw. You will notice that the cord would start to get warm when doing this.
How many amps is a refrigerator?
A refrigerator is a household appliance that typically runs on an electric compressor and uses 120-volt AC power. They are used to keep food cold and preserve it for long periods.
Is it OK to plug a refrigerator into a power strip?
It is not recommended to plug a refrigerator into a power strip. This is because the appliance can’t handle the voltage fluctuations that come with other appliances on the strip. It also means it can not handle the amp consumption required to run the fridge.
Type of plug of your appliance
The first thing that needs to be done is find out what type of plug your appliance has on it (NEMA 5-15P, for example). This information can usually be found on the backside of your device near where it plugs in.
Choosing an Extension Cord
Now that you have identified what gauge an extension cord is, all that’s left is choosing one! There are three different types available – light-duty cords (10/2), medium-duty cords (12/3), and heavy-duty cords (14/3).
How to tell the gauge of an extension cord? The Best Practice
In the case of a power outage or circuit overload, it is best practice to unplug all appliances from extension cords before turning off breakers in your breaker box. Doing so will ensure that you avoid an electrical fire caused by sparking when equipment with residual current runs through those circuits after they have been broken.
Signs to look for when checking a Gauge
The size of the wire is measured by AWG (American Wire Gauge) – this number will be smaller as it gets higher, with 14 being most common for small appliances and 12 or 16 typically used for extension cords. If you notice that your cord has multiple wires inside, it’s likely to be thicker than if only two wires are present.
What You Need To Know About Extension Cord Gauge
Extension cords come in various gauges, and knowing which one you need is vital for both safety and how well it will work.
