Proper Use of Extension Cords
 

Howdy,

Got a new generator and don't want to be unsafe with running cords.

My question(s) is, I have a 50' 10g 20 amp ex cord and want to know is
it ok to connect a smaller gauge ex cord to this 10g 20 amp ex cord?

This cord has only the single female to plug into and I bought a 2'
extender that has a 3 female receptacles. I also have a 100' cord but
not as heavy duty as the 50' one.

How best and safest way to plug in my extension cords for maximum use?

The generator is a 6500 watt Honda, the starting wattage eludes me
right now. It was used only one time for about 6 hours and the dude
needed $$ to keep his divorce attorney up and running, so to
speak. :)

Not planning on running anything bigger than the refrig/freezer, a
small upright freezer, well pump (it's old and runs on 110), 3/4 fans
during summer outages, 2/3 small lights and a small tv.

I know to unplug those appliances that don't need to stay plugged in
all the time so as to allow the generator to furnish the power where
its needed.

So, just looking for some experienced user to point me in the right
direction pertaining to the proper use of extension cords from
generator to house.

not at all interested in the backfeed scenario, seems to be a bit more
hazardous to people and machines.

Thanks for any and all responses, advice and help.

Al

Proper Use of Extension Cords
 

Mr WithEveryShot wrote:
Howdy,

Got a new generator and don't want to be unsafe with running cords.

My question(s) is, I have a 50' 10g 20 amp ex cord and want to know is
it ok to connect a smaller gauge ex cord to this 10g 20 amp ex cord?

This cord has only the single female to plug into and I bought a 2'
extender that has a 3 female receptacles. I also have a 100' cord but
not as heavy duty as the 50' one.

How best and safest way to plug in my extension cords for maximum use?

The generator is a 6500 watt Honda, the starting wattage eludes me
right now. It was used only one time for about 6 hours and the dude
needed $$ to keep his divorce attorney up and running, so to
speak. :)

Not planning on running anything bigger than the refrig/freezer, a
small upright freezer, well pump (it's old and runs on 110), 3/4 fans
during summer outages, 2/3 small lights and a small tv.

I know to unplug those appliances that don't need to stay plugged in
all the time so as to allow the generator to furnish the power where
its needed.

So, just looking for some experienced user to point me in the right
direction pertaining to the proper use of extension cords from
generator to house.

not at all interested in the backfeed scenario, seems to be a bit more
hazardous to people and machines.

Thanks for any and all responses, advice and help.

Al

If the triple tap is at least 12g, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.
Any setup like that, you want to keep a close eye on the first time you
use it, and feel the connections (with one hand stuffed down your
pants), to make sure they aren't getting warm to the touch.

I need to do the same thing for my place- put the furnace and well pump
on pigtails (I can run a cord up the stairs for the fridge), and arrange
a pass-through so I can feed cords outside, and buy a generator off CL
or something. Only had one long outage in five years here, but ten
minutes after I said the hell with it on day four and checked into a
motel, the power came back on.

--
aem sends...

Proper Use of Extension Cords
 

"aemeijers" wrote in message
...
Mr WithEveryShot wrote:
Howdy,

Got a new generator and don't want to be unsafe with running cords.

My question(s) is, I have a 50' 10g 20 amp ex cord and want to know is
it ok to connect a smaller gauge ex cord to this 10g 20 amp ex cord?

This cord has only the single female to plug into and I bought a 2'
extender that has a 3 female receptacles. I also have a 100' cord but
not as heavy duty as the 50' one.

How best and safest way to plug in my extension cords for maximum use?

The generator is a 6500 watt Honda, the starting wattage eludes me
right now. It was used only one time for about 6 hours and the dude
needed $$ to keep his divorce attorney up and running, so to
speak. :)

Not planning on running anything bigger than the refrig/freezer, a
small upright freezer, well pump (it's old and runs on 110), 3/4 fans
during summer outages, 2/3 small lights and a small tv.

I know to unplug those appliances that don't need to stay plugged in
all the time so as to allow the generator to furnish the power where
its needed.

So, just looking for some experienced user to point me in the right
direction pertaining to the proper use of extension cords from
generator to house.

not at all interested in the backfeed scenario, seems to be a bit more
hazardous to people and machines.

Thanks for any and all responses, advice and help.

Al

If the triple tap is at least 12g, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. Any
setup like that, you want to keep a close eye on the first time you use
it, and feel the connections (with one hand stuffed down your pants), to
make sure they aren't getting warm to the touch.

You hold the extension cord to see if your nuts get warm?


I need to do the same thing for my place- put the furnace and well pump
on pigtails (I can run a cord up the stairs for the fridge), and arrange a
pass-through so I can feed cords outside, and buy a generator off CL or
something. Only had one long outage in five years here, but ten minutes
after I said the hell with it on day four and checked into a motel, the
power came back on.

--
aem sends...

Proper Use of Extension Cords
 

"Mr WithEveryShot" wrote in message
...

Howdy,

Got a new generator and don't want to be unsafe with running cords.

My question(s) is, I have a 50' 10g 20 amp ex cord and want to know is
it ok to connect a smaller gauge ex cord to this 10g 20 amp ex cord?

This cord has only the single female to plug into and I bought a 2'
extender that has a 3 female receptacles. I also have a 100' cord but
not as heavy duty as the 50' one.

How best and safest way to plug in my extension cords for maximum use?

The generator is a 6500 watt Honda, the starting wattage eludes me
right now. It was used only one time for about 6 hours and the dude
needed $$ to keep his divorce attorney up and running, so to
speak. :)

Not planning on running anything bigger than the refrig/freezer, a
small upright freezer, well pump (it's old and runs on 110), 3/4 fans
during summer outages, 2/3 small lights and a small tv.

I know to unplug those appliances that don't need to stay plugged in
all the time so as to allow the generator to furnish the power where
its needed.

So, just looking for some experienced user to point me in the right
direction pertaining to the proper use of extension cords from
generator to house.

not at all interested in the backfeed scenario, seems to be a bit more
hazardous to people and machines.

Thanks for any and all responses, advice and help.

Al


You really should get a basic transfer switch, and hook it up to your panel.
The generator is going to put out 2 legs of 120 volt @ 27 amps each. Using
the one cord, you're only connecting to half the available power of the
machine. If you have to use extension cords, you should have two cords going
to the machine, one on each leg, assuming the generator has two separate
outlets for this. Use the heaviest cords first, then split off the lighter
cords nearer to the things being plugged in.

Proper Use of Extension Cords
 

On Aug 16, 6:39*pm, Mr WithEveryShot
wrote:

snip

So, just looking for some experienced user to point me in the right
direction pertaining to the proper use of extension cords from
generator to house.

not at all interested in the backfeed scenario, seems to be a bit more
hazardous to people and machines.

Thanks for any and all responses, advice and help.

Consider buying or making up cords with Twistlock fittings. Besides
being far less prone to coming apart when you most need them, they
tend to be shunned by thieves because the fittings are different. All
bets off if the bad guys are just salvaging copper, of course.
Twistlocks are becoming pretty common on construction sites, and Bosch
even sells a Twistlock version of the famous Skillsaw Mag 77.

Joe

Proper Use of Extension Cords
 

On Aug 16, 6:39*pm, Mr WithEveryShot
wrote:
Howdy,

Got a new generator and don't want to be unsafe with running cords.

My question(s) is, I have a 50' 10g 20 amp ex cord and want to know is
it ok to connect a smaller gauge ex cord to this 10g 20 amp ex cord?

This cord has only the single female to plug into and I bought a 2'
extender that has a 3 female receptacles. *I also have a 100' cord but
not as heavy duty as the 50' one.

How best and safest way to plug in my extension cords for maximum use?

The generator is a 6500 watt Honda, the starting wattage eludes me
right now. *It was used only one time for about 6 hours and the dude
needed $$ to keep his divorce attorney up and running, so to
speak. *:)

Not planning on running anything bigger than the refrig/freezer, a
small upright freezer, well pump (it's old and runs on 110), 3/4 fans
during summer outages, 2/3 small lights and a small tv.

I know to unplug those appliances that don't need to stay plugged in
all the time so as to allow the generator to furnish the power where
its needed.

So, just looking for some experienced user to point me in the right
direction pertaining to the proper use of extension cords from
generator to house.

not at all interested in the backfeed scenario, seems to be a bit more
hazardous to people and machines.

Thanks for any and all responses, advice and help.

Al

For about 300$ Generac has a complete 6 circuit transfer kit, its pre
wired, takes maybe 5 hrs to install, it has all plugs and exterior box
and cables. If you run one apliance at a time going to a smaller cord
should be ok but my transfer panel makes it easy and fun to use.