When choosing the correct power cord for household appliances and office devices, people often make costly mistakes by blindly selecting products they think will suit their needs. However, choosing the wrong products can only cause more problems and bring more expenses.
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On the other hand, most people simply go with the longest and cheapest option, which is also wrong. The trick to making an informed decision and intelligent purchase is to know how to choose the suitable power cable for your specific needs.
To do that, you&#;ll need to inform yourself of the main factors to consider when deciding which extension cord power cord and extension cable to use. There is a wide range of hardware specifications to take into consideration when buying new power cables.
You need to consider why you need power cables. Each device, appliance, and workstation in your home and office requires a matching power cord. With that in mind, let&#;s get deeper into details regarding power cords to help you make the right decision.
Two of the most common power cable options you&#;ll find in almost every household and office are two-prong NEMA 1-15 and three-prong NEMA 5-15. Two-prong NEMA 1-15 is the perfect choice for various devices such as TVs, charger cords, lamps, electric fans, and so on.
However, NEMA 1-15 cords aren&#;t grounded; therefore, they can&#;t be used for supporting high-powered devices such as microwaves and refrigerators. You&#;ll need NEMA 5-15 for that. It is a three-prong power cord that comes with a round pin for ground wire use.
There is a wide selection of wire gauges for household and office extension cables. Which one you choose depends on the application. If you need to support heavy-duty items, you&#;ll need a thicker gauge cable. Thicker gauge cables allow more power to flow through it and are an excellent option for distances.
There are four standard wire gauge sizes for NEMA 5-15 plugs:
It&#;s always better to go with a thicker gauge cord than the recommended. Some people prefer thinner gauge wire with a right-angle power cable, but this solution could cause more issues because your devices and appliances do not have enough power to run. If you want to avoid malfunctioning and devices burning out, choose a thicker gauge cable.
Outer jacket is one of the essential factors when choosing the suitable power cable for your unique needs. For example, if you plan to use a power cord outdoors in colder temperatures, a regular power cord might become much harder to work with due to coldness.
Colder temperatures tend to stiffen up the power cable, making them hard to manage and use. In such situations, power cords with all-weather outer jackets are a much better solution. When choosing a power cord for outdoor use, go with the SJEOW standard for power cables.
SJEOW stands for:
Now, since you have some basic understanding of important things to know about power cords, let&#;s move on with the best tips and practices for choosing the correct power cord for your needs, as well as safety tips for working with power cords.
Here are some points to consider for choosing a suitable cable.
Since you can never correctly guess how long a power cord should be for a specific use, it&#;s always better to buy a longer cable to get some extra room for error. Longer wires are always helpful, more convenient, and safer too.
Of course, you can always connect one cable to another. Still, you risk adding electrical resistance between your device and the outlet that can cause voltage drops, making your devices and power tools run at lower power. Since this can start a fire, melt your cords, and cause other problems, you can avoid all this by simply buying a longer cable.
In applications where more power is needed, thicker cords always work better. The thicker the wires, the more power the cable can safely carry. This is vital for electrical applications over longer distances.
Any cable should run low-power devices and gear like stereo, battery chargers, and lights. However, if you want to safely run power tools like wet/dry vacs, saws, and drills at peak power, you&#;ll need a cord for maximum power.
Here is how to choose the correct length and thickness:
You can always make sure you have the correct power cord by checking the amperage rating on the packaging. We recommend you go with a 15 A rating. Avoid indoor/outdoor cables rated for 10 A or 13 A.
15 A fuses or breakers are pretty standard in most residential and commercial electrical panels. You can plug in any equipment or tool with a 15 A cable. More importantly, if the cable is pushed beyond its limits, it will cut off the power.
When it comes to contractor cables, anything up to 300 V will do as it meets workplace safety requirements. In terms of residential voltage in the US, 125 V or 130 V will do just fine.
Some power cables are simply designed to be more flexible and allow for a broader range of applications. The flexibility of use is crucial for applications at lower temperatures.
The more flexible a power cord is, the more usable it is in tight spaces, easier to store correctly, and stretch across your home or workspace. Opt for power cords listing temperatures below freezing as they are generally more flexible to work with.
Multi-outlet cables, also known as a banana tap, are commonly seen in residential and commercial properties. However, we don&#;t recommend using them for running work lights and power tools and equipment due to being easy to overload. If you require serious power, we recommend general-purpose cords with one outlet per cord.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Outdoor Power Cable. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
The best option is to go with the less robust indoor cords for lower-power gear like wireless speakers, lamps, and chargers. However, most current building codes, including UL, don&#;t allow the use of extension cables in a permanent installation due to regular wear and tear making them a real fire hazard. Use them for digital devices and appliances that don&#;t require much power. Keep in mind that indoor cables aren&#;t weather resistant.
Let&#;s quickly cover the three types of extension cords- light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty.
These power cords, designed for light-duty devices, aren&#;t grounded and come with two plug prongs. You can use them for devices up to 7 amps and other light-duty appliances like clocks, lamps, etc. Recommended cord length:
Usually grounded, medium-duty cords come with the third wire and can power three plug grounded appliances. You can use them for computers, TVs, and any other similar device that requires up to 10 amps of power.
Recommended cord length:
Heavy-duty power cords fit the bill if you need cables that can support 10 to 15 amps of power. These are grounded cables that come with the grounding plug prong and include a third wire. They also have three-slot plugs for powering grounded appliance cables. These cords are perfect for heating appliances and power tools.
Recommended length:
If you&#;re looking for the best power cables for outdoor purposes that can also resist moisture, look for the cords with a built-in ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) protection that prevents shock hazards.
Taking precautions while working with power cables is extremely important. Since we cannot stress this enough, here are a few quick tips to keep you safe:
When you look at a power cord, you can see that it&#;s nothing more than a bundle of insulated electrical wires. While there&#;s nothing suspicious about that, the problem is that the electrical current flowing through those wires generates a lot of heat that can quickly turn a simple power cord into a real hazard.
If a power cord overheats, it can melt the plastic insulation and cause fires, short circuits, and more. In most situations, you&#;ll just power a device or an appliance by plugging it directly into a power outlet using its factory cable.
However, in situations where you don&#;t have a proper factory cord sized appropriately for the electrical current load and demand, you&#;ll need to work with what you have. If you exceed the safe load capacity, the consequences could be disastrous. In such cases, always take help from an expert.
We sincerely hope this guide helps you choose the suitable power cable for your commercial and residential needs. Even though it may sound a bit complicated initially, it&#;s isn&#;t that hard to get into it once you know what to look for. Keep these tips in consideration when buying power cables, and don&#;t forget to stay safe while working with power and extension cables.
If you don&#;t have anyone around who&#;s an expert in this field, it&#;s best to consult an electrician when you are tampering with electricity for the first time. So, be well prepared, and there should be no worries.
Whether you're setting up outdoor lighting, powering tools, or simply plugging in entertainment systems for a cozy evening on the patio, having the right outdoor extension cord is crucial. However, determining the appropriate cord length can be a bit tricky. Selecting one that's too short may limit your options, while choosing a cord that's too long can lead to unnecessary clutter. In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of selecting the perfect length for your outdoor extension cord, ensuring that your yard or patio remains both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Before you start shopping for an outdoor extension cord, it's essential to assess your outdoor space and identify the specific power needs you have. Consider the following factors:
-Layout: Take note of the layout of your yard or patio. Where will you be placing electrical devices or appliances? Understanding the distance between power sources and the intended usage areas is the first step in choosing the right cord length.
-Outdoor Activities: Think about the activities you'll be conducting outdoors. Will you need power for lighting, grilling, outdoor speakers, or power tools? Different activities may require varying cord lengths.
-Weather Conditions: Consider the local climate and weather conditions. If you live in an area with frequent rain or snow, you'll want to ensure your extension cord is long enough to reach your devices without any hassle.
Once you've assessed your outdoor space and activities, it's time to measure the distance between your power source (outlet) and the location where you'll be using electrical devices. Use a tape measure to get an accurate measurement. It's crucial to measure the actual path the cord will take, including any twists and turns. Make sure to account for vertical runs, such as running the cord up the side of a wall or tree.
When selecting the right extension cord length, it's wise to add a few feet to your measured distance. This additional length provides flexibility and ensures that your cord can reach your intended destination comfortably without being stretched taut. It's better to have a little extra cord than not enough.
In addition to length, the gauge (thickness) of the extension cord also plays a significant role in its performance. Thicker cords have a lower gauge number and can carry more electrical current over longer distances without voltage drop. If you're planning to power high-wattage devices or need to cover a substantial distance, opt for a lower gauge extension cord.
-16 Gauge Cord: Suitable for light-duty applications and short distances.
-14 Gauge Cord: Versatile for medium-duty use and moderate distances.
-12 Gauge Cord: Heavy-duty for power-hungry devices and longer distances.
If you have multiple devices to power in different areas of your yard or patio, consider selecting an extension cord with multiple outlets, also known as a power strip or extension cord reel. These convenient options allow you to connect multiple devices simultaneously without the need for multiple cords, reducing clutter and tripping hazards.
Safety should always be a top priority when working with outdoor extension cords. Ensure that your chosen cord is rated for outdoor use and is equipped with adequate insulation and weather-resistant features. Additionally, follow proper installation practices, keeping cords away from water, sharp objects, and high-traffic areas to prevent accidents.
To keep your outdoor space tidy and safe, invest in cord management solutions such as cord covers, cable clips, or stakes designed to secure the cord along its path. This not only reduces tripping hazards but also protects the cord from potential damage.
Once you've selected and installed the right extension cord for your yard or patio, make a habit of inspecting it regularly. Look for any signs of wear and tear, frayed insulation, or exposed wires. If you notice any damage, replace the cord immediately to avoid safety hazards.
When your outdoor extension cord is not in use, store it in a cool, dry place. Coiling it neatly and using a cord reel or wrap will help prevent tangling and damage, ensuring it remains in good condition for years to come.
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