| Author |
Message |
Guest
|
 Posted:
Fri Nov 18, 2005 9:35 am Post subject:
Use of Extension Cord |
|
|
Is there a specific reason why the instructions of some electrical
appliances say not to use an extension cord? Some appliances that I can
think of are a vaporizer, warm mist humidifier, some TVs, VCRs, and
telephones.
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Ralph Mowery
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Nov 19, 2005 12:07 am Post subject:
Re: Use of Extension Cord |
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The main reason is many extension cords are made out of # 16 wire (or small
wire). That will not carry the high current of some devices. I don't see
the VCR or telephone needing a bigger wire but a microwave, some laser
printers, airconditioners, and other high current devices will draw lots of
current. The wiring in the walls for the 120 volt circuits are usually made
of # 12 or # 14 wire for 20 or 15 amps of current.
There would not be any problems running a short drop cord to anything if you
used # 12 wire and the proper plugs for the drop cord. Well, maybe a
tripping hazard if you put where you could step on it , or some fire hazard
if the insulation on it got frayed .
<littleboyblu87@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1132296526.524082.28640@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
| Quote: | Is there a specific reason why the instructions of some electrical
appliances say not to use an extension cord? Some appliances that I can
think of are a vaporizer, warm mist humidifier, some TVs, VCRs, and
telephones.
|
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| Back to top |
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Terry
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sat Nov 19, 2005 9:35 am Post subject:
Re: Use of Extension Cord |
|
|
<littleboyblu87@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1132296526.524082.28640@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
| Quote: | Is there a specific reason why the instructions of some electrical
appliances say not to use an extension cord? Some appliances that I can
think of are a vaporizer, warm mist humidifier, some TVs, VCRs, and
telephones.
Since the poster specifically mentions devices which do not take 'heavy |
amounts' of electric current my suggested answer would be 'For safety';
since there could be danger of tripping on the wire and/or pulling over an
electrical device in say a child's or adult's bedroom, thus spilling water
(possibly hot?) in the presence of electricity. A possibly lethal
combination!
Check life insurance policies; standing in wet slippers or bare feet on a
water soaked floor/carpet trying to clean up a broken electric device is not
recommended!
Also many people have no understanding of electricity and quite blithely
will plug a 'heavy' electrical using device such as a 1200 watt microwave
into an extension cord designed for, at best, a few small Christmas tree
lights and then wonder why the extension cord melts/catches fire and burns
the house down. Check house insurance. Although the insurance company might
deem that kind of cause 'negligence' by the policy holder!
Another mistake can be plugging too many devices into the one extension
cord, not of adequate rating/size to carry the total amount of electric
current!
All seems rather too obvious to ask? But I've seen some horrors!
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ALBERT C. GOOD JR.
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sat Nov 19, 2005 5:35 pm Post subject:
Re: Use of Extension Cord |
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|
Gentlemen
This is a important subject and I must compliment you on this discussion.
One other reason for following the manufactures instructions on this issue
is that of electrical shock caused by two appliances being at two different
or opposite potentials.
A few weeks ago we heard of the Preacher who was electrocuted while standing
in the baptismal fount in his church.
He had just reached for a microphone, which in most likelihood was connected
to a sound system where the integrity of the grounding system, (if there was
one) had most likely been violated. This is, as my experience as a
electronics technician, working on electro-communications devices, common
place. Inappropriate use of extension cords defeat the manufactures
intents to make the product shock proof.
This is the reason that I take the liberty of making comment on the issue.
Albert
"Terry" <tsanford@nf.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:G_zff.4488$w84.855986@news20.bellglobal.com...
| Quote: |
littleboyblu87@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1132296526.524082.28640@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
Is there a specific reason why the instructions of some electrical
appliances say not to use an extension cord? Some appliances that I can
think of are a vaporizer, warm mist humidifier, some TVs, VCRs, and
telephones.
Since the poster specifically mentions devices which do not take 'heavy
amounts' of electric current my suggested answer would be 'For safety';
since there could be danger of tripping on the wire and/or pulling over an
electrical device in say a child's or adult's bedroom, thus spilling water
(possibly hot?) in the presence of electricity. A possibly lethal
combination!
Check life insurance policies; standing in wet slippers or bare feet on a
water soaked floor/carpet trying to clean up a broken electric device is
not
recommended!
Also many people have no understanding of electricity and quite blithely
will plug a 'heavy' electrical using device such as a 1200 watt microwave
into an extension cord designed for, at best, a few small Christmas tree
lights and then wonder why the extension cord melts/catches fire and burns
the house down. Check house insurance. Although the insurance company
might
deem that kind of cause 'negligence' by the policy holder!
Another mistake can be plugging too many devices into the one extension
cord, not of adequate rating/size to carry the total amount of electric
current!
All seems rather too obvious to ask? But I've seen some horrors!
|
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Michael A. Terrell
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sat Nov 19, 2005 5:35 pm Post subject:
Re: Use of Extension Cord |
|
|
"ALBERT C. GOOD JR." wrote:
| Quote: |
Gentlemen
This is a important subject and I must compliment you on this discussion.
One other reason for following the manufactures instructions on this issue
is that of electrical shock caused by two appliances being at two different
or opposite potentials.
A few weeks ago we heard of the Preacher who was electrocuted while standing
in the baptismal fount in his church.
He had just reached for a microphone, which in most likelihood was connected
to a sound system where the integrity of the grounding system, (if there was
one) had most likely been violated. This is, as my experience as a
electronics technician, working on electro-communications devices, common
place. Inappropriate use of extension cords defeat the manufactures
intents to make the product shock proof.
This is the reason that I take the liberty of making comment on the issue.
Albert
|
Do you know for sure that it wasn't the other way around? A bad
heating element in an ungrounded water heater and a properly grounded
sound system would have killed him as well.
I had a commercial sound business for 20 years, and I only found a
couple systems that weren't properly grounded. In fact, the racks or
backboards had a bare solid copper 8 AWG ground wire tied into the
building's grounding system in most locations. A lot of the cabling was
in EMT that was bonded to the building's ground system, as well. In
some cases I also ran a 14 gauge green THHN wire through the conduit to
bond the far end of the conduit back to the rack or backboard.
The only bad installs I found were done with Radio Shack or similar
equipment by a fly by night outfit.
--
?
Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida |
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Peter Hucker
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sat Nov 19, 2005 11:50 pm Post subject:
Re: Use of Extension Cord |
|
|
On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 06:55:03 -0000, Terry <tsanford@nf.sympatico.ca> wrote:
| Quote: |
littleboyblu87@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1132296526.524082.28640@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
Is there a specific reason why the instructions of some electrical
appliances say not to use an extension cord? Some appliances that I can
think of are a vaporizer, warm mist humidifier, some TVs, VCRs, and
telephones.
Since the poster specifically mentions devices which do not take 'heavy
amounts' of electric current my suggested answer would be 'For safety';
since there could be danger of tripping on the wire and/or pulling over an
electrical device in say a child's or adult's bedroom, thus spilling water
(possibly hot?) in the presence of electricity. A possibly lethal
combination!
Check life insurance policies; standing in wet slippers or bare feet on a
water soaked floor/carpet trying to clean up a broken electric device is not
recommended!
Also many people have no understanding of electricity and quite blithely
will plug a 'heavy' electrical using device such as a 1200 watt microwave
into an extension cord designed for, at best, a few small Christmas tree
lights and then wonder why the extension cord melts/catches fire and burns
the house down.
|
Am I to assume here that US electrical cords are terrible compared to UK ones? All UK extension cords are rated at 13 amps (for 3kW devices) and have a 13 amp fuse in the plug so you cannot overload them. I assume in the US this would be 26 amps (ouch! THICK wire!).
| Quote: | Check house insurance. Although the insurance company might
deem that kind of cause 'negligence' by the policy !
|
I don't think I've ever read any instructions, fineprint, terms and conditions, or policies in my life. I have more important and/or more interesting things to do with my time!
| Quote: | Another mistake can be plugging too many devices into the one extension
cord, not of adequate rating/size to carry the total amount of electric
current!
|
Er..... FUSE anyone? Don't tell me they have unfused extension cords in the US? And I thought you chose 110 volts for SAFETY......
| Quote: | All seems rather too obvious to ask? But I've seen some horrors!
|
I've been electrocuted 6 times at proper mains voltage (240, not your pansy 110), and I'm still alive.
--
http://www.petersparrots.com http://www.insanevideoclips.com http://www.petersphotos.com
Truly Amazing Anagrams:
Diego Maradona O dear, I'm a gonad
Ricki Martin Ram it in Rick.
Kylie Minogue You like minge.
Tony Blair PM I'm Tory plan B
Virginia Bottomley I'm an evil Tory bigot
Michael Heseltine Elect him, he's alien
David Mellor Dildo marvel
Dame Agatha Christie I am a right death case
Benson and Hedges NHS been a godsend
Selina Scott Elastic snot
Mel Gibson Big melons
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Gabriela Sabatini Insatiable airbag
Irritable Bowel Syndrome O my terrible drains below
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Desperation A Rope Ends It
The Morse Code Here Come Dots
Mother-in-law Woman Hitler
Semolina Is No Meal
A Decimal Point I'm a Dot in Place
Eleven plus two Twelve plus one
President Clinton, of the USA To copulate, he finds interns
Motorway Service Station I eat coronary vomit stews. |
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Ralph Mowery
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sun Nov 20, 2005 12:34 am Post subject:
Re: Use of Extension Cord |
|
|
| Quote: |
Am I to assume here that US electrical cords are terrible compared to UK
ones? All UK extension cords are rated at 13 amps (for 3kW devices) and |
have a 13 amp fuse in the plug so you cannot overload them. I assume in the
US this would be 26 amps (ouch! THICK wire!).
| Quote: |
Check house insurance. Although the insurance company might
deem that kind of cause 'negligence' by the policy !
I don't think I've ever read any instructions, fineprint, terms and
conditions, or policies in my life. I have more important and/or more |
interesting things to do with my time!
| Quote: |
Another mistake can be plugging too many devices into the one extension
cord, not of adequate rating/size to carry the total amount of electric
current!
Er..... FUSE anyone? Don't tell me they have unfused extension cords in
the US? And I thought you chose 110 volts for SAFETY......
All seems rather too obvious to ask? But I've seen some horrors!
The standard US outlet is 120 volts and good for either 15 or 20 amps. It |
is fused or the breaker is rated for one or the other currents. There are
almost no drop cords in the US that have fuses or breakers in them. I
don't think there is any kind of standard current ratings for them either.
Lots of them are listed as from 6 to 18 feet long and some are even 2
conductors without the ground. They are usually only # 16 wire. |
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Peter Hucker
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sun Nov 20, 2005 12:42 am Post subject:
Re: Use of Extension Cord |
|
|
On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 18:34:33 -0000, Ralph Mowery <rmowery28146@earthlink.net> wrote:
| Quote: |
Am I to assume here that US electrical cords are terrible compared to UK
ones? All UK extension cords are rated at 13 amps (for 3kW devices) and
have a 13 amp fuse in the plug so you cannot overload them. I assume in the
US this would be 26 amps (ouch! THICK wire!).
Check house insurance. Although the insurance company might
deem that kind of cause 'negligence' by the policy !
I don't think I've ever read any instructions, fineprint, terms and
conditions, or policies in my life. I have more important and/or more
interesting things to do with my time!
Another mistake can be plugging too many devices into the one extension
cord, not of adequate rating/size to carry the total amount of electric
current!
Er..... FUSE anyone? Don't tell me they have unfused extension cords in
the US? And I thought you chose 110 volts for SAFETY......
All seems rather too obvious to ask? But I've seen some horrors!
The standard US outlet is 120 volts and good for either 15 or 20 amps. It
is fused or the breaker is rated for one or the other currents. There are
almost no drop cords in the US that have fuses or breakers in them. I
don't think there is any kind of standard current ratings for them either.
Lots of them are listed as from 6 to 18 feet long and some are even 2
conductors without the ground. They are usually only # 16 wire.
|
That's almost as unsafe as letting Joe Public use a handgun!
We outlawed the old method of fusing each outlet decades ago. 2 conductor wire is only used on the equipment itself if it's double insulated.
P.S. you didn't include "Peter Hucker wrote" at the start of the post, hence I will not see your replies by automatic filtering (I just happened to be in here).
--
http://www.petersparrots.com http://www.insanevideoclips.com http://www.petersphotos.com
In a study of 200,000 ostriches over a period of 80 years, no one reported a single case where an ostrich buried its head in the sand (or attempted to do so). |
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John Fields
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sun Nov 20, 2005 1:35 am Post subject:
Re: Use of Extension Cord |
|
|
On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 17:50:44 -0000, "Peter Hucker" <no@spam.com>
wrote:
| Quote: | Am I to assume here that US electrical cords are terrible compared to UK ones? All UK extension cords are rated at 13 amps (for 3kW devices) and have a 13 amp fuse in the plug so you cannot overload them. I assume in the US this would be 26 amps (ouch! THICK wire!).
|
---
In the US we have a variety of extension cords available, the
variety encompassing choices in both both wire size (AWG, BTW) and
length.
As such, we can choose what we need without being forced to buy an
extension cord with more copper in it than we need and a fuse which,
at 13 amperes, will be largely useless except in the case of a gross
short at the load end of the cord.
Here, in the US, we've opted for a circuit breaker in the service
panel which can be reset in case of an overload instead of a
sacrificial fuse in the extension cord which _must_ be replaced if
the extension cord is to be brought back to life.
Makes more sense to me...
---
| Quote: | Check house insurance. Although the insurance company might
deem that kind of cause 'negligence' by the policy !
I don't think I've ever read any instructions, fineprint, terms and conditions, or policies in my life. I have more important and/or more interesting things to do with my time!
|
---
Like posting about your ignorance?
---
| Quote: | Another mistake can be plugging too many devices into the one extension
cord, not of adequate rating/size to carry the total amount of electric
current!
Er..... FUSE anyone? Don't tell me they have unfused extension cords in the US? And I thought you chose 110 volts for SAFETY......
|
---
Whatever the reason, I can guarantee that if you pinch across your
240 mains with both hands at the load end of your fused extension
cord and you take a hit across your chest and I do the same at the
end of my 120V unfused extension cord I'll have a better chance of
surviving the hit than you will.
---
| Quote: | All seems rather too obvious to ask? But I've seen some horrors!
I've been electrocuted 6 times at proper mains voltage (240, not your pansy 110), and I'm still alive.
|
---
Once should have been enough to keep the other five from happening
so, more than likely, there's a Darwin Award in your future...
--
John Fields
Professional Circuit Designer |
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Peter Hucker
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sun Nov 20, 2005 1:35 am Post subject:
Re: Use of Extension Cord |
|
|
On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 21:59:30 -0000, John Fields <jfields@austininstruments.com> wrote:
| Quote: | On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 17:50:44 -0000, "Peter Hucker" <no@spam.com
wrote:
Am I to assume here that US electrical cords are terrible compared to UK ones? All UK extension cords are rated at 13 amps (for 3kW devices) and have a 13 amp fuse in the plug so you cannot overload them. I assume in the US this would be 26 amps (ouch! THICK wire!).
---
In the US we have a variety of extension cords available, the
variety encompassing choices in both both wire size (AWG, BTW) and
length.
As such, we can choose what we need without being forced to buy an
extension cord with more copper in it than we need
|
Myself, and everyone I know, do not buy an extension cord then use it for one purpose for the rest of its life. They get moved around. You cannot predict what you will want to plug into it in the future. And they are so cheap you may aswell get the 13 amp ones.
| Quote: | and a fuse which,
at 13 amperes, will be largely useless except in the case of a gross
short at the load end of the cord.
|
It's not useless at all. It prevents the extension cord from overheating, that's what the fuse is for. The fuse in the equipment's plug stops its cable catching fire. To put a fuse of the full capacity of the wall outlet off in the fusebox is stupid, because you will most likely plug a device into that outlet with a low power consumption and a thin cord, which is now not protected.
| Quote: | Here, in the US, we've opted for a circuit breaker in the service
panel which can be reset in case of an overload instead of a
sacrificial fuse in the extension cord which _must_ be replaced if
the extension cord is to be brought back to life.
Makes more sense to me...
|
Yes more modern houses here have circuit breakers instead of fuses in the fusebox, and people who are obsessed with safety, I just have fuses.
My point is the circuit breaker or fusebox fuse doesn't know what an overload is. It breaks at the rating of the outlet, not the appliance and it's cord.
| Quote: | Check house insurance. Although the insurance company might
deem that kind of cause 'negligence' by the policy !
I don't think I've ever read any instructions, fineprint, terms and conditions, or policies in my life. I have more important and/or more interesting things to do with my time!
Like posting about your ignorance?
|
Ignorance of what? How dangerous American electrical systems are? They are more or less exactly how we used to do things. Now it's illegal here.
| Quote: | Another mistake can be plugging too many devices into the one extension
cord, not of adequate rating/size to carry the total amount of electric
current!
Er..... FUSE anyone? Don't tell me they have unfused extension cords in the US? And I thought you chose 110 volts for SAFETY......
---
Whatever the reason, I can guarantee that if you pinch across your
240 mains with both hands at the load end of your fused extension
cord and you take a hit across your chest and I do the same at the
end of my 120V unfused extension cord I'll have a better chance of
surviving the hit than you will.
|
Because you have circuit breakers. We do too. I don't as it's an old house and I haven't changed them. This has absolutely nothing to do with whether the extension cord is fused or not. If I removed the extension cord fuse, I would be no more likely to survive.
| Quote: | All seems rather too obvious to ask? But I've seen some horrors!
I've been electrocuted 6 times at proper mains voltage (240, not your pansy 110), and I'm still alive.
---
Once should have been enough to keep the other five from happening
so, more than likely, there's a Darwin Award in your future...
|
Electrocution occurs when you have a weak heart. In fact statistics show that most injuries and deaths occuring from electrocution occur due to secondary accidents. Electric drill electrocutes you and you fall off your ladder, etc.
--
http://www.petersparrots.com http://www.insanevideoclips.com http://www.petersphotos.com
Success always occurs in private, and failure in full view. |
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ALBERT C. GOOD JR.
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sun Nov 20, 2005 8:44 am Post subject:
Re: Use of Extension Cord |
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|
Michael
Your are correct that these sort of problems most often happen when the
installer is a fly by night using less than professional equipment.
Also note that in my remarks I had avoided speaking in absolutes since I did
not know for absolute fact that their where no other factors involved.
Albert
"Michael A. Terrell" <mike.terrell@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:437F3D1A.406787CC@earthlink.net...
| Quote: | "ALBERT C. GOOD JR." wrote:
Gentlemen
This is a important subject and I must compliment you on this
discussion.
One other reason for following the manufactures instructions on this
issue
is that of electrical shock caused by two appliances being at two
different
or opposite potentials.
A few weeks ago we heard of the Preacher who was electrocuted while
standing
in the baptismal fount in his church.
He had just reached for a microphone, which in most likelihood was
connected
to a sound system where the integrity of the grounding system, (if there
was
one) had most likely been violated. This is, as my experience as a
electronics technician, working on electro-communications devices,
common
place. Inappropriate use of extension cords defeat the manufactures
intents to make the product shock proof.
This is the reason that I take the liberty of making comment on the
issue.
Albert
Do you know for sure that it wasn't the other way around? A bad
heating element in an ungrounded water heater and a properly grounded
sound system would have killed him as well.
I had a commercial sound business for 20 years, and I only found a
couple systems that weren't properly grounded. In fact, the racks or
backboards had a bare solid copper 8 AWG ground wire tied into the
building's grounding system in most locations. A lot of the cabling was
in EMT that was bonded to the building's ground system, as well. In
some cases I also ran a 14 gauge green THHN wire through the conduit to
bond the far end of the conduit back to the rack or backboard.
The only bad installs I found were done with Radio Shack or similar
equipment by a fly by night outfit.
--
?
Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida |
|
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ehsjr
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sun Nov 20, 2005 9:35 am Post subject:
Re: Use of Extension Cord |
|
|
Peter Hucker wrote:
| Quote: | On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 06:55:03 -0000, Terry <tsanford@nf.sympatico.ca> wrote:
littleboyblu87@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1132296526.524082.28640@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
Is there a specific reason why the instructions of some electrical
appliances say not to use an extension cord? Some appliances that I can
think of are a vaporizer, warm mist humidifier, some TVs, VCRs, and
telephones.
Since the poster specifically mentions devices which do not take 'heavy
amounts' of electric current my suggested answer would be 'For safety';
since there could be danger of tripping on the wire and/or pulling
over an
electrical device in say a child's or adult's bedroom, thus spilling
water
(possibly hot?) in the presence of electricity. A possibly lethal
combination!
Check life insurance policies; standing in wet slippers or bare feet on a
water soaked floor/carpet trying to clean up a broken electric device
is not
recommended!
Also many people have no understanding of electricity and quite blithely
will plug a 'heavy' electrical using device such as a 1200 watt microwave
into an extension cord designed for, at best, a few small Christmas tree
lights and then wonder why the extension cord melts/catches fire and
burns
the house down.
Am I to assume here that US electrical cords are terrible compared to UK
ones? All UK extension cords are rated at 13 amps (for 3kW devices) and
have a 13 amp fuse in the plug so you cannot overload them. I assume in
the US this would be 26 amps (ouch! THICK wire!).
Check house insurance. Although the insurance company might
deem that kind of cause 'negligence' by the policy !
I don't think I've ever read any instructions, fineprint, terms and
conditions, or policies in my life. I have more important and/or more
interesting things to do with my time!
Another mistake can be plugging too many devices into the one extension
cord, not of adequate rating/size to carry the total amount of electric
current!
Er..... FUSE anyone? Don't tell me they have unfused extension cords in
the US? And I thought you chose 110 volts for SAFETY......
All seems rather too obvious to ask? But I've seen some horrors!
I've been electrocuted 6 times at proper mains voltage (240, not your
pansy 110), and I'm still alive.
|
One is not "still alive" after being electrocuted.
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=electrocute
Or are you talking about reincarnation?
Ed |
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|
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sun Nov 20, 2005 9:35 am Post subject:
Re: Use of Extension Cord |
|
|
Terry wrote:
| Quote: | littleboyblu87@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1132296526.524082.28640@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
Is there a specific reason why the instructions of some electrical
appliances say not to use an extension cord? Some appliances that I can
think of are a vaporizer, warm mist humidifier, some TVs, VCRs, and
telephones.
Since the poster specifically mentions devices which do not take 'heavy
amounts' of electric current my suggested answer would be 'For safety';
since there could be danger of tripping on the wire and/or pulling over an
electrical device in say a child's or adult's bedroom, thus spilling water
(possibly hot?) in the presence of electricity. A possibly lethal
combination!
|
I wasn't talking about using an extension cord with any heavy duty
appliances such as a microwave or dryer. I meant the
appliances/electronics that I mentioned (vaporizer, single room
humidifier, tv, vcr, telephone).
I could see where using an extension cord with a vaporizer or
humidifier might pose a safety/tripping hazard with some people
(especially children) and I understand that. But I wanted to know if
there are any other reasons the manuals say not to use them.
I don't see what the problem would be with using a regular extension
cord with a vcr, tv, or cordless telephone since they're often located
in areas of a room where the cord is not exposed. One of my problems is
that my tv, vcr, and cable box can only be put in one area of the room
and there is only one outlet there. This means that I can only plug in
the tv and cable box. Where am I supposed to plug in the vcr at? That's
why I need an extension cord. But of course, the manual says not to use
it (and the same thing for the cordless telephone).
If it's a safety reason like people tripping over it then that's
something I don't need to worry about. But if there's some other reason
then I'd like to know. I think the manufacturers should say why in the
manual. |
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Ralph Mowery
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sun Nov 20, 2005 5:35 pm Post subject:
Re: Use of Extension Cord |
|
|
| Quote: | I wasn't talking about using an extension cord with any heavy duty
appliances such as a microwave or dryer. I meant the
appliances/electronics that I mentioned (vaporizer, single room
humidifier, tv, vcr, telephone).
I could see where using an extension cord with a vaporizer or
humidifier might pose a safety/tripping hazard with some people
(especially children) and I understand that. But I wanted to know if
there are any other reasons the manuals say not to use them.
I don't see what the problem would be with using a regular extension
cord with a vcr, tv, or cordless telephone since they're often located
in areas of a room where the cord is not exposed. One of my problems is
that my tv, vcr, and cable box can only be put in one area of the room
and there is only one outlet there. This means that I can only plug in
the tv and cable box. Where am I supposed to plug in the vcr at? That's
why I need an extension cord. But of course, the manual says not to use
it (and the same thing for the cordless telephone).
If it's a safety reason like people tripping over it then that's
something I don't need to worry about. But if there's some other reason
then I'd like to know. I think the manufacturers should say why in the
manual.
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As far as the electrical hazzard due to the power or current goes , if the
total current drain is small such as a VCR, dvd, or telephone then there is
no problem. For the TV and all the things like VCR and DVD that go with it,
I like to use one of the power strips. Some have a minor surge protector
built in. Probably not very effective. I do have a high dollar one on the
TV setup and also on the computer equipment. Not that I put too much faith
in them, but I got them at a very good price. I think they may have helped
save the stuff in the house when a transformer went out on a power pole
during a storm. The strips shorted but the equipment was fine. The
electronic control on the oven went out.
One other thing you can do is to look around at the stores and you can find
a product where you take off the plastic cover on the wall and plug in a
much larger adaptor that will have 4 or 6 outlets in it. The screw will
hold it to the receptical. |
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Peter Hucker
Guest
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| Posted:
Sun Nov 20, 2005 5:35 pm Post subject:
Re: Use of Extension Cord |
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|
On Sun, 20 Nov 2005 05:56:58 -0000, ehsjr <ehsjr@bellatlantic.net> wrote:
| Quote: | Peter Hucker wrote:
On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 06:55:03 -0000, Terry <tsanford@nf.sympatico.ca> wrote:
littleboyblu87@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1132296526.524082.28640@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
Is there a specific reason why the instructions of some electrical
appliances say not to use an extension cord? Some appliances that I can
think of are a vaporizer, warm mist humidifier, some TVs, VCRs, and
telephones.
Since the poster specifically mentions devices which do not take 'heavy
amounts' of electric current my suggested answer would be 'For safety';
since there could be danger of tripping on the wire and/or pulling
over an
electrical device in say a child's or adult's bedroom, thus spilling
water
(possibly hot?) in the presence of electricity. A possibly lethal
combination!
Check life insurance policies; standing in wet slippers or bare feet on a
water soaked floor/carpet trying to clean up a broken electric device
is not
recommended!
Also many people have no understanding of electricity and quite blithely
will plug a 'heavy' electrical using device such as a 1200 watt microwave
into an extension cord designed for, at best, a few small Christmas tree
lights and then wonder why the extension cord melts/catches fire and
burns
the house down.
Am I to assume here that US electrical cords are terrible compared to UK
ones? All UK extension cords are rated at 13 amps (for 3kW devices) and
have a 13 amp fuse in the plug so you cannot overload them. I assume in
the US this would be 26 amps (ouch! THICK wire!).
Check house insurance. Although the insurance company might
deem that kind of cause 'negligence' by the policy !
I don't think I've ever read any instructions, fineprint, terms and
conditions, or policies in my life. I have more important and/or more
interesting things to do with my time!
Another mistake can be plugging too many devices into the one extension
cord, not of adequate rating/size to carry the total amount of electric
current!
Er..... FUSE anyone? Don't tell me they have unfused extension cords in
the US? And I thought you chose 110 volts for SAFETY......
All seems rather too obvious to ask? But I've seen some horrors!
I've been electrocuted 6 times at proper mains voltage (240, not your
pansy 110), and I'm still alive.
One is not "still alive" after being electrocuted.
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=electrocute
Or are you talking about reincarnation?
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