Understanding Extension cords

Think of an extension cord as a portable, impermanent form of wiring. It’s subject to the same laws and limitations as any other electrical conductor, which means it can be overloaded, it can short out, and its insulation can melt. On top of that, they’re easy to trip over when they’re left lying around a work site. Extension cords are handy and necessary, but they need to be used carefully and inspected before each job. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission

• More than 3,000 residential fires each year are attributed to extension cords. Most of the problems are the result of short circuits, excessive loads, and misuse of the cords.
• Hospital emergency rooms treat more than 2,000 injuries each year associated with extension cords. These injuries include fractures, lacerations, and sprains from tripping over the cords. About half of the injuries to children are caused by electrical burns to the mouth.
• Tens of millions of dollars in fire damage occur yearly as the result of misuse of extension cords.

You might never look at an extension cord in the same way again!