Key Considerations For Buying a Generator Extension Cord

!±8± Key Considerations For Buying a Generator Extension Cord

3.5 million American homes lose electrical power to their homes every week of the year, according to the National Weather Service. In an instant, lights, heat, refrigeration, communications and other vital services are lost.

In years gone by the loss of power in a home or business was little more than an annoyance. Even today, a few hours without power are little more than a nuisance. However, extend the loss of electrical power over days and, the consequences can range from destructive to lethal.

Given our reliance on 21st Century technology, it's easy to imagine how destructive a few days without electrical power can be: Heating and cooling systems fail. Pipes freeze and then burst, causing flooding and structural damage. Sump pumps fail, creating more destruction when basements and cellars flood. Security systems fail, leaving businesses and residences easy targets for looters and thieves. Food spoils in refrigerators and freezers that died. Wells stop pumping water. The potential for dangerous fires spike because most Americans have long forgotten how to live safely with candles and kerosene lamps.

In fact, the National Weather Service says that weekly interruptions of electrical service cost American businesses and homeowners billion a year. Increasing numbers of savvy homeowners use a portable generator to cope with these costly power losses. Typically gas-powered, these versatile units set up quickly, enabling the home or small business owner to rapidly restore power to selected appliances and services.

However, the essential requirement to transfer the electrical power from a generator to a sump pump, refrigerator, water well, etc. is a Generator Extension Cord. And choosing the correct one makes all the difference in terms of safety and performance.

The main considerations when choosing a generator extension cord are

The gauge of the cord The length of the cord Connector Durability An Outdoor, All Weather Rating

The gauge of a generator extension cord refers to its electrical conductors. The lower the number (e.g., 12-gauge, 10-gauge, 8-gauge) the thicker and heavier the conductors. 10-gauge is considered to be the minimum gauge for use with portable generators. Lighter duty extension cords are not recommended because they can't consistently deliver the necessary amperage required to power the devices they are connected to. The length of an extension cord may seem obvious: get one that is too short and you are suddenly living too close to a noisy, noxious generator. But there is also "too long." Get a generator extension cord that is too long and you will experience amperage drop-off. Plus, long cords are heavy to carry, difficult to coil and a pain to store!

A high quality, properly designed generator cord will always have heavy-duty connectors that are molded to the cord body. Properly molded connectors with strain relief collars prevent the ends from pulling away from the cord body and help insure years of trouble-free use. A clear plug and connector, each equipped with a power check LED, is a desirable feature typically found on high-end generator extension cords. This convenient yet practical option readily lets the user know there is power in both the cord and outlet circuit, saving worry and time.

Finally, because generators are often used in adverse conditions, generator extension cords must be durable and, most importantly, come rated for outdoor, all-weather use.