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The "load rating" on the cords exceeds the total power delivery capability of the system. It has its own circuit breakers. The manufacturers are well aware of

The "load rating" on the cords exceeds the total power delivery capability of the system. It has its own circuit breakers. The manufacturers are well aware of risks, for liability reasons if nothing else, and have contained them in the uniform-electrical-code mandated manner. The system is no more risky than any other plugged-in appliance. We don't need to invent problems. Extension cords are just extension cords.

fragmede 2y ago
no they're not. Not when you're dealing with potentially large loads. an extension cord rated for 13 amps with 16 gauge wiring, with a 110v dryer running on it, will cause a fire, sooner or later. A proper 10-gauge, 20 amp-rated extension cord will not. that this system won't exceed ratings is a fair point, but extension cords are not just extension cords.
- angiosperm 2y ago
  Obviously the extension cord you use needs to be rated for the power it carries. Anyone buying extension cords can see there are different sizes. They are well-labeled, and it is easy to look up the gauge needed for its length and what is to be plugged into it. A correctly-rated extension cord is no more hazardous than the same-rated Romex, and often cheaper. All the appliances mentioned are rated to be used with appropriate extension cords, and cords are sold at retail for such use.
  - fragmede 2y ago
    "obviously" is doing a lot of work there. What's obvious to you isn't obvious to the next guy, who's just going to look for the cheapest cord there is. They're not well marked at Home Depot, you have to bother to look for the right gauge, the cables aren't even necessarily in the right place, and if you don't know jack about being an electrician, it's easy to buy a cheap 2-prong 18-gauge indoor-rated cable for use outside in a wildly inappropriate fashion. No one at Home Depot is going to stop you and ask what you're about to do with the cable. yes, For people with half of a clue, it's possible to buy the right cable and be safe, but we have to plan for the lowest common denominator, and tell people that extension cords are just extension cords when they come in all sorts of flavors, some of which are happy to burn your house down, is irresponsible.
    - icehawk 2y ago
      They're very well marked at Home Depot. The store brand, which is general most prominent, gauge is color coded: 6AWG - Gray / 12AWG - Yellow / 14AWG - Pink / 16AWG - Orange. There's one exception to this where 14 AWG cable is using orange labeling normally used on 16AWG wire but that's the opposite of a safety issue. And they have generally have the rated amperage for the length of the cable.
      - fragmede 2y ago
        yeah but there's no test that asks if you know the difference between a watt and an amp. If you're coming from the paint department, how are you to know that the color is material? I just like orange, it's my favorite color.
        icehawk 2y ago
        Not reading the numbers on the label is an orthogonal issue. My point was gauge and maximum rated amperage are on the label.
    - angiosperm 2y ago
      This all falls under "it is possible to kill yourself by stupidity", with nothing specific to powering appliances from a battery/inverter. People who take the initiative to set up such a system self-select for attention to detail. It is a lot easier to use the wrong cord with no battery system than with.
bigtunacan 2y ago
You lost all credibility with, "Extension cords are just extension cords." For any type of generator running exterior to interior would require rated extension cords to reduce fire risk.
- angiosperm 2y ago
  The extension cords mentioned are all interior-to-interior. There is no magickal difference between an extension-cord wire and a like-gauge Romex wire. The former bends easier. The only outdoor wiring mentioned is 48V.
  - mindslight 2y ago
    I've run my share of long extension cords and chained power strips, running every which way, in both rentals and owned dwellings, powering space heaters and everything else. One thing you really need to watch out for is the connections - even a good tight plug+receptacle has higher resistances (electrical+thermal) than the cable itself or a hardwired terminal screw clamp. An older looser-fitting receptacle can make poor contact with higher resistance and even arcing, making a lot of heat. And also the risk of physical damage to the cable of an extension cord is generally higher. So do what you will, but make sure you're inspecting such runs often, especially for excessive temperature rise at the ends.

fragmede 2y ago

no they're not. Not when you're dealing with potentially large loads. an extension cord rated for 13 amps with 16 gauge wiring, with a 110v dryer running on it, will cause a fire, sooner or later. A proper 10-gauge, 20 amp-rated extension cord will not. that this system won't exceed ratings is a fair point, but extension cords are not just extension cords.

angiosperm 2y ago
Obviously the extension cord you use needs to be rated for the power it carries. Anyone buying extension cords can see there are different sizes. They are well-labeled, and it is easy to look up the gauge needed for its length and what is to be plugged into it. A correctly-rated extension cord is no more hazardous than the same-rated Romex, and often cheaper. All the appliances mentioned are rated to be used with appropriate extension cords, and cords are sold at retail for such use.
- fragmede 2y ago
  "obviously" is doing a lot of work there. What's obvious to you isn't obvious to the next guy, who's just going to look for the cheapest cord there is. They're not well marked at Home Depot, you have to bother to look for the right gauge, the cables aren't even necessarily in the right place, and if you don't know jack about being an electrician, it's easy to buy a cheap 2-prong 18-gauge indoor-rated cable for use outside in a wildly inappropriate fashion. No one at Home Depot is going to stop you and ask what you're about to do with the cable. yes, For people with half of a clue, it's possible to buy the right cable and be safe, but we have to plan for the lowest common denominator, and tell people that extension cords are just extension cords when they come in all sorts of flavors, some of which are happy to burn your house down, is irresponsible.
  - icehawk 2y ago
    They're very well marked at Home Depot. The store brand, which is general most prominent, gauge is color coded: 6AWG - Gray / 12AWG - Yellow / 14AWG - Pink / 16AWG - Orange. There's one exception to this where 14 AWG cable is using orange labeling normally used on 16AWG wire but that's the opposite of a safety issue. And they have generally have the rated amperage for the length of the cable.
    - fragmede 2y ago
      yeah but there's no test that asks if you know the difference between a watt and an amp. If you're coming from the paint department, how are you to know that the color is material? I just like orange, it's my favorite color.
      - icehawk 2y ago
        Not reading the numbers on the label is an orthogonal issue. My point was gauge and maximum rated amperage are on the label.
  - angiosperm 2y ago
    This all falls under "it is possible to kill yourself by stupidity", with nothing specific to powering appliances from a battery/inverter. People who take the initiative to set up such a system self-select for attention to detail. It is a lot easier to use the wrong cord with no battery system than with.

bigtunacan 2y ago

You lost all credibility with, "Extension cords are just extension cords." For any type of generator running exterior to interior would require rated extension cords to reduce fire risk.

angiosperm 2y ago
The extension cords mentioned are all interior-to-interior. There is no magickal difference between an extension-cord wire and a like-gauge Romex wire. The former bends easier. The only outdoor wiring mentioned is 48V.
- mindslight 2y ago
  I've run my share of long extension cords and chained power strips, running every which way, in both rentals and owned dwellings, powering space heaters and everything else. One thing you really need to watch out for is the connections - even a good tight plug+receptacle has higher resistances (electrical+thermal) than the cable itself or a hardwired terminal screw clamp. An older looser-fitting receptacle can make poor contact with higher resistance and even arcing, making a lot of heat. And also the risk of physical damage to the cable of an extension cord is generally higher. So do what you will, but make sure you're inspecting such runs often, especially for excessive temperature rise at the ends.