Extension Cord Safety Tip

[dragginmetal]

A buddy was telling me the other day, not to use extension cords rolled up. I’ve never heard this. I’ve been using rolled up cords for about 25yrs now and never had a problem but decided to Google it. It seems he was right. Learn something new every day.

http://www.safetyattitude.com/articl...tricalcord.pdf



I’ve been using 3 of these for years now. I’m gonna hate to pull all this cord out every time I need it, but I guess better safe than sorry.

[ERASER5]

Yes and no. The truth is that the overheating is LOAD dependant. If you are running a trouble light, coiling will never be a problem. If you are plugging up an air conditioner, freezer, large battery charger at the same time you will have an issure no matter what. Thinking about what you are doing is the key, making all inclusive rules that rarely apply is not.

[dragginmetal]

Thats what i was telling him. Don't over load the cord and no problems. Thats when he said that just having it rolled up while in use would create heat. Even in light duty use. Then he sent me the link i posted.


So what does everybody here think? Its ok to use rolled up cords as long as you dont go over what its rated or Allways unroll the cord before use? I sure dont want to unroll it if i dont have to.

[Lee H]

Any body can find an Internet article about anything they want, good or bad. All those home spun diatribes about friend or a neighbor are nothing more than entertainment. Now if United Laboratories or Consumer Reports published a warning I would be more inclined heed.
Posted via Mobile Device

[ETsC10]

Great subject and something I would never have considered.
I think it would alright to use a rolled up cord as long as you dont overload it.
But, better yet, use the shortest cord you have for what you are doing.

I know a few folks that daisy-chain their cords but it seems to me that that
would dammage the cord and be a safety issue also.

[dragginmetal]

Originally Posted by Lee H

Any body can find an Internet article about anything they want, good or bad. All those home spun diatribes about friend or a neighbor are nothing more than entertainment. Now if United Laboratories or Consumer Reports published a warning I would be more inclined heed.
Posted via Mobile Device

Fair enough. Good point. I never thought about United Laboratories. Their web site should have been my first stop.

Originally Posted by ETsC10

Great subject and something I would never have considered.
I think it would alright to use a rolled up cord as long as you dont overload it.
But, better yet, use the shortest cord you have for what you are doing.

I know a few folks that daisy-chain their cords but it seems to me that that
would dammage the cord and be a safety issue also.

That's what started this discusion. I didn't have a short cord and when i pulled out the 100ft in a 5gl bucket, he started his lecture. I will admit, i do need to get some shorter ones. It's just that ex-cords are not cheap and i've been using these like this for so long it's hard to break a habit. .....Now that i'm thinking about it. These ex-cords were bought back around 1989 or 90. It might be time to replace them with some new ones anyway.

[hayhauler71]

I have used many drop lights and drop cords that hang from the ceiling and never saw a warning about unloading the whole reel just don't over load the cord that is why they have a rating on them

[Gumby]

The "not to use extension cords rolled up" thing I heard was due to ya know how ya wind a wire around a nail to make a magnet, the loops of wire still have a field effect, that causes more load then needed. we had to always lay out the cords at the job site.

[dragginmetal]

Originally Posted by hayhauler71

I have used many drop lights and drop cords that hang from the ceiling and never saw a warning about unloading the whole reel just don't over load the cord that is why they have a rating on them

You said it perfect. I havent thought about drop lights and drop cords. After the lecture he gave me, i cant wait to see what he has to say when i send him the link to this tread.

[dragginmetal]

Originally Posted by Gumby

The "not to use extension cords rolled up" thing I heard was due to ya know how ya wind a wire around a nail to make a magnet, the loops of wire still have a field effect, that causes more load then needed. we had to always lay out the cords at the job site.

That was his first point to me. So i said, I thought the insulation was there to help stop that. That's when he started talking about heat build up.

[cdowns]

biggest thing is the longer the extension cord the heavier gauge wire it should be made of to carry the load without melting// ALOT of people go for the cheap cheap longer ones and have all sorts of problems burnin things up

[Gumby]

Originally Posted by dragginmetal

That was his first point to me. So i said, I thought the insulation was there to help stop that. That's when he started talking about heat build up.

if you did it in science class, you wrap an insulated wire around the nail, red coated copper wire or even reg rubber covered wire, it turned the nail into a magnet either way.

the insulation only stop direct contact shorts, cross talk or effects of power generation don't care about some rubber.

[dragginmetal]

Originally Posted by Gumby

if you did it in science class, you wrap an insulated wire around the nail, red coated copper wire or even reg rubber covered wire, it turned the nail into a magnet either way.

the insulation only stop direct contact shorts, cross talk or effects of power generation don't care about some rubber.

Hum... Not sure what to say after that.
I wonder how drop cords get away with it. Now i'm right back where i started. To unroll or leave rolled? Seems the only thing everyone is sure of is don't over load the cord.

[Gumby]

Well our anal retentive boss[who was a mechanical engineer ] would go on and on about the effects and how were burning up his equipment not laying them out straight.

[ERASER5]

Originally Posted by Gumby

The "not to use extension cords rolled up" thing I heard was due to ya know how ya wind a wire around a nail to make a magnet, the loops of wire still have a field effect, that causes more load then needed. we had to always lay out the cords at the job site.

That is incorrect. AC cords, extension or otherwise, will never make a magnet. The hot and neutral cancel the induction. You need a single wire for induction.

[pritch]

I know a guy who's shed burned to the ground-the FD determined that it was because he (foolishly) ran romex free air from his house. And then put 2 or 3 wraps around the top of a pole, you know, to take the weight. Apperently, that's where the fire started.

I have several extention cords, but the one's I use most are just 10 or 12 foot long. They can be had fairly reasonably if you just buy bulk cord and put your own ends on. Then you can have the lenght you need.

[71swb4x4]

Originally Posted by pritch

I have several extention cords, but the one's I use most are just 10 or 12 foot long. They can be had fairly reasonably if you just buy bulk cord and put your own ends on. Then you can have the lenght you need.

Or just run the 50 footer over with the lawnmower and by the time you get is all unwrapped from the mower the only useable pieces left are a 10' and a 12'.

[Gumby]

Well that isn’t what I meant, just an example, something about the wire being in a loop causing more resistance, which then put more load on the compressors as the motors didn’t get as much juice as it needed or something, as construction sites have only 1 temp hook up, often by the road and each contractor has to run a mile of cords all from the same source.

[dragginmetal]

Originally Posted by pritch

I have several extention cords, but the one's I use most are just 10 or 12 foot long. They can be had fairly reasonably if you just buy bulk cord and put your own ends on. Then you can have the lenght you need.

I didnt know anybody sold bulk cord. I'm gonna check my local Homedepot and see what they have. This sounds like a good idea.

Originally Posted by 71swb4x4

Or just run the 50 footer over with the lawnmower and by the time you get is all unwrapped from the mower the only useable pieces left are a 10' and a 12'.

I have some water hoses that meet the same fate.

[Turkey]

Internet myth

[Gumby]

Originally Posted by dragginmetal

I didnt know anybody sold bulk cord.

most places will have it, usually with welding cable on a spool, a secret tip used by people into car stereo stuff, welding cable has far beyond normal specs and carries juice like a MO-FO

[pritch]

Originally Posted by Gumby

welding cable has far beyond normal specs and carries juice like a MO-FO

That's why my jumper cables are made from it. There's days when I have to jump bulldozers

[truckdude239]

i got a cord thats rooled around an old rim hanging on my shop wall at work and i've never unrolled it and have never had any issuses i use it for work lights and a small battery charger no issuses in 10 years its been there

[dragginmetal]

Originally Posted by Gumby

most places will have it, usually with welding cable on a spool, a secret tip used by people into car stereo stuff, welding cable has far beyond normal specs and carries juice like a MO-FO

Just for clarification, We are talking about bulk cord that has 3 wires already together right? Just need to add the end plugs.

Originally Posted by Turkey

Internet myth

Originally Posted by pritch

That's why my jumper cables are made from it. There's days when I have to jump bulldozers

Originally Posted by truckdude239

i got a cord thats rooled around an old rim hanging on my shop wall at work and i've never unrolled it and have never had any issuses i use it for work lights and a small battery charger no issuses in 10 years its been there

Thanks for the heads up y'all. I do appreciate all the feed back.

[Gumby]

Originally Posted by dragginmetal

Just for clarification, We are talking about bulk cord that has 3 wires already together right? Just need to add the end plugs.

yep, id hit a hardware, farm or general store , but not like walmart or any place new.

for me id goto Andersons to find wire on a roll like that, been around a while place. on the back wall, big spools of all kinds of wires, cables and chain.