Running a cord that can NOT handle the full output of your generator will cause a brown-out/starving issue with what you plug into the cord...AND...can even cause a fire and melt the cord as the cord will act as a heat element on your stove...because of resistance. If you are using a portable electric drill or whatever...a small saw or hand tool, a 14 (the best) or even a 16 home gauge will work for that....but anything that will draw a major or up to the output capacity of the generator, must be 10 gauge and rated to handle MORE (safety ballast) than the running output of your generator. A 10 gauged 25 foot cord will run MAX, safely, 3,700 watts...and that is why the Firman we own, puts out that same amount at peak but a running just below that. To cause no damage or safety issue with your generator, and the cord, and what is plugged into it. Every purchased cord, should have the MAX watts it can safely carry, on the packaging, or somewhere on the body of the cord itself. Note that always before purchase!
Don't even look at any extension cords smaller than 12AWG. If you need to run power tools you will be slowly killing your tools. Do not leave your cables wound up or knotted up while using them. The cords will heat up more, a lot more.
Good information Gavin, A lot of the times people will buy the cheapest, thinking they all do the same work. Well now you shown, there is a difference. Thanks 🙏 again for the great info.
So you and everyone else think extension cords are all the same despite the wire gauge and length???? Really? Do you think all lightbulbs are the same, too? Or all car tires? Or all water hoses? Ugh.... too effing dumb.
Always knew the gauge had a role in voltage drop but didn't realize it was that pronounced. Between the extension cords in terms of smallest and largest, that's just over a 3% loss in power just because too small a gauge was used. Thanks for the demonstration.
But wait if you are cutting lawn with a 16 gauge and imagine after 20 minutes the 16 gauge cord would cook up and the voltage loss would be double or tripple.
Also, brown outs can occur at any time in your home feed, especially with power on and off surges.... As Gavin stated, brown-outs starve your TV's...stereo, your fridge, your whatever...and causes stress to the circuit boards as would be gasping to fill your lungs with air....causing an overheat...deterioration, and ultimate failure....bye bye TV, Fridge, .... Any good (I mean GOOD) Surge Protector should also have a voltage measuring element that would cut off power to the demand, if it dropped below for a measured micro seconds, of 114 volts.... Especially important when running in an R.V. trailer or motor home demand....where R.V. parks are notorious in the U.S. and Canada for poorly maintained electric supply networks...dead shorts, old, compromised buried lines to the outlet posts....whatever. A top end Surge Protector would protect you from obvious surges as well as a voltage starving extended brown-out incident...
For any generator of any size...and after buying one...I would never buy less for all my outside cords, less than 14 guage...so it can be used for most all your garden stuff, drills....etc...and only buy 16 gauge for interior home use. I'd also use a 14 gauge for any portable heater in the house, ...like for instance, a Micro-Furnace...for a buffer of safety.... I just bought an electric (corded) GreenWorks 16 inch (12 amp/1.5 HP) chainsaw yesterday, and along with that...a ***98 foot NOMA 14 gauge outside/weather*** rated extension cord, which is rated to carry 98 feet out from the outlet (either home, or my Firman) 13 amps without voltage drop and amp starvation (brown outs). That matches perfectly with my new chainsaw motor that runs max at 12 amps! (1.5 HP) You need to always take care to match the carry (amp) capacity of the length of cord and gauge of the cord, with the electric object of your affection....as in my case...running a 12 amp chainsaw 98 feet away from the outside home outlet, or generator, and can carry 13 amps to my new toy! :) BTW...the smart purchase today is going electric with chainsaws...as my new toy actually has more (real world) power and torque than my 46 cc Stihl gas. I ran a same log test yesterday, and with a new chain on my 46 cc gas chainsaw...it had a torque bog half way through the cut, but to my wife's and my OUTRIGHT amazement, the GreenWorks 16 inch cut through the same field log like BUTTER...with no rpm drop or sounding bogging down from the 12 amp 1.5 HP motor....simply amazing performance, and no longer any change of a non start by a gummed up or something else buggered gas power chainsaw...and 80 percent quieter in use. In fact, you do NOT need any hearing protection with any new current electric corded chainsaw. They are the way to go...***ESPECIALLY*** if you are thinking of a portable generator...or already own one as we do the Firman! It costs pennies to run...and no more gas ($$$) to purchase and store, ...no more 2 stroke oil ($$$) ...no more gas SMELL and usage fumes/smoke...and no chance of it never starting or hard starting that would pull your shoulder...lol. My Stihl gas chainsaw will be a cob-webbed 'back-up' or a gift to my son....NO LONGER NEEDED! LOLOLOL!
Thanks for the ideas. What is the brand and model of the watt meter? I am curious because I made a 250 foot extension cord out of pool pump wire. It is 3 wire 8 AWG. I use it occasionally to hook up a motohome using 30 amp connectors. Specs say it should be good up to 40 amps but I am a bit concerned about voltage drop. BTW I think the problem is not so much voltage drop as it is the commensurate amperage increase which increases heat in a motor, but has little effect on static loads like heaters. Not sure about the effect on electronics.
Thanks brother! We’re running 200’ of cord w/ first 80’ being a custom 8g gang box😳my boss uses 4back feeding his 12k generator 2 his house during storms. Then we were running 2x 50’ 12g to a 25’ 10g which has outlets every 8’ or so. next a whole bunch of 14/3-16/3 (the new guys brought🤦♂️) I KNOW we should not b using the two latter cords!! But we didn’t have any other working cords. (This week alone I changed about 8 ends Bc they keep melting/sparking 😮 I was just about to grab another 50’ 12/3 arguing that Bc it’s only 50’ we shouldn’t have many issues w/ voltage drop. a pancake, table saw & two miter saw r running at any given point (not 2mention smaller tools) & u can really hear when two power up @ thesame time. I think now I’m going to go 4a 50’ 10g to run from the 8g then feed the tools w/ the remaining 25’ 12/3s. My saw isn’t on site so if they wanna run miter/table saws off 16g that’s on them🤨 ur video was very well explained thanks again! Now lol I just need to figure out what jacket type is going to benefit us the most🙄🤪 TPE/sjitwejsr or something lol
Just bought a Predator 5000 & it only has the 30 amp RV outlet & I want to hook it up to a transfer switch on my house. Should I have a 50 amp outlet installed and hook up a 30/120 amp cord w/ a 50 amp plug adapter to it? Then at the Interlock I can run things off the 1 leg of my panel but in the future if I ever change to a 50 Amp generator I can just plug in the generator and use both legs of my breaker panel?
it would be fun to calculate how long it takes for a good extension cord to pay for its self in terms of not converting electrical energy into thermal energy, which is why we see a voltage drop. i am experimenting with solar panels, batteries, inverters, heat pumps so i have cords all over the place. i just bought a 100 foot 10-3 extension cord, it was close to $200 but i run a 2kw heat pump off of it up stairs and its source of power is coming from the battery bank in the basement. i wonder how much power i was loosing using a typical 14-3 wire, i did the math and i guess you did too so i could just rewind to see what your lose percentage was as our loads were simliar
I never would have realized that the higher amperage would be needed on a smaller cord, but it makes sense. I wonder if this is enough to trip breakers using a 16 gauge cord (when near the max), while if you used a 12 guage cord, the breaker would have been fine and un-tripped.
Great video. I wonder what the voltage drop is on those extension cord reels with the 4 plugs and built in breaker? Cause finding one that is good in outdoor condition where the temperature might change is hard to find. I see a lot of 10 and 13 amp ones.
For sure. Just bought a GtreenWorks 16 inch 12 Amp electric corded chainsaw. Also bought a Noma 98 foot 14 gauge extension cord that can carry a max of 13 amps. If you ever buy (they are more powerful in torque than their comparative gas driven counterparts!) make sure that the distance you want to have between your chainsaw and your home or garden outlet (mains) can be carried to the saw (usually one buys 14 gauge for this purpose) by the length of the cord you wish to run. For instance, I could not run 98 feet away from the outlet, with a (for instance) 14 amp or 15 amp chainsaw. I'd have to use a cord 25 or 50 feet in length. Match your cord's carrying capacity with the electric corded chainsaw's amp input requirement. If you have (as we do already) a portable generator, it would be crazy to buy a gas driven chainsaw at 300 percent more cost and maintenance over a modern and current electric one...as you already HAVE, a portable supply of electricity for out in the bush, larger property, cottage, etc... Another great use and reason to have a portable AC generator. Also, an electric CORDED , chainsaw has basically zero maintenance, other than chain tension, bar cleaning, and chain sharpening. No chance of stale gas gumming up the carburetor of a gas engine, and preventing a easy start, or a start at all! Press the trigger of a good electric corded chainsaw...and it will run 100 percent when needed. Just a tip, and another great use for owning a portable generator!!!!
Your test Gavin...shows no brown out....with the 10 gauge...and if you were only using one load....there would be no voltage drop of any kind... for my RV use (13,500 watt air-conditioner) ....only 10 gauge, and for outside home use...no less than 14 gauge...for sure! Another thing that I must suggest to a viewer...is not ONLY a chance of a damage causing voltage drop 'brown-out'...but that the cord in amp/demand wattage- carrying stress, can overheat...melt...short...causing a fire, or severe damage to both your generator's output outlet, your home outlet....all of the above. That's another consideration....besides voltage loss. Just sayin'... :) Great vids...I am a subscriber, Gavin!
Cool video. I dont think the 16g cable got a fair rating because the space heater alone was 13A which is what the 16G cable is rated for. Once that air compressor kicked in at 20a its exceeded the rating.
Yessir…those cheap extensions are the worst thing ever, power loss and damage to appliances and most people think it’s the generator that won’t start the load.
Except per Prime cords lable specifications 12/3 AWG has a 15 amp max, yet was sustaining at 18 amps for the 20 second test. While the 10/3 AWG is rated for 20 amp max for sustained loads. Not to mention these are brand new cords, not weathered over years of abuse in sun, humid condition, odd bends and drops that can cause micro cuts within the copper core. Which increases its resistance and causing more voltage drop off. Yes it may be a pain in the ass to run that thick and heavy of a cable 50 or 100ft to landscaping/contractor tools, it allows for better safety and longevity. Thus the saying "Pay once, Cry once" still holds true, 10/3 AWG still the better long term investment for heavy load equipment.
Pls show us the 16 gauge what will happen after 10 minutes? i think it will heat up and voltage loss will be even more exponentially more. I think the best test would be to run them all for at least 10 or 20 minutes. My best guess is that 16 gauge would burn up within half hour, the 14 gauge would burn out in 12hr and the 12 and 10 gauge are continuous duty.
You are using extension cords, that are rated at 15A and you are loading them up, with ~20A loads, how safe is that? I would use 20A extension cords. I bet. if you would use those two, for an extended period, you would heat up that cord a lot.
The 12 and 10 gauge cord can handle way more than 15 amps. The cords are rated for 15 amps because they have the very common and readily available 15 amp plugs on them. If you cut the plugs off, you could attach 20 amp plugs, then bam, you now how a cord rated for 20 amps. Which is ridiculous, as you can imagine. Obviously, these heavy duty 12 and 10 gauge cords would not heat up to a dangerous level with a 15-20 amp load. Those cords would be fine. If you were to wire up a 15 amp circuit in your house, you would use 14 gauge wire. If you wanted a 20 amp circuit in your house, you would use 12 gauge wire.
@@bubbatime so why arent these 10 AWG cords supplied with a 20 amp plug? Think ive seen only one 10 AWG 100 ft cord produced by Dewalt thats rated for 20 amp, yet they arent being sold anywhere currently. Or is it by government standards to have a 20 amp plug it needs to be changed to a T plug?
If you can plug directly into the generator then that’s great, but let’s say for instance if you’re trying to run your compressor inside the house 50 feet away from the generator the thicker 10 gauge will allows more power to flow through the extension cord the smaller gauge 16 gauge won’t be able to let the power flow to the load. Thanks for watching
Gavin help! In an rv campground, they use a 50 amp power source. What extension cord should I use to power my tent? I'm tent camping. What are the connectors to use? I'm so dumb at this. I want to power my tent with lights, tv, and a small window AC. Can we buy one cord for all of this directly connected to the campground power supply?
10 gauge is actually a little light for connecting to a generator In theory that AWG can carry more than 15 amps, but here those plugs are the limiting factor. Some of the 110 V plugs on my generator are 30 amp capable. An 8 AWG wire with appropriate plugs is a better choice. Voltage drop can be calculated over distance and AWG size using the formula 2KIL divided by the constant of the AWG gauge selected.
@@MrCorynick Agreed. If you have the ability to accurately predict all possible current drains for the lifetime of the generator and know a 60w bulb is going to be the heaviest load it will ever see, sure, even a 12 AWG will work just fine. I have used mine to run an RV that was 70 feet away. It happily took the whole generator output, but I also had a 50' 8/2 cord I made just for it. What the RV owner attached to that wasn't my problem.
Great video, but my one issue is the exceeding of cable limits/specifications. Most are stated to be up to 15 amps. Going beyond that exceeds the limit resulting in overheating, greater voltage drop, etc. I tend to view the safe limits of gauge to be 10A for 16AWG, 13A for 14AWG, 15A for 12AWG, and 20A for 10AWG. Good video for proving the point, though. When using a generator, I'd think it better to use two 12 gauge with the load distributed between them as even as possible.
Oh, and two 12AWG would likely be cheaper than a 10AWG, in parallel would be able to carry more current better, and provide greater flexibility of use especially in everyday use.
25ft and 10 gauge is kinda standard I’ll send you a link of the one I used thanks for watching Brian👍🏾 Houseables Generator Cord 30 Amp 4 Prong, Generators Extension, 25 Ft, 125-250v, 7500 watt max Rating, UL CUL, NEMA L-14-30P, Rubber, 10 Gauge, Heavy Duty, L14-30, Transfer, Power Cable, Locking amzn.to/3LyfGq2 So this one should cover everything you need for the 9000 Duromax
@@GeneratorReviews My electrician installed a Rophor 50 Amp Generator Power Inlet Box, NEMA SS2-50P Power Inlet Box for 3 Prong Generator Cord, 125/250 Volt, 12500 Watts, Weatherproof, Outdoor Use, ETL Listed. So I'm trying to determine the best cord to attach from that box to my duromax 9000. U did get the adapter.
also the longer you load up a lighter grade extension , the heat also build up in the cord . not good . why would anyone take that chance on damaging appliances??
And most people don’t realize the power loss in the cheap extension cord, before they buy a larger generator thinking it’s going to solve their problems. 10 or 12 gauge are the best option in my opinion.
I’m only 55 seconds into the video and one thing I’ve always answered is why are those extension cords we’ll “rated” for the same amperage? Is there a safety factor at play here? 10 gauge should be 20 at least I’d think…
Because they have standard 15A ends. If they had NEMA5 20A ends the 12ga would be a 20A cord. The 20A end would have one prong not parallel to the other (-- l) like this.
Gavin, Good demonstration. But I think you're obfuscating the subject by using (or even mentioning) the generator. The voltage is drop is going to happen regardless if you're plugged into a generator or utility power. The other thing I think you should emphasize is that the length of the cord matters as much as the gauge. The longer the cord, the more voltage you will lose, and you could have easily demonstrated that by plugging two or more cords together. This of course means that the wire gauge becomes more important when you run a longer cord. In fairness, 110 volts was the worst case you demonstrated here, and 110 volts should run any device just fine. The point to be made is that 100 feet or more of 16 gauge cord could cause enough voltage drop to cause problems.
So very true....just bought a NOMA 98 foot 14 gauge that can carry a full 13 amps through its length and run. I just bought that yesterday to match with a new GreenWorks 16 inch electric-corded 12 amp chainsaw. The 50 foot 14 NOMA could carry 15 amps.... and as you say, you can NOT plug two 50 foot cords together and think you will still see 15 amps at the end of the run....doesn't work (as you stated) that way...(smile).
Good evening, Gavin. This is really an awesome topic! Thank you so much for doing this comparison/demo! Like you indicated, most of us usually cheap out and get something that probably is close to maxing out ALL the time. Safe travels!! PS- question...are your generator links affiliate links?
Personally, I think it is more of ignorance of voltage and gauge size as well as, even in stores like Canadian Tire they all usually carry the same cords with no other choice. The cheapest is not the main reason for buying which cord.
Also never use a cord longer than you need, if a 50 ft cord is all you need do not use 100 ft cord, I saw two compressors ruined with a long cord and the wire was too small causing a voltage drop .
10 ga is the way to go but I would not buy that one. 10ga wiring is capable of handling 30amps. Why is that one rated at only 15a? It must have 15a connectors which makes no sense And is a waste. For 15a you can use 14g or 12ga. It would be interesting to see this test repeated using better quality chords.
There is NO REASON to test extension cords to see which one will perform better on a fixed load. ZERO! Except to be king of the blind and feed the UA-cam algorithm.
![How To Make The Best Extension Cord [Less than $20]](/img/n.gif)
Whenever i have a question I always select your videos because I get what i need from you videos. Much appreciated.
Thanks 🙏🏾 I appreciate you watching
Fantastic vid, especially like that you used a heater for that. Huge load compared to most household appliances.
Thanks for watching and subscribing
I had no idea different cords played a major role in output. Thanks.
Running a cord that can NOT handle the full output of your generator will cause a brown-out/starving issue with what you plug into the cord...AND...can even cause a fire and melt the cord as the cord will act as a heat element on your stove...because of resistance. If you are using a portable electric drill or whatever...a small saw or hand tool, a 14 (the best) or even a 16 home gauge will work for that....but anything that will draw a major or up to the output capacity of the generator, must be 10 gauge and rated to handle MORE (safety ballast) than the running output of your generator. A 10 gauged 25 foot cord will run MAX, safely, 3,700 watts...and that is why the Firman we own, puts out that same amount at peak but a running just below that. To cause no damage or safety issue with your generator, and the cord, and what is plugged into it. Every purchased cord, should have the MAX watts it can safely carry, on the packaging, or somewhere on the body of the cord itself. Note that always before purchase!
Don't even look at any extension cords smaller than 12AWG. If you need to run power tools you will be slowly killing your tools. Do not leave your cables wound up or knotted up while using them. The cords will heat up more, a lot more.
Very true! 👍🏾 agreed
Thanks for taking the time out your day to show me that really needed to see it.
From a former Electronics Technician ....pretty awesome excellent testing procedure.
Thanks for watching
That means a lot to me thanks for your kind words blessing🙏🏾
Good information Gavin, A lot of the times people will buy the cheapest, thinking they all do the same work. Well now you shown, there is a difference. Thanks 🙏 again for the great info.
Thanks 👍
So you and everyone else think extension cords are all the same despite the wire gauge and length???? Really? Do you think all lightbulbs are the same, too? Or all car tires? Or all water hoses? Ugh.... too effing dumb.
Always knew the gauge had a role in voltage drop but didn't realize it was that pronounced. Between the extension cords in terms of smallest and largest, that's just over a 3% loss in power just because too small a gauge was used. Thanks for the demonstration.
But wait if you are cutting lawn with a 16 gauge and imagine after 20 minutes the 16 gauge cord would cook up and the voltage loss would be double or tripple.
A surprisingly good test. Much better than any others i have seen.
Thanks 🙏🏾
As always, excellent video teaching and comparisons of different electrical matters.Thanks...
Thanks for watching 😊
One of the best examples on the Internet.
Your videos are amazing. High quality content .
Thank you so much for the kind words.
Thanks for watching 😊
I agree, new subscriber!
Thanks man, finally found someone explaining, which one you recommend for vacuums at homes…
My man you just saved me so much money thank you for this gem
Your info helped me understand the diff... I know it would turn the appliances however it will damage it if not done properly... Thank u!
Also, brown outs can occur at any time in your home feed, especially with power on and off surges.... As Gavin stated, brown-outs starve your TV's...stereo, your fridge, your whatever...and causes stress to the circuit boards as would be gasping to fill your lungs with air....causing an overheat...deterioration, and ultimate failure....bye bye TV, Fridge, .... Any good (I mean GOOD) Surge Protector should also have a voltage measuring element that would cut off power to the demand, if it dropped below for a measured micro seconds, of 114 volts.... Especially important when running in an R.V. trailer or motor home demand....where R.V. parks are notorious in the U.S. and Canada for poorly maintained electric supply networks...dead shorts, old, compromised buried lines to the outlet posts....whatever. A top end Surge Protector would protect you from obvious surges as well as a voltage starving extended brown-out incident...
@@sesquashtwo I lost a 65 tv, ceiling fan, sprinkler controller, and other items recently...bought shitty surge protectors
Thank you. from Nova Scotia Canada.
Thanks 😊 for watching and subscribing 👍🏾💯
Great information and proof. I'm going to hit that subscribe button Gavin.
Yes!!! Thanks for the subscribe
Thank you sir for making this video now I know for sure what I need for my generator 👍🏽👍🏽
Video was extremely helpful thanks again 👍🏽
Excellent idea for a video. Thanks for the information.
Thanks for watching please share with your friends
Thanks
Have to mention that I like how you filtered out all the genny noise. Almost don't know it's there.
I didn’t the predator is just that quiet I promise you no sound filter
@@GeneratorReviews Geez. That's amazing! Well if that's not a great bit of advertising for the Predator, nothing is.
Yeah, those inverter generators are nice...
cost 2 or 3 times as much, but nice.
Great review . I use a min of 12-3 only . Can you review the 30amp twist lock 10-3 splitter to see how good it works on your RV
Great vid, 12 or 10 gauge both are decent. IMO
Yessir
For any generator of any size...and after buying one...I would never buy less for all my outside cords, less than 14 guage...so it can be used for most all your garden stuff, drills....etc...and only buy 16 gauge for interior home use. I'd also use a 14 gauge for any portable heater in the house, ...like for instance, a Micro-Furnace...for a buffer of safety.... I just bought an electric (corded) GreenWorks 16 inch (12 amp/1.5 HP) chainsaw yesterday, and along with that...a ***98 foot NOMA 14 gauge outside/weather*** rated extension cord, which is rated to carry 98 feet out from the outlet (either home, or my Firman) 13 amps without voltage drop and amp starvation (brown outs). That matches perfectly with my new chainsaw motor that runs max at 12 amps! (1.5 HP) You need to always take care to match the carry (amp) capacity of the length of cord and gauge of the cord, with the electric object of your affection....as in my case...running a 12 amp chainsaw 98 feet away from the outside home outlet, or generator, and can carry 13 amps to my new toy! :) BTW...the smart purchase today is going electric with chainsaws...as my new toy actually has more (real world) power and torque than my 46 cc Stihl gas. I ran a same log test yesterday, and with a new chain on my 46 cc gas chainsaw...it had a torque bog half way through the cut, but to my wife's and my OUTRIGHT amazement, the GreenWorks 16 inch cut through the same field log like BUTTER...with no rpm drop or sounding bogging down from the 12 amp 1.5 HP motor....simply amazing performance, and no longer any change of a non start by a gummed up or something else buggered gas power chainsaw...and 80 percent quieter in use. In fact, you do NOT need any hearing protection with any new current electric corded chainsaw. They are the way to go...***ESPECIALLY*** if you are thinking of a portable generator...or already own one as we do the Firman! It costs pennies to run...and no more gas ($$$) to purchase and store, ...no more 2 stroke oil ($$$) ...no more gas SMELL and usage fumes/smoke...and no chance of it never starting or hard starting that would pull your shoulder...lol. My Stihl gas chainsaw will be a cob-webbed 'back-up' or a gift to my son....NO LONGER NEEDED! LOLOLOL!
Thanks for the ideas. What is the brand and model of the watt meter? I am curious because I made a 250 foot extension cord out of pool pump wire. It is 3 wire 8 AWG. I use it occasionally to hook up a motohome using 30 amp connectors. Specs say it should be good up to 40 amps but I am a bit concerned about voltage drop. BTW I think the problem is not so much voltage drop as it is the commensurate amperage increase which increases heat in a motor, but has little effect on static loads like heaters. Not sure about the effect on electronics.
Thanks brother! We’re running 200’ of cord w/ first 80’ being a custom 8g gang box😳my boss uses 4back feeding his 12k generator 2 his house during storms. Then we were running 2x 50’ 12g to a 25’ 10g which has outlets every 8’ or so. next a whole bunch of 14/3-16/3 (the new guys brought🤦♂️) I KNOW we should not b using the two latter cords!! But we didn’t have any other working cords. (This week alone I changed about 8 ends Bc they keep melting/sparking 😮 I was just about to grab another 50’ 12/3 arguing that Bc it’s only 50’ we shouldn’t have many issues w/ voltage drop. a pancake, table saw & two miter saw r running at any given point (not 2mention smaller tools) & u can really hear when two power up @ thesame time. I think now I’m going to go 4a 50’ 10g to run from the 8g then feed the tools w/ the remaining 25’ 12/3s. My saw isn’t on site so if they wanna run miter/table saws off 16g that’s on them🤨 ur video was very well explained thanks again! Now lol I just need to figure out what jacket type is going to benefit us the most🙄🤪 TPE/sjitwejsr or something lol
Wow you guys run a lot of extension cord that’s cool I helped you out
Thanks for watching
I really like your content very informative keep it up Gavin!!!!
Thanks Reno
Glad you liked it
Great video , 10 gauge for me!!
Just bought a Predator 5000 & it only has the 30 amp RV outlet & I want to hook it up to a transfer switch on my house. Should I have a 50 amp outlet installed and hook up a 30/120 amp cord w/ a 50 amp plug adapter to it? Then at the Interlock I can run things off the 1 leg of my panel but in the future if I ever change to a 50 Amp generator I can just plug in the generator and use both legs of my breaker panel?
I skipped through the video so not sure if you mentioned it, but you want to run the minimum length necessary on extension cords
great straight forward test thank you
Thanks
it would be fun to calculate how long it takes for a good extension cord to pay for its self in terms of not converting electrical energy into thermal energy, which is why we see a voltage drop. i am experimenting with solar panels, batteries, inverters, heat pumps so i have cords all over the place. i just bought a 100 foot 10-3 extension cord, it was close to $200 but i run a 2kw heat pump off of it up stairs and its source of power is coming from the battery bank in the basement. i wonder how much power i was loosing using a typical 14-3 wire, i did the math and i guess you did too so i could just rewind to see what your lose percentage was as our loads were simliar
This was really helpful. Thank you!
Thanks for watching and subscribing 👍🏾
great tests, thanks for the information
I never would have realized that the higher amperage would be needed on a smaller cord, but it makes sense. I wonder if this is enough to trip breakers using a 16 gauge cord (when near the max), while if you used a 12 guage cord, the breaker would have been fine and un-tripped.
Yep It’s funny because we keep buying bigger and bigger Generators but nobody thinks upgrade the extension cord
Great video. I wonder what the voltage drop is on those extension cord reels with the 4 plugs and built in breaker? Cause finding one that is good in outdoor condition where the temperature might change is hard to find. I see a lot of 10 and 13 amp ones.
Get the 10 you won’t regret it
@@GeneratorReviews 10 amp? You might have mistaken my question about cord reels, when I said 10 and 13 amp, for 10 and 13 gauge
The lower the gauge the less resistance = better electrical flow. Also the longer the cord the thicker the line should be.
For sure. Just bought a GtreenWorks 16 inch 12 Amp electric corded chainsaw. Also bought a Noma 98 foot 14 gauge extension cord that can carry a max of 13 amps. If you ever buy (they are more powerful in torque than their comparative gas driven counterparts!) make sure that the distance you want to have between your chainsaw and your home or garden outlet (mains) can be carried to the saw (usually one buys 14 gauge for this purpose) by the length of the cord you wish to run. For instance, I could not run 98 feet away from the outlet, with a (for instance) 14 amp or 15 amp chainsaw. I'd have to use a cord 25 or 50 feet in length. Match your cord's carrying capacity with the electric corded chainsaw's amp input requirement. If you have (as we do already) a portable generator, it would be crazy to buy a gas driven chainsaw at 300 percent more cost and maintenance over a modern and current electric one...as you already HAVE, a portable supply of electricity for out in the bush, larger property, cottage, etc... Another great use and reason to have a portable AC generator. Also, an electric CORDED , chainsaw has basically zero maintenance, other than chain tension, bar cleaning, and chain sharpening. No chance of stale gas gumming up the carburetor of a gas engine, and preventing a easy start, or a start at all! Press the trigger of a good electric corded chainsaw...and it will run 100 percent when needed. Just a tip, and another great use for owning a portable generator!!!!
Yep!
12 guage is excellent for most situations.
You are 💯% Right thanks for watching👍🏾
Great comparison... Thank You Sir
Well done. Very good information!
Great video thanks for information.
God Bless!
Thanks 🙏🏾
Your test Gavin...shows no brown out....with the 10 gauge...and if you were only using one load....there would be no voltage drop of any kind... for my RV use (13,500 watt air-conditioner) ....only 10 gauge, and for outside home use...no less than 14 gauge...for sure! Another thing that I must suggest to a viewer...is not ONLY a chance of a damage causing voltage drop 'brown-out'...but that the cord in amp/demand wattage- carrying stress, can overheat...melt...short...causing a fire, or severe damage to both your generator's output outlet, your home outlet....all of the above. That's another consideration....besides voltage loss. Just sayin'... :) Great vids...I am a subscriber, Gavin!
Thanks Joe
Great informative video sir! Thank you!
Cool video. I dont think the 16g cable got a fair rating because the space heater alone was 13A which is what the 16G cable is rated for. Once that air compressor kicked in at 20a its exceeded the rating.
I think honestly the 16 gauge cable is just for Christmas lights and that’s it. It’s just a fire risk hazard.
Your vid gets Two Thumbs Up 👍🏾 👍🏾
Great information ! Money saver video
Awesome! Thank you!
thank bro... a very helpful test.
Your welcome 🙏🏾
Dude great stuff
I had to find this out the hard way with my smoker. They told me to keep it under 25ft and use 12 gauge. Haven’t ran into problems since.
Which smoker? I have a Traeger. Its uses like 75-150 watts. The smallest 18 gauge cord is more than enough for 75 watts.
A 10 gauge 25 foot cord can carry safely and deliver to your smoker, or whatever 3,700 watts...at 25 feet. FYI.
Is a 10 ga extension will power my refrigerator or deep freezer
👍🏾 yes
Cool video, thanks. I feel better now about splurging on expensive 10 gauge my generator…haha
Yessir…those cheap extensions are the worst thing ever, power loss and damage to appliances and most people think it’s the generator that won’t start the load.
Great video thanks for saving me some money there's obviously no reason to buy 10 gauge wire if it's going to have the same performances 12-gauge
Yeah 10 or 12 anything else you’d be wasting your time and money 💰 👍🏾
Thanks for watching
Except per Prime cords lable specifications 12/3 AWG has a 15 amp max, yet was sustaining at 18 amps for the 20 second test. While the 10/3 AWG is rated for 20 amp max for sustained loads. Not to mention these are brand new cords, not weathered over years of abuse in sun, humid condition, odd bends and drops that can cause micro cuts within the copper core. Which increases its resistance and causing more voltage drop off. Yes it may be a pain in the ass to run that thick and heavy of a cable 50 or 100ft to landscaping/contractor tools, it allows for better safety and longevity. Thus the saying "Pay once, Cry once" still holds true, 10/3 AWG still the better long term investment for heavy load equipment.
Pls show us the 16 gauge what will happen after 10 minutes? i think it will heat up and voltage loss will be even more exponentially more. I think the best test would be to run them all for at least 10 or 20 minutes. My best guess is that 16 gauge would burn up within half hour, the 14 gauge would burn out in 12hr and the 12 and 10 gauge are continuous duty.
I think that’s a great idea for a test I will do it 👍🏾
The dissipate heat if you roll them out.
Looks like all that brand new stuff is ready to be ‘re-turned! 🤫
Lol yep 👍🏾
Now that’s funny 😆
@@GeneratorReviews Lol. I was hoping you wouldn’t be offended. Thanks for the vid!
I would have liked a link to buy the best cord...
You are using extension cords, that are rated at 15A and you are loading them up, with ~20A loads, how safe is that? I would use 20A extension cords. I bet. if you would use those two, for an extended period, you would heat up that cord a lot.
Yeah that would overheat the extension cord and to think most people only by 16 gauge extension cord for all their needs
The 12 and 10 gauge cord can handle way more than 15 amps. The cords are rated for 15 amps because they have the very common and readily available 15 amp plugs on them. If you cut the plugs off, you could attach 20 amp plugs, then bam, you now how a cord rated for 20 amps. Which is ridiculous, as you can imagine. Obviously, these heavy duty 12 and 10 gauge cords would not heat up to a dangerous level with a 15-20 amp load. Those cords would be fine. If you were to wire up a 15 amp circuit in your house, you would use 14 gauge wire. If you wanted a 20 amp circuit in your house, you would use 12 gauge wire.
@@bubbatime so why arent these 10 AWG cords supplied with a 20 amp plug? Think ive seen only one 10 AWG 100 ft cord produced by Dewalt thats rated for 20 amp, yet they arent being sold anywhere currently. Or is it by government standards to have a 20 amp plug it needs to be changed to a T plug?
if im plugging my compressor into the joint directly, how is adding a super fat cord gonna be helping? thanks for the video
If you can plug directly into the generator then that’s great, but let’s say for instance if you’re trying to run your compressor inside the house 50 feet away from the generator the thicker 10 gauge will allows more power to flow through the extension cord the smaller gauge 16 gauge won’t be able to let the power flow to the load.
Thanks for watching
Gavin help! In an rv campground, they use a 50 amp power source. What extension cord should I use to power my tent? I'm tent camping. What are the connectors to use? I'm so dumb at this. I want to power my tent with lights, tv, and a small window AC. Can we buy one cord for all of this directly connected to the campground power supply?
You need an adapter to connect to the 50amp down to 4 15amp plugs
amzn.to/36IiEsH
Check this out on Amazon
how the generator working so far ? is it worth it ?
thanks for the video
It’s an excellent generator
It’s an excellent generator
12/3 will do 95% of all your work.
Agreed!! 💯
Good to know, ty
Sure, but, a wise man once said “if it’s worth doing, it’s worth overdoing” hehe
12 gauge and 10 gauge are almost the same right?
Twelve-gauge wire is good for 20 amps, 10-gauge wire is good for 30 amps.
@@GeneratorReviews thank you I didn’t know I’m glad you took the time to answer. God bless you please keep the videos with this excellent content
Would these results be any different if done with a regular house outlet instead of using a portable generator?
It actually doesn’t matter the source of power. The results will be the same.
that lawn, that tree and fence type looks like Louisiana?
10 gauge is actually a little light for connecting to a generator In theory that AWG can carry more than 15 amps, but here those plugs are the limiting factor. Some of the 110 V plugs on my generator are 30 amp capable. An 8 AWG wire with appropriate plugs is a better choice. Voltage drop can be calculated over distance and AWG size using the formula 2KIL divided by the constant of the AWG gauge selected.
Agreed 👍🏾
It all depends on the purpose... You don't need a #10 cord to plug in a lamp
@@MrCorynick Agreed. If you have the ability to accurately predict all possible current drains for the lifetime of the generator and know a 60w bulb is going to be the heaviest load it will ever see, sure, even a 12 AWG will work just fine. I have used mine to run an RV that was 70 feet away. It happily took the whole generator output, but I also had a 50' 8/2 cord I made just for it. What the RV owner attached to that wasn't my problem.
Great video, but my one issue is the exceeding of cable limits/specifications. Most are stated to be up to 15 amps. Going beyond that exceeds the limit resulting in overheating, greater voltage drop, etc. I tend to view the safe limits of gauge to be 10A for 16AWG, 13A for 14AWG, 15A for 12AWG, and 20A for 10AWG. Good video for proving the point, though.
When using a generator, I'd think it better to use two 12 gauge with the load distributed between them as even as possible.
Oh, and two 12AWG would likely be cheaper than a 10AWG, in parallel would be able to carry more current better, and provide greater flexibility of use especially in everyday use.
@gavin's garage what cord should I use for my 6500 watt 5500 running time predator generator
What’s up
What are you using your generator for?
@@GeneratorReviews I'm using it for my refrigerator and three TV's
@@babyboinews6896 I would get at least a 10 or 12 gauge
@@GeneratorReviews ok thx
Would a welder cable carry it even better then 10 gauge? I believe welding extension cord is 8 gauge
After ten gauge anything lower is pretty much overkill but if you got 6 - 8 gauge why not its gonna be heavy
@@GeneratorReviews I was wanting to connect appliances about 60ft away from a power inverter and figured it would be the best option
Great review brother I've always try to have the 12 or 10 gage wires thanks for this video 📹 awesome
No problem 👍
What is your recommend for the best 25ft 50amp 6 Guage to use from duromax 9000 30amp to 50amp house. Also, is a 50ft or is 25ft sufficient?
25ft and 10 gauge is kinda standard I’ll send you a link of the one I used thanks for watching Brian👍🏾
Houseables Generator Cord 30 Amp 4 Prong, Generators Extension, 25 Ft, 125-250v, 7500 watt max Rating, UL CUL, NEMA L-14-30P, Rubber, 10 Gauge, Heavy Duty, L14-30, Transfer, Power Cable, Locking
amzn.to/3LyfGq2
So this one should cover everything you need for the 9000 Duromax
@@GeneratorReviews My electrician installed a Rophor 50 Amp Generator Power Inlet Box, NEMA SS2-50P Power Inlet Box for 3 Prong Generator Cord, 125/250 Volt, 12500 Watts, Weatherproof, Outdoor Use, ETL Listed. So I'm trying to determine the best cord to attach from that box to my duromax 9000. U did get the adapter.
@@brianlee7055 I’m surprised he didn’t install the four pin so you can get 240 V
Buy the wire and put ends on it, custom sized to your needs.
Good video bro👍
Thanks 🙏🏾
Very informative bro
Thanks
also the longer you load up a lighter grade extension , the heat also build up in the cord . not good . why would anyone take that chance on damaging appliances??
And most people don’t realize the power loss in the cheap extension cord, before they buy a larger generator thinking it’s going to solve their problems. 10 or 12 gauge are the best option in my opinion.
They dissipate heat if you roll them out.
I’m only 55 seconds into the video and one thing I’ve always answered is why are those extension cords we’ll “rated” for the same amperage? Is there a safety factor at play here? 10 gauge should be 20 at least I’d think…
Because they have standard 15A ends. If they had NEMA5 20A ends the 12ga would be a 20A cord. The 20A end would have one prong not parallel to the other (-- l) like this.
Gavin,
Good demonstration. But I think you're obfuscating the subject by using (or even mentioning) the generator. The voltage is drop is going to happen regardless if you're plugged into a generator or utility power. The other thing I think you should emphasize is that the length of the cord matters as much as the gauge. The longer the cord, the more voltage you will lose, and you could have easily demonstrated that by plugging two or more cords together. This of course means that the wire gauge becomes more important when you run a longer cord.
In fairness, 110 volts was the worst case you demonstrated here, and 110 volts should run any device just fine. The point to be made is that 100 feet or more of 16 gauge cord could cause enough voltage drop to cause problems.
Thanks for watching
Thanks for your feedback on this video.
So very true....just bought a NOMA 98 foot 14 gauge that can carry a full 13 amps through its length and run. I just bought that yesterday to match with a new GreenWorks 16 inch electric-corded 12 amp chainsaw. The 50 foot 14 NOMA could carry 15 amps.... and as you say, you can NOT plug two 50 foot cords together and think you will still see 15 amps at the end of the run....doesn't work (as you stated) that way...(smile).
Thanks! 10 it is then.😀
You're welcome!
Good evening, Gavin. This is really an awesome topic! Thank you so much for doing this comparison/demo! Like you indicated, most of us usually cheap out and get something that probably is close to maxing out ALL the time.
Safe travels!!
PS- question...are your generator links affiliate links?
Most people do cheap out on the cord then blame the generator
Yes the links are affiliated
Thanks
@@GeneratorReviews Ok...sounds great. I was hoping they are as I'd like to use those once I decide on whatever generator I'm going to get.
Can somebody please tell me where to buy that meter.🙏
Digital gauge Amazon link: amzn.to/3AJom7O
Personally, I think it is more of ignorance of voltage and gauge size as well as, even in stores like Canadian Tire they all usually carry the same cords with no other choice. The cheapest is not the main reason for buying which cord.
Thank you
Also never use a cord longer than you need, if a 50 ft cord is all you need do not use 100 ft cord, I saw two compressors ruined with a long cord and the wire was too small causing a voltage drop .
Try 8/3 and 6/3 cord
Good info.
Wonder who has longest run time at full load?
Longest run time based on?
@@GeneratorReviews peak watts consistently ran until tank empty lol
@@shanew7361 probably 2 - 3 hours at peak load
@@GeneratorReviews Thanks, need something that runs longer as in overnight.
@@shanew7361 This thing will Run all night But not at a 100% these generators can get 12 hrs at 25% load 50% load where they should be ran
10 ga is the way to go but I would not buy that one. 10ga wiring is capable of handling 30amps. Why is that one rated at only 15a? It must have 15a connectors which makes no sense And is a waste. For 15a you can use 14g or 12ga. It would be interesting to see this test repeated using better quality chords.
Why don't you explain the rules of the cords??
Help us out
You get what you pay for!
Facts 👍🏾
sportsmans gennys will not power a panckake compressor people be safe out
Thanks
Can somebody please tell me where to buy that meter🙏
@@eskuadron4-407 Thanks for watching check link in description
amzn.to/3AJom7O
There is NO REASON to test extension cords to see which one will perform better on a fixed load. ZERO! Except to be king of the blind and feed the UA-cam algorithm.
Wow!!!