They will restrict the line to small loads to reduce the chances of overheating.Įven though the cable can withstand more power under normal circumstances, the absence of proper ventilation will force you to limit the load size. You see this when a contractor buries a cable behind a wall. Therefore, you must identify the amount of power an electrical line can withstand without melting.Īn increase in the temperature will force you to reduce the current. You can blame this phenomenon on the resistance found in every conductor. Overheating is an ever-present threat because electricity generates heat when it flows through a conductor. Every decision you make regarding electrical wiring is designed to transmit electricity without starting a fire. This makes sense once you realize that a wire’s gauge shows you the number of amps it can carry without overheating. Why? Because the ampacity increases with the temperature. A 14-gauge wire can transmit 20 amps at 60 degrees C, but that figure jumps to25 amps at 90 degrees C. It shows the ampacity of each gauge at 60, 70, and 90 degrees C. Things To Consider While Choosing Different Gauge Extension Cord With Respect To Its Amps Temperature Variables like the temperature and material can finetune your selection, especially if you intend to deploy the extension cord in rugged locations with potentially dangerous conditions. You should only use an extension cord whose amp rating exceeds the ampacity of the appliance. You can reverse the process by finding the gauge of an extension cord you already own, using the gauge to find the amps in a wire size chart, and comparing the results to the total amps of your devices. Compare the total amps to a wire size chart to get the gauge.If you expect the extension cord to support multiple devices, get their total amperage. Use the label to find the wattage of each appliance. Most consumers use the following steps to select an extension cord: The most important consideration is the ampacity because it determines whether the extension cord will overload and start a fire or run your application safely and without incident. Admittedly, most laypeople can select the right extension cord without considering these additional variables. That includes temperature, wire type, and material. A standard wire size chart is still the best option because it provides vital details that shape your decision. However, you don’t need this chart to select the correct extension cord. The table above gives you an idea of the appliances each gauge can run. You will also find detailed tables that associate each gauge with examples of the devices it can run as opposed to creating ambiguous categories. This allows laypeople to understand better what each classification means. Many contractors confuse laypeople by using terms like ‘Heavy-Duty’ and ‘Light-Duty.’ Tables like the one above provide clarification by assigning an amp rating to each category. Some contractors have created charts that classify extension cords according to their ampacity. The gauge goes hand in hand with the amps because it reveals the thickness. Knowing the gauge and amps makes you less likely to overload the extension cord. If you don’t know the gauge and amps, you may connect a machine that uses too much power, overwhelming the extension cord and starting a fire. You need to know the amps because they will tell you whether or not a cable can withstand an application’s electrical requirements. They show the amount of electricity flowing through a circuit or appliance. They usually ignore the concept because they expect contractors and laypeople to use conventional wire-size charts to make decisions. Manufacturers do not publish amperage and gauge charts for their extension cords.
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