Extension Cord Ratings

[Spurlington]

If a porty requires a 20 amp circuit .. would using a 15 amp 10/3 cord be ok as long as Im using a 20 amp outlet? Or should I be using 20 amp 10/3 to maximize power delivery? (I am aware 20 amp cords have the T blade for using only 20 amp outlets)

I have a couple of Galaxy Pro 2700s needing new cords. Replacement 50 footer specific to the machine from www.ereplacementparts.com is $125. It looks like a 12/3 cord. Ended up spiraling over time. Im guessing heating up. A new 15 amp 10/3 50ft on Amazon is $55

I also ran the original cord connected to a 15 amp 50 ft extention cord that curled over time as well.

 

[Small town janitorial]

For 50 footer I'd run a 10/3. The plug doesn't need to be the 20 amp version. For 25ft runs it isn't as Important.

 

[Dolly Llama]

Ended up spiraling over time

you mean twisted/curled like a pigs tail?

similar to this





only worse??
That's almost always caused by repeatedly unplugging at wall and hand coiling on the way back to machine, sprayer or vac

Unplug at wall and hand coil at the machine/sprayer/vac pulling the cord to you...twisted cords will be a thing of the past


10ga is more than enough to carry 20 amps .
any 10ga rated at only 15a , must be due to it's plug ends rating

Maybe Jim "Sparky" Martin will see this and get you square on that

if it was me, and I was making a new cord, I'd buy "X" amount of feet off a bulk coil and buy male/female 20 amp plugs without the sideways spade so I could use it in any outlet

..L.T.A.

 

[Jim Martin]

I doubt the cords are curling because of heat....99% of the time it is the way people roll them back up......I use 12/3...25 foot cords for everything I use....mine is well over a year old and looks brand new....when I had a full-time employee...his always twisted and all screwed up in less than a month....it all in how you roll them back up....they have a memory and once you change it then they twist in the sheathing....lay them out...put one end in your hand and as you roll it up...twist it in your fingers and let it roll the direction it wants to and it will solve the twisting problem.....or at least reduce it...the type of sheathing also makes a differance...you want a softer type...

as far as your cords...any machine like that I hate to use anything over 25 feet...but sometimes ..you have to have more distance...
I like these.... ....get 2 and only plug them together if needed...other than that...always try to stick with 25 feet if possible.....your amp draw is going to be less ...you will trip fewer breakers...and your machine is going to be much happier.....

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/t...aFFZvinTbXDR9NrH5czzZn64jANbQdIcaAo6gEALw_wcB

 

[Old Coastie]

Out of habit, I always start at the machine and lay it up clockwise. That harks back to line (rope, Marty) and how it is twisted.

Drop cords I start at the male end and lay right (clockwise).

Anyhow, the Chinese send them left laid and right laid. Study the casing a bit and lay it up with however it came. Just make sure you do it the same way every time.

 

[Spurlington]

https://www.amazon.com/ProStyle-50f...&sr=8-4&keywords=10+gauge+extension+cord&th=1

as far as your cords...any machine like that I hate to use anything over 25 feet...but sometimes ..you have to have more distance...
I like these.... ....get 2 and only plug them together if needed...other than that...always try to stick with 25 feet if possible.....your amp draw is going to be less ...you will trip fewer breakers...and your machine is going to be much happier..

Im limited on outlets. Machines came with a 50 ft cord and I need to add another 50 to reach some areas. I use a 10/3 hoping it delivers full power. Sometimes when I disconnect the cord at the machine the connection is very hot. Would this be from extending the cord too far? What kind of wire is running behind the wall to feed the outlet?

 

[Jim Martin]

https://www.amazon.com/ProStyle-50ft-Conductor-Extension-Lighted/dp/B0735GYCRL/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1513220649&sr=8-4&keywords=10+gauge+extension+cord&th=1



Im limited on outlets. Machines came with a 50 ft cord and I need to add another 50 to reach some areas. I use a 10/3 hoping it delivers full power. Sometimes when I disconnect the cord at the machine the connection is very hot. Would this be from extending the cord too far? What kind of wire is running behind the wall to feed the outlet?

the reason it is getting hot is because of the length....the longer the cord....the harder the machine has to work to get the correct amount electric that it needs....the harder it has to draw /pull its power from the outlet ....the higher the amps will go ...and the hotter both the plugs and the motors start to get....

in a perfect world....any 20 amp circuit is supposed to be wired with 12/3.....and a 15 amp circuit is supposed to be wired with a 14/3....but...there is more to it than that...the length of a circuit from the electrical box to the furthermost outlet......how many circuits are on that run...and how much stuff is already plugged into it...and how much power everything is already using..before you even plug into it.... so you may be plugging into a 20 amp circuit that is already lost 5 to 10 amps because of others things using it....

I understand what you're saying being limited to outlets...your standard 10/3 cords are really only rated at 15 amps...you can get a twist lock type 10/3 that is rated at 20 amps...but you're not going to find an end that is made /or safe to use with that cord....and because you have so much length...it is heating them up...

if it were me...I would get a 50ft..and a few 25 footers...of the 10/3 ...and just only use the least amount I have to.....

hope this helps....

 

[Bob Savage]

These cords are made in China, so the core is not what we are used to dealing with, American made copper wire.

 

[Spurlington]

My cord looks worse .. with wire looping out of the jacket near the part that plugs in

 

[dealtimeman]

So you have lost the dual insulator safety of the ford and should replace as soon as possible.

 

[Willy P]

I've used heavy back rubber covered 12/3 cab tire for years with Hubbell plug ends for years with little or no problem.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hubbell-15-Amp-125-Volt-Yellow-3-Wire-Grounding-Plug/3739251

 

[DAT]

I have 5 25' of 12/3 -15amp. No problem with twisting since I only do over-in method. Since my portable is 19 amp, i use one 25' for the vac/inline heater(biggest draw -12 amp) for one plug and other can do 50' no problem on different circuit since its 7 amps.