15 ft - 12 Gauge Heavy Duty Outdoor Extension Cord | Power Cord Multi Plug w/Lighted Outlet | SJTW Indoor/Outdoor Yellow | 15 ft 12 AWG 15 Amp Extension Cord - by Watt's Wire

Product Information

But, if you've got a smaller-gauge extension cord, it's possible to overheat the cord and melt the insulation before the circuit breaker would trip! You don’t need to worry about durability with the Southwire ​​12/3 SJEOW Polar/Solar Supreme Cold Weather Extension Cord with Lighted End. The 100-foot extension cord is designed to handle extremely cold and hot temperatures—as low as negative 76 degrees and as high as 221 degrees Fahrenheit, making it an excellent outdoor option for extreme climates. (You can also snag it in 25-foot and 50-foot lengths.) It features a durable, insulated housing that keeps the cord flexible despite the cold and is also chemical and oil resistant.

If you’re running an extension inside, then you need a flat cable to keep everything tidy and your cable out of the way. Consider a flat cable with a flat cord power strip for areas where you’ll be using a lot of small appliances. You can use one 12 gauge flat extension cord with a power strip to run both your high-end tools on their own. To power two to three of your more general implements like drills, electric screwdrivers, soldering irons, and anything that typically pulls a low amperage.

Understanding Wire Gauges

The best gauge for an extension cord depends on its length. For cords up to 25 feet long, 18 AWG wire is sufficient. For lengths up to 50 feet, 16 AWG wire is preferable. For longer cords of 100 feet, it is recommended to use 14 AWG wire for optimal power transmission. 10. What gauge extension cord is best for outdoor use? Voltage drop is real. Electricity encounters resistance as it travels through electrical wires. Knowing this, use only as much extension cord as you really need. Resistance in the real world often creates friction which in turn almost always creates heat. Don’t plug any other appliances into the same extension cord either, as you risk overpowering it and causing all kinds of havoc. What are the Dangers of Plugging a Mini Fridge Into an Extension Cord? The wires in an extension cord offer more resistance to the power that passes through them. This can also be made worse by the length of the wire. The increase in resistance can result in a drop in voltage, which can affect your mini fridge. Does a Mini Fridge Need Its Own Outlet? If for some odd reason, you see watts listed instead of amps, you can convert watts to amps easily!

Because we use 120 volts as an electrical standard here in the USA, that means that every 600 watts equal 5 amps (120 x 5 = 600). Light-duty extension cords bear a resemblance to lamp wire cords used in lighting. The light-duty extension cords are not allowed for anything else other than the light-duty service. In particular, they are banned from using the heating equipment. Some of the appliances that are banned from use with the extension cord are irons, space heaters, boilers, and furnaces.

For our extension cord size chart calculations, we assumed 120V single phase with a power factor of 1. We also utilized the 2014 NEC Chapter 9, Table 9 numbers for impedance and voltage drop calculations.

Using the correct gauge is especially important when dealing with larger, heavy-duty items, since a higher gauge cord may not be able to deliver the amps required, and could result in the cord overheating or damage to the device it’s plugged into. This gauge number—denoted as “AWG (American Wire Gauge)”—is typically printed on the cord itself. Length Switch power cord- Some extension cords have integrated switches that make it simple to turn connected devices on and off without removing them. A extension cord with switchcan be used in lamps, work lights, and other portable devices. Ensure the extension cord you choose has the suitable amp rating for the devices you plan to use it with. Yes, a 12 gauge extension cord is considered heavy-duty. Heavy-duty cords are typically made with 10 to 14 gauge wires, and the 12 gauge falls within this range. These cords are designed for durability and can be up to 150 feet in length, with solid connectors to protect the wires. 5. Is it OK to use 12 gauge wire on a 15 amp circuit? Secondly, you potentially create a dangerous situation. An undersized extension cable will heat up over time. Use it in that state for too long, and the wire insulation could melt. This particularly holds true if you keep the wire in a coil, which creates resistance and a magnetic field that heats up. Some Helpful Do’s and Don’ts DO: gauge extension cords are used for most tools and high power appliances. A 12 gauge extension cord rated at 20 amps is a versatile extension for both indoor and outdoor use. Over 100-feet, it can safely handle 16 amps. It lets you run a single high-wattage power tool or two to three smaller tools or appliances.

The Value of Picking the Correct Extension Cord

In addition to being a convenient combo, the surge protector also features a space-saving design, a whopping 12 outlets, and safety covers that slide over the outlets. It even comes with clips to keep your cords organized. Extension cords are useful to have around the house, especially when faced with minimal outlets. However, many extension cords only come with one or two outlets. If you’re in need of a way to plug in multiple devices from a distance, consider the Cordinate Designer 3-Outlet Power Strip With Surge Protection. Twelve-gauge cords are considered “heavy-duty,” and provide the power necessary for high-power items like table saws, chainsaws, and air compressors, even at longer lengths. You still get a solid 15 amps with a 100-foot cord. Extra Heavy-Duty The length of your extension cord not only indicates how far it can reach, but also how much resistance is placed on the current flowing through it. The longer the cord, the more electrical resistance, and the less power it’s ultimately able to deliver. If you don’t factor in the amount of voltage loss that occurs (commonly referred to as "voltage drop") when selecting an extension cord, your tool or appliance won’t receive the proper amperage, and unnecessary stress is placed on the motor.

According to Belanger, surge protectors and extension cords are two different things. And, while some extension cords feature surge protection, you can also find surge protectors with a little more length in the cord. Case in point: The Belkin 12-Outlet Home Office Surge Protector is a surge protector first and foremost, but it features an 8-foot cord that could offer the extra reach you need for your tech accessories, lamps, and other home devices. While we wish it had at least one longer option, this length could still come in handy in an office setting or small room at home.Yes, other things, like a garage light, or some other appliance could be on the same circuit you've plugged the extension cord into. This adds to the total load on the circuit! You may think you have 15 amps available going to your extension cord, but several of those amps might be in use from something else. There are more aspects to consider when choosing the best extension cord for your needs, in addition to gauge and length. Some of these aspects include: Whether you’re dealing with minimal outlets in an apartment or need an outdoor connection for power tools, extension cords will come in handy time and again. When choosing a high-quality extension cord, it’s important to consider what you’ll use it for, as this will help determine what gauge to get.