Extension Cord

Extension Cord

Key Considerations for Buying A Generator Extension Cord

3.5 million American homes lose electrical power to their homes every week of the year, according to the National Weather Service. In an instant, lights, heat, refrigeration, communications and other vital services are lost.

In years gone by the loss of power in a home or business was little more than an annoyance. Even today, a few hours without power are little more than a nuisance. However, extend the loss of electrical power over days and, the consequences can range from destructive to lethal.

Given our reliance on 21st Century technology, it’s easy to imagine how destructive a few days without electrical power can be: Heating and cooling systems fail. Pipes freeze and then burst, causing flooding and structural damage. Sump pumps fail, creating more destruction when basements and cellars flood. Security systems fail, leaving businesses and residences easy targets for looters and thieves. Food spoils in refrigerators and freezers that died. Wells stop pumping water. The potential for dangerous fires spike because most Americans have long forgotten how to live safely with candles and kerosene lamps.

In fact, the National Weather Service says that weekly interruptions of electrical service cost American businesses and homeowners $80 billion a year.

Increasing numbers of savvy homeowners use a portable generator to cope with these costly power losses. Typically gas-powered, these versatile units set up quickly, enabling the home or small business owner to rapidly restore power to selected appliances and services.

However, the essential requirement to transfer the electrical power from a generator to a sump pump, refrigerator, water well, etc. is a Generator Extension Cord. And choosing the correct one makes all the difference in terms of safety and performance.

The main considerations when choosing a generator extension cord are

• The gauge of the cord
• The length of the cord
• Connector Durability
• An Outdoor, All Weather Rating

The gauge of a generator extension cord refers to its electrical conductors. The lower the number (e.g., 12-gauge, 10-gauge, 8-gauge) the thicker and heavier the conductors. 10-gauge is considered to be the minimum gauge for use with portable generators. Lighter duty extension cords are not recommended because they can’t consistently deliver the necessary amperage required to power the devices they are connected to.
The length of an extension cord may seem obvious: get one that is too short and you are suddenly living too close to a noisy, noxious generator. But there is also "too long." Get a generator extension cord that is too long and you will experience amperage drop-off. Plus, long cords are heavy to carry, difficult to coil and a pain to store!

A high quality, properly designed generator cord will always have heavy-duty connectors that are molded to the cord body. Properly molded connectors with strain relief collars prevent the ends from pulling away from the cord body and help insure years of trouble-free use. A clear plug and connector, each equipped with a power check LED, is a desirable feature typically found on high-end generator extension cords. This convenient yet practical option readily lets the user know there is power in both the cord and outlet circuit, saving worry and time.

Finally, because generators are often used in adverse conditions, generator extension cords must be durable and, most importantly, come rated for outdoor, all-weather use.

Milspec Direct provides generator extension cords specifically designed for all makes and models of portable generators. The company’s Pro Power™ generator extension cords set the industry standard for consumer safety and reliability at an affordable price. See their generator extension cord selection here.

About the Author

Milspec Direct provides extension cords and adapters for generators, RV's, homes and for heavy duty use. See Milspec extension cords here.

An extension cord is used with an electric weed trimmer that has a resistance of 12.1?

An extension cord is used with an electric weed trimmer that has a resistance of 12.1 . The extension cord is made of copper wire that has a cross-sectional area of 1.47 x 10-6 m2. The combined length of the two wires in the extension cord is 87.2 m. (a) Determine the resistance of the extension cord. (b) The extension cord is plugged into a 120-V socket. What voltage is applied to the trimmer itself?

Because we have a load (weed trimmer) with resistance and wire with resistance, they both will have voltage drops across them. Therefore, the voltage applied to the load (weed trimmer) will be equal to the source voltage (120 volts) minus the wire resistance voltage drop (unknown).

We are given the value of the weed trimmer resistance. But we need to calculate the wire resistance.
Resistance of wire = R * L / A {from first source link I posted below}
L = total length of wire in meters
A = cross-sectional area of wire = 1.47 * 10^(-6) meters²
R = resistivity of copper = 1.68 * 10^(-8) Ω-meter {from second source link I posted below}

Resistance of wire = (1.68 * 10^(-8)) * (87.2) / (1.47 * 10^(-6))
Resistance of wire = 99.66 * 10^(-2)
Resistance of wire = 0.9966 Ω
Resistance of wire = 1 Ω (rounded)

We now have a simple series circuit with a source voltage, the wire resistance, and the weed trimmer resistance. So there will be a voltage drop across the wire resistance and a voltage drop across the weed trimmer resistance.
Since the weed trimmer resistance (12.1 Ω) is much greater than the wire resistance (1 Ω), the voltage drop across the weed trimmer will be proportionally much larger than the voltage drop across the wire resistance.

To calculate the voltage applied to the weed trimmer, you have a simple voltage divider network where the voltage drop across the weed trimmer is proportional to the ratio of its resistance divided by the total resistance of the circuit. {see third source link I posted below}
= source voltage * trimmer resistance / total resistance
= 120 * (12.1 / (12.1 + 1)
= 120 * (12.1 / 13.1)
= 110.84 volts

Therefore, with a 120 volt source, there will be 110.84 volts dropped across the weed trimmer and 9.16 volts (= 120 - 110.84) dropped across the wire resistance.

Extension Cord Storage