Rule two: never plug high power capacity appliances , like space heaters, refrigerators, or microwave and toaster ovens into power strips or extension cords. These appliances have higher power capacity and need to be plugged into a wall outlet directly. ... Also, do not connect multiple extension cords together.
Can you plug a small refrigerator into extension cord?
You can technically plug a mini fridge into an extension cord . However, it’s essential to choose a heavy-duty cable that can support the fridge’s power needs, which is best used as a temporary solution. An underpowered extension cord can overheat, melt the insulation, and start a fire.
Can I plug a refrigerator into an extension cord?
While most small appliances can be plugged in to an extension cord with no problem , that isn’t the case with a refrigerator. Refrigerators are huge and need a lot of energy to run and thus a regular extension cord may not be able to take on the job and be a fire hazard to boot.
Why should you not use extension cords?
Extension cords can overheat and cause fires when used improperly. Overheating is usually caused by overloading or connecting appliances that consume more watts than the cord can handle. Damaged extension cords can also cause fires. Extension cords should only be used temporarily.
What should you not use an extension cord for?
Do not substitute extension cords for permanent wiring . Do not run through walls, doorways, ceilings or floors. If cord is covered, heat cannot escape, which may result in a fire hazard. Do not use an extension cord for more than one appliance.
Can you use an extension cord permanently?
Do not use extension cords as permanent wiring . If you find yourself using the same extension cord for more than 30 days, this may indicate a need for more permanent wiring. Do not run extension cords through holes in walls, ceilings, floors, doorways or other openings.
How long do extension cords last?
Extension cords and power strips: While extension cords and power strips don’t come with an expiration date per sae, they do have a limited lifetime use . These items are only designed to handle so much juice over the years and will eventually short out or lose effectiveness.
Is it safe to leave extension cords plugged in outside?
Do NOT leave even your outdoor extension cord outside more than a day or two . Left outside over extended periods, cord materials can breakdown, potentially resulting in sparking, fire, and shock.
What happens if an extension cord gets wet?
Thankfully, an extension cord is a pretty basic device with no complicated circuity inside, so you should expect minimal or zero damage if your extension cord got wet, so long as it’s powered off quickly and dried off completely before usage.
Can you use an extension cord with an iron?
Light-duty extension cords are those that resemble lamp wire cord. These cords should never be used with anything other than very light-duty devices. They are especially dangerous to use with space heaters and other heat-generating appliances, such as toasters or clothes irons, which draw heavy electrical loads.
What happens if you plug an extension cord into itself?
As long as the wires are straight-through and not reversed by some “handyman”, nothing will happen. If the black and white wires are reversed, then you’ll have a short-circuit on your hands and should throw-out that cord.
Are power strips safer than extension cords?
In fact, plugging multiple power strips together, which is known as “daisy-chaining,” is the quickest way to overload your electrical system—and it’s also dangerous and violates most fire safety codes. For the same reason, avoid the use of extension cords with power strips .
WHEN CAN extension cords be used?
Extension cords provide power for devices with cables that can’t reach any nearby electrical outlets . Choosing the right type of extension cord is important to ensure electrical safety and prevent home fires.
How do you hide outdoor extension cords?
You can hide your cables along outdoor walls or baseboards by matching them or their covers to the wall color or simply run them behind the walls themselves . Even if your wires are covered, do not let your guard down by using any old wire or extension cord. Ensure that whatever wires you are using are waterproof.
Can I bury an extension cord?
In general, you can’t bury the outside extension cord . Using a standard extension cord is designed initially only for temporary use. Instead, you can use a more suitable cable type for any permanent outdoor purposes, such as a direct burial UF cable.
How do you know when a cord is bad?
Test for a potential short circuit by touching each prong on the AC side of the power cord . If the multimeter beeps, your power cord is bad and must be replaced immediately. If your power cord is shorted, do not attempt to replug the cord into the AC outlet.
