Finally! Information we need with a sense of humor. Why does everyone need to tell us how smart they are and how not smart we are? Love the information, the visuals, and the humor. More please.
@Ohio Power Tool. Thanks for discussing the lowly but often taken for granted extension cord. I see OPT sells 12/3 blue extension cords that work better in cold weather since the insulation doesn't get stiff like the others. Now I've got to get one. Hope you, the staff at OPT, and your families stay safe and well.
Ok, going from a generator to the house outlet. I have two 25 foot 10ga, 4 wire. Is it safe to hook them together or does the connection preset a fire hazzard? The Generator is 30 AMP, 240 volt, and the wire should handle the load, I just am not sure about the connectors. I realize that the 50 foot may drop amp or voltage somewhat...I would appreciate your input.
Hi Nick. I have a question that some might find the answer interesting to know. I take a 100ft extension cord and plug it in to the wall outlet, run the other end out to the shed for lighting but don't turn the lights only at certain times of the night. is the cord using electricity even when the lighting is off? thanks
that is a good question. the easiest way i can put it is that it works similar to a water hose. if your sprinkler is off, the water sits in the hose but the flow has stopped. if your cord is connected to a electrical source, electricity is flowing through that cord, but when your lights are off, your electrical current is significantly less as your light is 'blocking' the flow. hopefully that makes sense. thanks for watching!
But what if your not using it for power tools I have a 100’ contractor grade power cord running out to my shed to run a light, a tv and internet. I don’t leave it plugged in all the time just when I’m out there witch is every night how do I know how much amps I need (I know it’s not the safest but to get my shed powered to my house was gonna be $4000 and I don’t have that kinda money)
Thanks for video i was just about to double up two old cords i had laying around..i got an electric weed wacker and it doesnt reach the whole yard but now i guess ill get a longer cord..
A higher gauge wire increases it’s resistance, making a voltage divider circuit on both ends of the tool. You won’t get any amperage drop because the amperage is the same no matter what’s in a closed loop. You will have a voltage drop because your tool is in series with 2 resistors (the wire going in the tool and out to the plug)
I would not suggest using an extension cord for that a heat press machine if you can help it. When possible try to keep as close to the power supply area as possible. If you are in a spot however and are needing to use an extension cord. Something 12 gauge or larger would be recommended, in as short of a cord as you can get for the job.
@@OhioPowerTool Thank you for the info, I greatly appreciate it. I was trying to avoid it but I have no more room available in the basement and the outlet isn't close enough
I just know this isn't a good idea but someone won't get a proper cord for the hot tub and pool. The setup is like this One extension cord is plugged into the house. This goes to one of those plug stations with 12 outlets I think. Now one of those has another extension cord plugged into it to go to the pool where a pump and a heater is plugged in. Sometimes another extension cord is used to plug from the end of the pool cord to the commercial bouncy castle slide. It's huge. Now tell me why their heater pump keeps turning off constantly. Ty:)))
Great question! Unfortunately we only carry 3 prong extension cords, but a 10-15 amp cord should be more than enough to power a 1500watt kettle. Be careful when using a 2 prong extension cord though, they have a tendency to overheat easily
So I've heard the rule of thumb is to use 2 less gauge from the device's original cord. A 14 gauge cord for a circular saw should use a 12 gauge wire. The longer the wire the fewer amps the wire will supply, which is why you just look at the amp rating of the wire. But I have a question. I have a 14,000 btu ac (15 amps, 120 v, 1800 wats) It just BARELY hits the plug on the wall. So the wire for the ac is rated at 14 gauge, however, I don't feel safe using a 12 gauge wire, even though it says it supports up to 15. I did find a 10 gauge wire at only 3ft, but the packaging says it only supports 15 amps (what I need anyways). But how could it be that the lower gauge supports the same amps as the 12 gauge, and it's a shorter wire too? Is this more so a limitation of the volts? I am assuming you can't get any more amps out of a 120 ish volt plug. Cause I checked 200 ish volt cables and at the same gauge of 10, it supports more amps. Now I know it is not necessarily the safest to use an extension cord on a device that's always in use, but we do keep the space at 75 degrees so it's not like the ac is going to be at that max amp all the time, mostly just at startup. What is the benefit of using the 10 gauge @ 15 amps over a 12 gauge rated for the same amps? is it just better protected cause the wire is just bigger?
10' isn't going to make much of a difference honestly. However, with 15a, 10g will definitely help keep a steady flow of power. The cord is thicker to push more current. Works like traffic, more lanes, better flow. Also, to answer another question in there. Sure, many cords can push higher amps than normal rated, but running all day could burn up your tool/unit cause the current isn't flowing (constant rush hour traffic lol).
I’m just googling extension cord. Because to be honest , I don’t know much about them. There’s a problem with my electric at my house and my landlord”s car repair business is 2 doors down said he would hook up an extension cord from his place to my place …..so I could at least have a little power .(there’s a house between us . Do you not think that sounds crazy ? I told him no because the distance causes too much impedance ….Im afraid of an electrical fire.🔥 What do you think ?
@@songanon it’s for camp trip. Just curious what’s the longest distance an extension can be. If too long will cord heat up or damage electronic devices?
@@Shea_Connerty longer will just not allow as much amps and volts even with a cord rated at the same guage. that's why they also tell u max amps and volts on the wire when you buy it. So you don't have to do the math. the typical rule is to use 2 less gauge from the device's original cord. A 14 gauge cord for a circular saw(the wire will say right on it) should use a 12 gauge wire. The longer the wire the fewer amps the wire will supply, which is why you just look at the amp rating of the wire. But I have a question. Now if ur running an extension cord from the generator to a device, for the most part a 14 gauge wire will be just fine. But lets say its a heater. 12 or 10 gage is what u may wanna go (given the watts, amps, and volts are at or under what the wire can supply) . As for an extension cord for the generator , read the manual it should state if u can even run one. but given the specs u gave me, 10 gauge cord is what ur gonna wanna go with. This seems to be the safest. at 125 volts a 10 gauge will only go up to 15 amps and 125 volts. But will provide better insulation for the wire than a 12 gauge rated at the same specs. Now obvi the longer the lower it will go, but the box of the wire will say. But the generator is probably running on higher than 125 , prob like 200 something, so 10 gauges are far more common on this higher volt (will not fit in a standard socket obviously) This will most likely be the safest bet for a generator, but u would need to find a plug that u can fit the 200 something cord. Most camping sites probably support this type because of this
I don't get this, I bought a 14awg/3c extension cord that says 13 Amps but all these charts I see say 14 gauge at 200ft isn't even enough for the 8 amps I bought it for.
14 awg cords cannot handle higher amperages, especially at longer lengths-- a 14 awg/200ft cord should really only be used for 2-3 amps. If you need a longer cord we would suggest going with a 10 or 12 gauge because they are much better at managing their power output at long distances.
Question? This is all very fine , but how do you deal with arc fault breakers on the jobsite, they flip breakers ,table and miter saws . There is no info on this , on all of UA-cam And not much on google either. Go for it. Yes you can buy battery powered tools Very expensive solution
It sounds like your extension cords may not have the proper gauge to run the tools you're plugging into them; take a look at the power requirements for each tool and make sure your extension cords are able to draw enough power from your power source to sufficiently power your tools!
Believe me , it’s not that, this is a very common problem on jobsites I’ve tried plugging directly in. The issue is arc fault breakers, even a 20 amp will Flip, Not every brand of arc fault But 1/2, Not one video on UA-cam On it, Ask any working new home Carpenter It’s a big reason why many are going battery everything, My question would be is there a variac of some sort that would work?
Both the Southwire 100' 12/3 SJTW Outdoor Extension Cord With Lighted End (Yellow) 2589SW0002 ( www.ohiopowertool.com/southwire-tools-equipment-2589sw0002 ) and Southwire 50' 12/3 SJTW Outdoor Extension Cord With Lighted End (Yellow) 2588SW0002 ( www.ohiopowertool.com/southwire-tools-equipment-2588sw0002 ) are both good for outdoor use as they stay flexible and durable which still being able to power a vacuum!
Stack up on some heavy duty extension cords.Get them asap.Get the ones with a lot of watts that says heavy duty.If you get them now you don't have to worry about getting them incase of an power outage
gotta work harder than that for your little money making video. show some real worl examples of where pushing the load is owrth it but is crossing the line still or cover something extra. your lame
Where can I find or can you recommend a 150' cord? I have literally been looking for one for 3 days now and although often mentioned or referred to (in concept), in various places, I can't actually find one for sale ANYWHERE ! EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING ! P L EA S E H E L P ! (I have a TORO 120-volt, 12 AMP Ultra Electric Blower &Vacuum Mulcher, Model # 5619, Serial # 320208820)
For powering a 12 Amp tool we wouldn't recommend using a cord any longer than 100 ft. because longer cords can overheat easily. We have a few different 100 ft. cords available here: www.ohiopowertool.com/categories/extension-cords-gfci?p=2
@@OhioPowerTool A 10 gague (i.e., 10/3 geavy duty outdoor) 150 foot cord should be able to handle this w/out that problemm, shouldn't it . . . or a 100 foot 14 gauge (i.e., 14/3 heavy duty outdoor) cord, coupled with a 10 gauge (i.e., 10/3 geavy duty outdoor) 50 foot line, as the primary / 1st feed from the power source ? I need a 160 foot range due to the size area I'm dealing with. (I will check out your link, too)
Finally! Information we need with a sense of humor. Why does everyone need to tell us how smart they are and how not smart we are? Love the information, the visuals, and the humor. More please.
I never knew this was a thing until I was using the blower and the cord sort of melted on me.
@Ohio Power Tool. Thanks for discussing the lowly but often taken for granted extension cord. I see OPT sells 12/3 blue extension cords that work better in cold weather since the insulation doesn't get stiff like the others. Now I've got to get one.
Hope you, the staff at OPT, and your families stay safe and well.
Ok, going from a generator to the house outlet. I have two 25 foot 10ga, 4 wire. Is it safe to hook them together or does the connection preset a fire hazzard? The Generator is 30 AMP, 240 volt, and the wire should handle the load, I just am not sure about the connectors. I realize that the 50 foot may drop amp or voltage somewhat...I would appreciate your input.
Hi Nick. I have a question that some might find the answer interesting to know. I take a 100ft extension cord and plug it in to the wall outlet, run the other end out to the shed for lighting but don't turn the lights only at certain times of the night. is the cord using electricity even when the lighting is off?
thanks
that is a good question. the easiest way i can put it is that it works similar to a water hose. if your sprinkler is off, the water sits in the hose but the flow has stopped. if your cord is connected to a electrical source, electricity is flowing through that cord, but when your lights are off, your electrical current is significantly less as your light is 'blocking' the flow. hopefully that makes sense. thanks for watching!
Can I use the orange cord for a mini fridge?
I run 10 awg on everything,
hell yeah. get one or 2 good 10 awg cables and use it for everything 😂
@@songanon..how to choose a good 10 awg .?
Thank you! Great information always overlooked. I need a copy of the chart for power cords.
Thanks for the info! I'm still laughing about your Extension Cord "It's a problem"! Im sure if I focus, I'll learn something when I watch it again.
But what if your not using it for power tools I have a 100’ contractor grade power cord running out to my shed to run a light, a tv and internet. I don’t leave it plugged in all the time just when I’m out there witch is every night how do I know how much amps I need (I know it’s not the safest but to get my shed powered to my house was gonna be $4000 and I don’t have that kinda money)
As long as you've got a surge protector hooked up to ensure against power surges, you should be set with a standard cord!
@@OhioPowerTool ya I got one hooked up and the extension cord if 12 gage
Thanks for video i was just about to double up two old cords i had laying around..i got an electric weed wacker and it doesnt reach the whole yard but now i guess ill get a longer cord..
A higher gauge wire increases it’s resistance, making a voltage divider circuit on both ends of the tool. You won’t get any amperage drop because the amperage is the same no matter what’s in a closed loop. You will have a voltage drop because your tool is in series with 2 resistors (the wire going in the tool and out to the plug)
Can I use a 20amp extension cord on a 15amp outlet?
Great videos! I came here for the info but am subscribing because of the entertainment
😂 we try! Thank you!
Trying to find one for my heat press machine. Any recommendations?
I would not suggest using an extension cord for that a heat press machine if you can help it. When possible try to keep as close to the power supply area as possible.
If you are in a spot however and are needing to use an extension cord. Something 12 gauge or larger would be recommended, in as short of a cord as you can get for the job.
@@OhioPowerTool Thank you for the info, I greatly appreciate it. I was trying to avoid it but I have no more room available in the basement and the outlet isn't close enough
Great video. (Not yanking your cord!)
Informative and entertaining; always a winning combination. Keep up the great work.
I just know this isn't a good idea but someone won't get a proper cord for the hot tub and pool. The setup is like this
One extension cord is plugged into the house. This goes to one of those plug stations with 12 outlets I think. Now one of those has another extension cord plugged into it to go to the pool where a pump and a heater is plugged in. Sometimes another extension cord is used to plug from the end of the pool cord to the commercial bouncy castle slide. It's huge. Now tell me why their heater pump keeps turning off constantly. Ty:)))
I was wondering what two prong extension cord should I use for a 1500watt electric kettle?
Great question! Unfortunately we only carry 3 prong extension cords, but a 10-15 amp cord should be more than enough to power a 1500watt kettle. Be careful when using a 2 prong extension cord though, they have a tendency to overheat easily
Extension cord, "It's a problem" joke had me ROFLMFAO. Thanks for the needed info and the laugh :D
The Makita Mitre saw does look like a good one.
The chart on your website is very helpful.
my matine says "rated current 17a ,voltage110v-120v" can someone help me find a good cord on amazon?
Great video and production. Plus your sense of humor!!
A riveting dissertation on the applied engineering of one's work ecosystem. Marvelous.
So I've heard the rule of thumb is to use 2 less gauge from the device's original cord. A 14 gauge cord for a circular saw should use a 12 gauge wire. The longer the wire the fewer amps the wire will supply, which is why you just look at the amp rating of the wire. But I have a question.
I have a 14,000 btu ac (15 amps, 120 v, 1800 wats) It just BARELY hits the plug on the wall. So the wire for the ac is rated at 14 gauge, however, I don't feel safe using a 12 gauge wire, even though it says it supports up to 15. I did find a 10 gauge wire at only 3ft, but the packaging says it only supports 15 amps (what I need anyways). But how could it be that the lower gauge supports the same amps as the 12 gauge, and it's a shorter wire too? Is this more so a limitation of the volts? I am assuming you can't get any more amps out of a 120 ish volt plug. Cause I checked 200 ish volt cables and at the same gauge of 10, it supports more amps. Now I know it is not necessarily the safest to use an extension cord on a device that's always in use, but we do keep the space at 75 degrees so it's not like the ac is going to be at that max amp all the time, mostly just at startup.
What is the benefit of using the 10 gauge @ 15 amps over a 12 gauge rated for the same amps? is it just better protected cause the wire is just bigger?
10' isn't going to make much of a difference honestly. However, with 15a, 10g will definitely help keep a steady flow of power. The cord is thicker to push more current. Works like traffic, more lanes, better flow. Also, to answer another question in there. Sure, many cords can push higher amps than normal rated, but running all day could burn up your tool/unit cause the current isn't flowing (constant rush hour traffic lol).
I’m just googling extension cord. Because to be honest , I don’t know much about them.
There’s a problem with my electric at my house and my landlord”s car repair business is 2 doors down said he would hook up an extension cord from his place to my place …..so I could at least have a little power .(there’s a house between us .
Do you not think that sounds crazy ? I told him no because the distance causes too much impedance ….Im afraid of an electrical fire.🔥
What do you think ?
Is tools starting on fire that common?
nah, exaggerating. but could happen... Electrical overload could burn up the motor or flip the breaker, and that's just annoying.
I have a husky 1800 watt generator. What’s the maximum length extension cord. To power 46 inch tv?
you need an extention cord for the generator to wall or a cord for tv to generator?
@@songanon it’s for camp trip. Just curious what’s the longest distance an extension can be. If too long will cord heat up or damage electronic devices?
@@Shea_Connerty longer will just not allow as much amps and volts even with a cord rated at the same guage. that's why they also tell u max amps and volts on the wire when you buy it. So you don't have to do the math. the typical rule is to use 2 less gauge from the device's original cord. A 14 gauge cord for a circular saw(the wire will say right on it) should use a 12 gauge wire. The longer the wire the fewer amps the wire will supply, which is why you just look at the amp rating of the wire. But I have a question. Now if ur running an extension cord from the generator to a device, for the most part a 14 gauge wire will be just fine. But lets say its a heater. 12 or 10 gage is what u may wanna go (given the watts, amps, and volts are at or under what the wire can supply) . As for an extension cord for the generator , read the manual it should state if u can even run one. but given the specs u gave me, 10 gauge cord is what ur gonna wanna go with. This seems to be the safest. at 125 volts a 10 gauge will only go up to 15 amps and 125 volts. But will provide better insulation for the wire than a 12 gauge rated at the same specs. Now obvi the longer the lower it will go, but the box of the wire will say. But the generator is probably running on higher than 125 , prob like 200 something, so 10 gauges are far more common on this higher volt (will not fit in a standard socket obviously) This will most likely be the safest bet for a generator, but u would need to find a plug that u can fit the 200 something cord. Most camping sites probably support this type because of this
also make sure its rated for outdoor use, if it doesn't say the cable isn't! This protects it from overheating and damage
I don't get this, I bought a 14awg/3c extension cord that says 13 Amps but all these charts I see say 14 gauge at 200ft isn't even enough for the 8 amps I bought it for.
14 awg cords cannot handle higher amperages, especially at longer lengths-- a 14 awg/200ft cord should really only be used for 2-3 amps. If you need a longer cord we would suggest going with a 10 or 12 gauge because they are much better at managing their power output at long distances.
Wow. Superb presentation
The shorter the cord the more power... I think I can relate.
Question? This is all very fine , but how do you deal with arc fault breakers on the jobsite, they flip breakers ,table and miter saws .
There is no info on this , on all of UA-cam
And not much on google either.
Go for it.
Yes you can buy battery powered tools
Very expensive solution
It sounds like your extension cords may not have the proper gauge to run the tools you're plugging into them; take a look at the power requirements for each tool and make sure your extension cords are able to draw enough power from your power source to sufficiently power your tools!
Believe me , it’s not that, this is a very common problem on jobsites
I’ve tried plugging directly in.
The issue is arc fault breakers, even a 20 amp will
Flip,
Not every brand of arc fault
But 1/2,
Not one video on UA-cam
On it,
Ask any working new home
Carpenter
It’s a big reason why many are going battery everything,
My question would be is there a variac of some sort that would work?
Thank you for your time!
I also have 240 volt extension cords and then I use a 3 KVA step down portable transformer to reduce voltage drop from long cord runs.
so which cable is the best? for most devices outside like wash car seats and for example use a vacuum for a powerful suction of dirty water
Both the Southwire 100' 12/3 SJTW Outdoor Extension Cord With Lighted End (Yellow) 2589SW0002 ( www.ohiopowertool.com/southwire-tools-equipment-2589sw0002 ) and Southwire 50' 12/3 SJTW Outdoor Extension Cord With Lighted End (Yellow) 2588SW0002 ( www.ohiopowertool.com/southwire-tools-equipment-2588sw0002 ) are both good for outdoor use as they stay flexible and durable which still being able to power a vacuum!
@@OhioPowerTool Thank you for the info
In Aus we only use 1/2 the gauge
GFCI is the best to prevent burning or combusting or smoking
The bigger power tools,requires the right extension cord.
That chart seems very conservative to me.
Stack up on some heavy duty extension cords.Get them asap.Get the ones with a lot of watts that says heavy duty.If you get them now you don't have to worry about getting them incase of an power outage
There's so much more
skill says you CANT use a 100 ft extention cord with theyre skillsaw
Good catch! We appreciate you bringing that to our attention
@@OhioPowerTool what do you think about that
Christmas lights work
👍🤩💝😂
gotta work harder than that for your little money making video. show some real worl examples of where pushing the load is owrth it but is crossing the line still or cover something extra. your lame
I'm supposed to be making money from these videos? I need to talk to someone.
Where can I find or can you recommend a 150' cord? I have literally been looking for one for 3 days now and although often mentioned or referred to (in concept), in various places, I can't actually find one for sale ANYWHERE ! EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING ! P L EA S E H E L P !
(I have a TORO 120-volt, 12 AMP Ultra Electric Blower &Vacuum Mulcher, Model # 5619, Serial # 320208820)
For powering a 12 Amp tool we wouldn't recommend using a cord any longer than 100 ft. because longer cords can overheat easily. We have a few different 100 ft. cords available here: www.ohiopowertool.com/categories/extension-cords-gfci?p=2
@@OhioPowerTool A 10 gague (i.e., 10/3 geavy duty outdoor) 150 foot cord should be able to handle this w/out that problemm, shouldn't it . . . or a 100 foot 14 gauge (i.e., 14/3 heavy duty outdoor) cord, coupled with a 10 gauge (i.e., 10/3 geavy duty outdoor) 50 foot line, as the primary / 1st feed from the power source ? I need a 160 foot range due to the size area I'm dealing with.
(I will check out your link, too)