Extension cord is a common item to have in any household because it is used for plugging in a fan located on the other side of a room or even used to power your electric drill. Most of us do not know why sometimes their drill does not work whenever they use the wrong. Therefore, by learning the different types of extension cords and also the usage of the conductors will help you in solving the issues. When you are talking about an extension cord, power extender, or extension lead, it is most likely related to a length of flexible electrical power cable designed either with a plug on one end and one or more sockets on the other end.
What you need to know about extension cord conductors:
- Extension cord wire conductor
- Conductors
- Wire gauge
About Extension Cord Conductors
Type and Sizes of Extension Cord Conductors
- The extension cord consists of a wire conductor wrapped inside the extension.
- The thickness of your wire is known as the gauge and most extension cords come with a gauge of between 12 and 22. This will depend on the number of conductors being used and also the length of the cord. The gauge level also depends on the amps level that you need.
- A single piece of metal or wrapped wire is also called a conductor normally made of tiny strands of copper that have been individually wrapped in nylon, plastic or rubber insulation. They are all inserted in a traditional wire casing.
- The thickness of your wire is known as the gauge and most extension cords come with a gauge of between 12 and 22. This will depend on the number of conductors being used and also the length of the cord. The gauge level also depends on the amps level that you need.
- You would be able to find conductors in single strand (one conductor), double (two conductors), triple and quadruple. The number of conductors used also depends on the purpose for its usage.
- At least five conductors for each cable are normally used for high-energy business purposes, or even for usage of high-voltage tools in large equipment shop.
- At least five conductors for each cable are normally used for high-energy business purposes, or even for usage of high-voltage tools in large equipment shop.
You will find at least two cords inside any cable which include the conductor and the ground line. However, the ground line is not counted in the list.
- The wire gauge represents the thickness of the individual conductor. It can either be very small or very large depending on the length of your cable and also the amount of the conductors.
- A much thicker wire will help to carry energy much farther than a slim wire.
- As for multiple conductors designed with a thinner gauge would be able to carry great amount of electricity
- A much thicker wire will help to carry energy much farther than a slim wire.
Due to limitations of a single-conductor wire, it is not viable to use one large gauge conductor to cater for a high level of electricity.
- Wire conductors should be used according to the right amount of electricity that you want to use.
- If a greater amount of electricity is moved to one conductor, it will become hot and can make the insulation melt and also become dangerous to anyone who uses the cable.
- If you are creating longer distance of extension cord, you need to increase the size of the individual wires rather than increasing the number of conductors.
- If a greater amount of electricity is moved to one conductor, it will become hot and can make the insulation melt and also become dangerous to anyone who uses the cable.
To use a low-voltage appliance like a light or an ordinary plug, you only need to use one or two conductor wire. As for multiple plug connections as well as high energy connections, you need to use a three conductor wire, while high energy equipment should use at least three to four conductors.
Always remember that whenever you are using extension cords,
- The more power needed by your appliance, the extension cord used should be much thicker meaning that the cord is using large wires inside.
