Things to Keep in Mind When Using Power Cords for Workshops

1. Things to Keep in Mind When  Using Power Cords for Workshops    We often overlook the importance of choosing the right kind of power cord                           for the tools we are using. This might be the post that could save you big                                 bucks and your health as well. Whether you are a tradesman or a weekend                             fabricator, consider the task of choosing the right extension power cord as                         important as you check your financial records. Even when you put these                         cords to their actual use, such as for temporary lighting, you often forget                           basic safety formalities. Therefore, when you are ​choosing a power cord for                         your workshop or home you need to be a little aware of your product use.  Like every now and then we’ve all had this thought in our mind of buying                               one long cord and use it for every purpose. Let’s clear out on this and                               understand why is it a bad idea?  Wrong Uses Of Power Cords  For example, you have got a 4 ½ angle grinder plugged into the old                             16-gauge, 100ft extension cord you usually use for the lamp lights. It’ll work                           in a proper way, but there might be chances that the body of the grinder                               heats up more than the usual. And it can get worst than this, the whole                               thing might just stop working. Giant equipment like electric motors have to                         pull more power to cover long distances; with a cord in perfect condition, if                             1​​

2. it’s thin, then the length will not carry the amperage needed to keep the                             grinder’s motor running in an ideal way.  Let’s consider another instance where you need only 50ft. You put the other                           50 out of the way. The reason behind this is the half of the cord wouldn’t be                                   exposed. But electric current is still running through it, and the heat built up                             from the wire’s resistance would further drop its actual capacity. If the                         wires get extremely hot, the heat generated from coiled-up ​power cords is                         prone to fire.    In such a situation, the resistance of the cord’s small gauge, the rolled-up                           length, and then draw of the grinder’s motor generates heat. These                       situations are not the ideal ones and might harm your equipment.  Knocked and partially cut portions of your right-angle power cord cause                       more than just damages. They block the flow of electricity with added                         resistance and heat which lowers the capacity to carry the power over the                           full length. Therefore, keep in mind that a cut that exposes wire is like an                               electric shock waiting to happen to you. The solution to this problem is to                             buy a new male and female connector to make two smaller connections.  2​

3. Talking about the ideal situations, you should have multiple extension                     cords available of various lengths, thick enough to supply power to your                         tools in a safe way. If you accidentally step into any of the shops, you will                                 find the keeper normally running their equipment with a 100-ft, 16-gauge.                       But the truth is that whatever tool they use always heats up and is                             vulnerable to cause a serious accident.  There are many instances of power cord uses which reduce the power you                           expect from a cord. For example, multi-colored cords plugged into each                       other draped over and through toolboxes, cabinets, and tables held                     together with electrical tape. After this, there comes the power strips and                         splitters. These all type of situations are responsible for low power supply.  The Solution  You should store at least 2 to 3 cords for use. Like the collection of 14/3                                 and 10/3-gauge power cords. The 14 gauge tends to be super short and                           comes handy when you need a little extra to hit the wall socket. The 10/3 is                                 around 25ft, heavy duty that can be handy for heavy power consumptions                         tools.  But when it comes to choosing a specific power cord like ​right angle power                             cords for your workshop, running multiple extension cords can be a little                         tricky task to handle. That’s why there is a reason behind using a thinner                             gauge cord here. If you go with a 14-gauge cord, it will power most tools.  3​

4. Now, that you are aware of the correct usage of these power cords in your                               workshop, read ahead to know when you need to toss out and buy new                             power cords:  ● No mentioned certification or rating on the cords.  ● The cord doesn’t contain a three-prong plug and a connector.  ● The cord’s plug has same-size blades instead of modern plugs that                       insert into an outlet one way.  ● The wires have exposed the wiring.  ● The cord and plug have a poor connection.  Concluding  The Power Cords are products that are easily misused, something that can             turn into a major safety hazard. The uses of Power cords are varied by the               equipment choice. But the dangerous situations arise when you substitute         a longer, thinner, higher gauge cord than the recommended gauge. To           eliminate such situations, you should consider investing in high-quality,         thick-gauge power cords in different lengths for your workshops.                                                                 This Blog Post is Originally Posted here; ​Things to Keep in Mind When             Using Power Cords for Workshops                If you found this article useful, here are some others that may be             of interest.                 What are Power Cords? Which Cord Powers Your Computer?  4​

5. A Safety Guide to Handling Power Cords  What are the Uses of Hospital Grade Power Cords    5​