On Tue, 20 May 2014 00:45:13 -0400, wrote:

On Tue, 20 May 2014 00:17:19 -0400, wrote:

On Mon, 19 May 2014 23:50:32 -0400, wrote:

On Mon, 19 May 2014 22:43:26 -0400, wrote:

A 100 ft #14 cord would generally NOT be rated at 15 amps due to the
resistance of the long cord.

That affects voltage drop but it is not an overload on the cord
itself.
There is no enforceable code about voltage drop, just a "gee whiz"
informational note.
A 15 amp 100 foot contractor's cord is #12. The voltage drop on a 14
ga 100 foot cord is too high - makes for problems running a 14 amp
contractors saw, or starting an air compressor.
Talking about code, even a 15 amp plug on a #8 or #10 cable would meet
code

The biggest piece of equipment you can have rated for a 15a plug is
12a.

210.23(A)
(1) Cord-and-Plug-Connected Equipment Not Fastened in Place. The
rating of any one cord-and-plug-connected utilization equipment not
fastened in place shall not exceed 80 percent of the branch-circuit
ampere rating.

12a at 100' on a 14 would drop 7.4v. your saw would still run OK if
the line voltage is not low to start with. Around here it cruises
around 124 so I would not even give 7v a thought.
Buit starting current on a 12 amp motor can be a lot higher, and if
the supply is not "stiff" it will draw high current for too long,
tripping the breaker or blowing the fuse. My old Beaver saw would
blow a fuse on a 50 foot #14 cord, and start perfectly plugged in
directly or on the #12.

The number 12 will drop 4.6v at 15a. I doubt 3 volts will make that
much difference and those universal motors they use on most power
tools deal with low voltage a whole lot better than a regular
induction motor. They just run a little slower.

Contractors saws do NOT use universal motors. Mine was a repulsion
start induction motor and as I said, on a long cord it would trip a
breaker or blow even a time delay fuse. On a heavy cord or directly
plugged in, it was NEVER an issue. Note - a "contractor's saw" is NOT
a hand tool. It is basically a portable table saw. 10 inch blade.
Same with my compressor - but I switched it over to 220 so the problem
dissapeared.
You generally start the saw (drill or whatever) unloaded anyway.
Is 12ga better? sure.
Would a homeowner ever notice the difference? Probably not.
They use 16ga cords with skil saws all the time. I have too.
To the experienced ear, I can hear the difference when I am in some
tough wood but it works.
The "average"homeowner's skill saw is what, about 7 or 8 amps? My 8
1/4 inch Milwaukee is 13 amps and my Rockwell is 12..