Latest news with #extensioncords
CNET
18-05-2025
- General
- CNET
Is It Safe to Pair an Extension Cord With Your AC Unit? An Electrician Warns Against It
The weather is already heating up and summer will soon be in full swing. If you're blasting the AC to keep cool, there's one safety tip you can't afford to ignore: Never plug your air conditioner into an extension cord or power strip. It might seem like a harmless shortcut, especially if outlets are limited, but doing so creates a safety hazard, according to Paul Martinez, owner of Electrified NYC in Brooklyn. "A lot of people don't have knowledge of extension cords," says Martinez. "If extension cords are 14-gauge and you're running an appliance with a heating element, (like) a toaster oven, microwave or dishwasher, a 14-gauge will not hold the amperage and can burn up the extension cord. And that's what causes fires in New York City." Fourteen-gauge and 12-gauge extension cords are some of the most common extension cords. A 14-gauge cord can handle up to 1,800 watts, or 15 amps, the same as a standard wall outlet in the US. But Martinez recommends any appliance that uses more than 1,500 watts should always be on a dedicated circuit. "No extension cords whatsoever," he says for those appliances. If you're not sure which devices and appliances shouldn't be plugged into extension cords, here are seven of the most important ones to remember. Read more: Best Surge Protector 1. Air fryers Air fryers are great for quickly cooking and warming food, including full meals and side dishes, but it's not a good idea to attach them to extension cords or power strips. Although they range in wattage based on size, large air fryers can draw up to 2,000 watts, making them a major fire hazard if they're attached to an extension cord. If you don't have counter space to keep your air fryer out full time, it's best to only pull it out when needed and plug it into a dedicated wall outlet every time. 2. Microwaves Many homes have a built-in microwave but not everyone has this feature. If you have to find a place to connect yours in your kitchen, this is another heavy-duty appliance that should live on its own dedicated circuit because of its high wattage. 3. Extension cords Plugging extension cords into other extension cords is another huge "no" in the electrical world. This practice called "daisy chaining" can lead to the circuit overheating, which would cause the cords to overheat and lead to a fire. Extension cords should never be plugged in to each other.4. Space heaters Electric space heaters have long been known to be a major cause of fires. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that between 2017 and 2019, portable space heaters were involved in 1,700 fires per year, with some of those fires resulting in deaths. "Let's say you connect (an extension cord) to a floor heater," Martinez says, "the plug melts and it starts a fire. That's why you can't use extension cords and/or power strips for any appliances, because they should be used for electronics only." Read more: Never Put a Space Heater in These 9 Places 5. Toasters and toaster ovens Although toasters are smaller kitchen appliances, they use a lot of energy and can also pose a fire threat if connected to an extension cord. Toaster ovens need even more power to operate with wattage ranging from 1,200 to 1,400 watts.6. Refrigerators While refrigerators use less power — about 300 to 800 watts — than some other kitchen appliances, they're still not recommended for extension cord use because they are constantly running. Even if an extension cord doesn't cause a fire when attached to a fridge, there's a possibility the connection could cause the fridge to malfunction. While they are not as high-powered as the other kitchen devices, you should still avoid plugging refrigerators into extension cords.7. Air conditioning units AC units use a lot of power to keep your home cool so they need to be plugged into a wall outlet as well. Martinez also stresses the importance of purchasing the correct AC unit for your space. You can use an online BTU calculator to calculate the type you will need to effectively cool your space. "People just buy a 5,000 BTU air conditioner, because it's $99 on sale, and they think it's going to cool off (their home) and it does not," according to Martinez. AC units "are supposed to cycle on and off, so they don't pull that much energy. So if you undersize it, the compressor is going to work 10 times harder." This can result in your home never properly cooling off, a higher electricity bill and if the unit is connected to an extension cord, possibly a fire. It is important to determine what size air conditioner unit you need based on the size of the area you are trying to cool off. James Martin/CNET The bottom line on extension cords Martinez says the number one thing to keep in mind regarding extension cords is to never use them with any "appliances whatsoever." He says you should also remember to only pair power strips with electronics and that your average home extension cords shouldn't be used for anything above 15 amps (1,800 watts), regardless of where or how the device operates. For more home tips, here is the secret ingredient needed to clean a cast iron and expert tips on how to stop porch pirates.
The Sun
17-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Five devices you must NEVER plug into an extension cord – including common summer hazards
EXTENSION leads are helpful pieces of kit - but there are certain devices you must avoid plugging into them. A pretty good rule of thumb is to avoid plugging in any electronics that are constantly on - and anything that could get wet. 4 4 Major appliances The average extension cord isn't built to handle the kind of electrical load put out by large appliances, such as fridges, washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers. At best, you could risk damaging the appliance - which can be an expensive mistake. At worst, you could risk a fire caused by overheating - which could be even more costly. Small appliances Even small appliances can be a cause for concern when it comes to plugging into an extension cord. Some of the more compact gadgets, like toasters and toaster ovens, can pack quite a punch, using more power than you'd expect. Microwaves are the same, and typically use more power than the average cable can handle. But households should also be wary of mixers, blenders, air fryers, and waffle makers. These could overload an extension cord - particularly if there are several gadgets plugged in - and lead to a fire. 4 Air conditioners & space heaters While households may be pulling the air conditioner units out of storage, it should be noted they belong in a wall outlet to avoid any overheating risks with a power strip. Space heaters are more dangerous in an extension cord, as they draw a higher amount of power and often exceed the capacity of a standard cable. Power strips are generally intended for low-power devices like computers or lamps, not high-wattage appliances. Major US Phone Carriers Warn of Imminent Price Hikes Amid Tariff War 4 Outdoor electrical devices During summer, power strips can be tempting to use outside for outdoor devices. But doing so can pose hazards relating to heat and weather. Overheating from coiled cords, exposure to moisture, and damage from sun and wind can increase the risk of fire or electrical shock. To avoid this, it's important to use outdoor-rated cords and protect connections from the rain and sun. Surge protectors Households are brimming with electronic gadgets these days - and while it might be tempting to plug an extension cable into another to maximise the number of outlets, this is dangerous. Experts have warned against the 'daisy chaining' of multiple power strips and surge protectors. 'Daisy chaining', as it is known, comes with serious risks, including overheating, fire hazards, electric shocks and voided warranties on your devices. Each power strip is rated for a specific electrical load – how much power it can safely handle before it fails. But when you plug one power strip into another, they can exceed this capacity. The one closest to the wall outlet usually takes the hardest hit – meaning it's the one that is most likely to falter.
CNET
10-05-2025
- General
- CNET
Stop Plugging Your AC Into an Extension Cord, Electricians Warn
Summer's in full swing, and if you're blasting the AC to keep cool, there's one safety tip you can't afford to ignore: never plug your air conditioner into an extension cord. It might seem like a harmless shortcut, especially if outlets are limited, but it's a major fire risk. High-powered appliances like AC units need to be plugged directly into a wall outlet to run safely. The same goes for heavy-duty devices like fridges and microwaves. Using extension cords or power strips might be convenient in the moment, but it could end up putting your home in danger when the temperature climbs. "A lot of people don't have knowledge of extension cords," says Paul Martinez, owner of Electrified NYC in Brooklyn. "If extension cords are 14-gauge and you're running an appliance with a heating element, (like) a toaster oven, microwave or dishwasher, a 14-gauge will not hold the amperage and can burn up the extension cord. And that's what causes fires in New York City." Fourteen-gauge and 12-gauge extension cords are some of the most common extension cords. A 14-gauge cord can handle up to 1,800 watts, or 15 amps, the same as a standard wall outlet in the US. But Martinez recommends any appliance that uses more than 1,500 watts should always be on a dedicated circuit. "No extension cords whatsoever," he says for those appliances. If you're not sure which devices and appliances shouldn't be plugged into extension cords, here are seven of the most important ones to remember. Read more: Best Surge Protector 1. Air fryers Air fryers are great for quickly cooking and warming food, including full meals and side dishes, but it's not a good idea to attach them to extension cords or power strips. Although they range in wattage based on size, large air fryers can draw up to 2,000 watts, making them a major fire hazard if they're attached to an extension cord. If you don't have counter space to keep your air fryer out full time, it's best to only pull it out when needed and plug it into a dedicated wall outlet every time. 2. Microwaves Many homes have a built-in microwave but not everyone has this feature. If you have to find a place to connect yours in your kitchen, this is another heavy-duty appliance that should live on its own dedicated circuit because of its high wattage. 3. Extension cords Plugging extension cords into other extension cords is another huge "no" in the electrical world. This practice called "daisy chaining" can lead to the circuit overheating, which would cause the cords to overheat and lead to a fire. Extension cords should never be plugged in to each other.4. Space heaters Electric space heaters have long been known to be a major cause of fires. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that between 2017 and 2019, portable space heaters were involved in 1,700 fires per year, with some of those fires resulting in deaths. "Let's say you connect (an extension cord) to a floor heater," Martinez says, "the plug melts and it starts a fire. That's why you can't use extension cords and/or power strips for any appliances, because they should be used for electronics only." Read more: Never Put a Space Heater in These 9 Places 5. Toasters and toaster ovens Although toasters are smaller kitchen appliances, they use a lot of energy and can also pose a fire threat if connected to an extension cord. Toaster ovens need even more power to operate with wattage ranging from 1,200 to 1,400 watts.6. Refrigerators While refrigerators use less power — about 300 to 800 watts — than some other kitchen appliances, they're still not recommended for extension cord use because they are constantly running. Even if an extension cord doesn't cause a fire when attached to a fridge, there's a possibility the connection could cause the fridge to malfunction. While they are not as high-powered as the other kitchen devices, you should still avoid plugging refrigerators into extension cords.7. Air conditioning units AC units use a lot of power to keep your home cool so they need to be plugged into a wall outlet as well. Martinez also stresses the importance of purchasing the correct AC unit for your space. You can use an online BTU calculator to calculate the type you will need to effectively cool your space. "People just buy a 5,000 BTU air conditioner, because it's $99 on sale, and they think it's going to cool off (their home) and it does not," according to Martinez. AC units "are supposed to cycle on and off, so they don't pull that much energy. So if you undersize it, the compressor is going to work 10 times harder." This can result in your home never properly cooling off, a higher electricity bill and if the unit is connected to an extension cord, possibly a fire. It is important to determine what size air conditioner unit you need based on the size of the area you are trying to cool off. James Martin/CNET The bottom line on extension cords Martinez says the number one thing to keep in mind regarding extension cords is to never use them with any "appliances whatsoever." He says you should also remember to only pair power strips with electronics and that your average home extension cords shouldn't be used for anything above 15 amps (1,800 watts), regardless of where or how the device operates. For more home tips, here is the secret ingredient needed to clean a cast iron and expert tips on how to stop porch pirates.
