Extension Cord

**gandblah** · 12-07-2006, 12:29 AM

Folks
I need to pick up a 50ft extension cord for my PC. Will a 13 AMP wire suffice or do I have to go higher?

Thanks....

**ryandamartini** · 12-07-2006, 05:52 AM

Originally Posted by gandblah

Folks
I need to pick up a 50ft extension cord for my PC. Will a 13 AMP wire suffice or do I have to go higher?

Thanks....

yeah it is getting up there in length. Id go a bit higher if it were me.

**Al-53** · 12-07-2006, 07:19 AM

Go to Lowes or Home Depot and get a contractors grade extension cord...they do cost a bit more ..but with a 50' foot run it will help keep a PC or Rotary running cooler..you want at least a 12 Gauge 3 conductor cord....

Al

**ScottB** · 12-07-2006, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by Al-53

Go to Lowes or Home Depot and get a contractors grade extension cord...they do cost a bit more ..but with a 50' foot run it will help keep a PC or Rotary running cooler..you want at least a 12 Gauge 3 conductor cord....

Al

a good cord (prefessional) will last a lifetime , and long cord may not always do the trick.

**Al-53** · 12-07-2006, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by killrwheels@autogeek

a good cord (prefessional) will last a lifetime , and long cord may not always do the trick.

Killler the poster was looking for a 50 footer...so I suggested he get a contractors grade with a heavier wire...12 guage or better...the heavier the wire the less draw on the PC...

AL

**ScottB** · 12-07-2006, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by Al-53

Killler the poster was looking for a 50 footer...so I suggested he get a contractors grade with a heavier wire...12 guage or better...the heavier the wire the less draw on the PC...

AL

I agree , that just grabbing a longer cord may not be the best line of attack. Grabbing a good commercial grade cord, designed for longer use is a much more valid choice. Spending a couple extra $$ is sometimes the wiser investment up front.

**gandblah** · 12-07-2006, 03:14 PM

Thanks for the reply guys..I looked up the mini manual that came with the PC and looks like a 16 gauge is good enough upto 50 Ft...thought it's good information to share !! And for the record the PC specs are 3.7 Amps.
The numbers below are for devices from 0-6 Amps.

**FloridaNative** · 12-07-2006, 03:59 PM

Good information. Thanks for putting it out there.

**gandblah** · 12-07-2006, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by gandblah

Thanks for the reply guys..I looked up the mini manual that came with the PC and looks like a 16 gauge is good enough upto 50 Ft...thought it's good information to share !! And for the record the PC specs are 3.7 Amps.
The numbers below are for devices from 0-6 Amps.

This has been a learning process and as usual that involves acronyms and terminology. This might be common stuff for most people but it is new for me so putting it out here as it might benefit some others like me.

Medium Duty -- Gauge 16 -- Max 10 Amps
Heavy Duty -- Gauge 14 -- Max 13 Amps
Contractor Grade -- Gauge 12 -- Max 15 Amps

Notes:
- Gauge and capacity are inversely proportinal - a lower gauge wire can take up more load.
- As the length of the extension wire increases, going with a lower gauge is recommended

Side Note

I looked at the markings on the wire on the PC and it seems to be a Guage 16 wire and the table above recommends 16 even for a 100 ft wire. So I went one step heavier and got the 14 Gauge 50 ft extension wire as I felt contractor grade was overkill for 50 ft not to mention that the 12 gauge is quite a heavy cord.

Thanks again for all your suggestions and inputs.