Hello After research I found that if the extension cord cannot handle the current that the tool draws the tool can burn up! It does happen! Therefore installing the longest and heaviest cord is the way to go! In my case, the new Snow Joe electric snow blower for the walkway should have a heavy duty extension cord and a 20 AMP 100 Feet retractable Reel Craft cord reel seems like the way to go? I ordered up the ReelCraft L 70100 123 3A 12/3 AC cord reel. It weighs 74 lbs so having an Escalara Stair Cat or any fork lift to hold it in place on the wall makes it a little easier to mark the holes for mounting. I picked up some strong solid OAK shelving boards at Home Depot custom cut to bridge the studs in the wall for a secure mounting with 1/2” diameter Lag bolts with 3/4” hex heads and Stainless Steel flat washers and lock washers! Also picked up a 20 Amp extension cord to reach the wall outlet. The wall outlet has a 20 Amp outlet with 12 Guage wire to the circuit panel with a 20 AMP circuit breaker! So should work for the electric snow blower, car vac and any other electrical need? I already have the 20 amp breaking in and the 12 Guage wire so I just got the 20 Amp outlet for the special 20 AMP plug. See horizontal slot on left side of both outlets? Any comments? See pics below Shopping around for price helps! Pic 1 - First price I saw Pic 2 & 3 - Zoro with my 20% coupon was the best price! Pic 4 & 5 - unboxing Pic 6-10 - bolting it into the solid AOK board mounted to the wall studs Pic 11 - Home Depot 20 extension to 20 AMP wall outlet Pic 12 - All Mounted Pic 13 - 20 AMP circuit breaker Pic 14 - 20 AMP heavy duty outlet.
You can purchase the empty reel and use your own cord but I have not seen that as an all in one purchase.
Hello Got the NEMA 5-20R duplex outlet in the wall and all wiring to this outlet is 12 Guage. A little tougher to work with than 14 Guage. Then tried to plug the cord reel in to the extension and the extension cord into wall! Turns out the only extension cord that looked like what I wanted that Lowes and Home Depot sell is the 9 ft appliance cord made for 220 volt air conditioners that have the NEMA 6-20 plug & receptacle on it! However the flat prong on the right side above the ground pin and I need the 120 volt AC extension cord with the flat prong on the left side above the ground!! See last pic below Does anyone know where I can buy a 20 AMP 120 volt AC 6 ft extension cord with a NEMA 5-20 plug & receptacle on it locally? I only see them on the internet? This is what I am looking for AC Power Cord, Black, NEMA 5-20P to 5-5-20R, 20A, SJT, 6ft
Close, but not quite right. If the extension cord cannot handle the current (amperes) that the tool draws, the extension cord will burn up...not the tool.' Having an undersized extension cord will lead to voltage drop due to resistance, which increases as the length of cable increases. The voltage drop causes the motor run hotter and harder than normal...which can lead to early failure. Increasing the size of the cable decreases resistance, and decreased resistance leads to less voltage drop. So it doesn't matter if you snowblower draws 1A or 20A, you need wire size sufficient so that it gets 114 - 120 volts to stay happy.
there are specs for amperage draw by voltage , gauge , distance, easy to look up on net. What ever the motor amp is listed at, double it at minimum for start up inrush current.
Yes I thought of that but with the 20% discount coupon it was cheap. The empty reel is $812.00 right here!! https://www.rshughes.com/p/Reelcraf...ive-20-Amps-125V-12-AWG-L-70100/699567_01827/
The only one I saw on Lowes.com is this 20 amp 220 VAC cord locally, just like the Home Depot cord with the flat prong on the wrong side. The rest were OnLine orders. :-( https://www.lowes.com/pd/Utilitech-9-ft-12-3-3-Prong-Indoor-SPT-3-Heavy-Duty-General-Extension-Cord/50248947
I think we are both right. It may depend on the tool. I saw a video on an extension cord that burned out using a 25 amp power washer. However in this video using an 18 guage extension cord with a circular saw burned out the circular saw!
Correct. Using identical cords, that 20A tool would see a much bigger voltage drop than the 1A tool -- which was Don's point.
A friend of mine plugged his diesel truck in one night , what do you know he was woken up by firetrucks. Burned his truck to the ground and also the front half of his garage. Fire department went right to the cord ; too small and extra long and coiled up right on the ground in front of the truck. Yes it does happen.
Exactly, I got this cord for the 21” Snow Joe which is rated for 120 VAC @ 15 Amps That is why I work so hard to go with a garage outlet and extension cord that is all 12 Guage which is rated for 20 Amps.
Here is more fuel to the fire! Why a heavy extension cord is needed just for a shop vac! However The guy in this video makes a good comparison but he is most likely starting on a 14 Guage 15 amp house circuit and putting in a cheap power strip is making it worse! Starting the testing on a cheap power strip is not a good idea! Also he is probably on a standard 14 Guage 15 amp house circuit! That is why he is getting only 18.5 volts to start with! LOL I put in a 12 Guage 20 amp house circuit to the garage so I am getting 119.3 VAC to start and with better extension cord wire 119.1 VAC at the end of my 100 ft extension!! LOL Comments?? Pic 1 - Results in Video Pic 2 & 3 - My results!!
I’ve got a 50’ 10/2 winter ❄️ type cord I use just for a 10 amp battery charger for the semi when I’m home. seeing how the cord melts into the snow is incredible…. then you plug in the block heater which is 1500w and how the snow melts around it for like 1/2”…. I can’t begin to think the voltage drop for something like this with a 12/2 100’ cord.
Oh, I know you can…. just lazy I guess. Know what voltage drop is and sizing wire for automotive use isn’t much different in theory so I always start looking for larger wire cable for anything Like that. it catches your attention when you’ve been sawing and grab a cord and realize how hot it’s become, you go for a larger cord next time or to continue. I’ve gotten rid of all my 14/2 cords and starting to even search out 8/2 stuff. building our house now and working with the electrician. Makes one really perk an ear to sizing.
