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>Honestly, the fact that every consumer hardware store sells racks upon racks of 50+ ft 16-gauge extension cord is obscene. I can't help but face-palm at this
by throwaway0a5e 4y ago
>Honestly, the fact that every consumer hardware store sells racks upon racks of 50+ ft 16-gauge extension cord is obscene.
I can't help but face-palm at this sort of hand wringing. It might not be "right" but it works.
If the 16ga cords regularly melted people wouldn't buy them in those lengths, they wouldn't fly off the shelves, they'd get stocked in lower volume and you'd see less of them on the shelves.
The fact that they don't melt themselves even when used with fairly substantial appliances (large-ish homeowner sized table saws and compressors, all manner of portable power tools) is a testament to how conservative the official recommendations are.
>and was shocked to discover my lawnmower wasn't just safer but also visibly more powerful, which I didn't think was possible.
Voltage drop
- sgarland 4y agoFor lots of things it's fine, yes, but for tools I would not try it. My brother (a contractor) had two compressors die from undersized extension cords before learning about properly sizing them. More resistance --> lower voltage --> motor spins slower --> pulls more current --> compressor electronics die. I'll grant you a contractor's usage of any tool is much higher than a typical homeowner's, there's still no reason not to get the beefier cord. Buy once, cry once.
- Pxtl 4y agoI just mean it's really silly you can go to a Canadian Tire and there'll be a 10-amp 82 foot extension cords for sale right next to the 12 amp corded lawnmowers, and if you want to satisfy the spec you'll have to search all over the store for contractor-grade hardware.