What Bulb For

Extension cords and power strips

Which extension cord, power strip or surge protector to use, and when to plug straight into the wall.

Extension cord gaugeThe gauge for your load and cord length, from four makers' charts, with a printable chart and PDF. Watts to ampsConvert between watts, amps and volts, with the math shown. 1500 watts to amps1,500 watts in amps at 120 volts and other voltages, and what a 1,500 watt heater needs from the outlet. Extension cord wattsWhere a cord's watt rating is printed, and the amps and watts Southwire rates its cords for by gauge and length. Extension cord lettersWhat SJTW, SJOOW, 14/3 and the other markings on the jacket mean, in the cord makers' own words. Indoor cord outside?Why only a cord marked for outdoor use goes outside, how to tell one, and how to keep it safe out there. Space heatersWhy a space heater goes straight into a wall outlet, never an extension cord or power strip, and what to do when there's no outlet nearby. Refrigerators and freezersWhy GE, Whirlpool and Frigidaire say a fridge or freezer goes straight into its own grounded outlet, with no extension cord. Window air conditionersWhy GE, Midea and LG say a window air conditioner goes straight into a wall outlet, and the one cord rating LG's manual gives. Generator cordsHeavy-duty outdoor cords from the generator to your appliances, carbon monoxide, and why it never plugs into a wall outlet. Power tool cordsThe cord table in your tool's manual, where Milwaukee's differs from DeWalt's, Makita's and Bosch's, and air compressors. Pressure washer cordsWorx and Ryobi don't recommend an extension cord. The gauge and length their manuals allow, and keeping the connection dry. Power strip or surge?Telling them apart by UL 1449 on the label or box, and what the VPR on a surge protector means. Surge protector joulesWhat the joule rating means, Tripp Lite's suggested 1,000 joules, and why Eaton and Schneider caution against comparing by joules. Daisy chainingPlugging power strips and extension cords into each other (daisy chaining), what UL says, and what to do instead. GFCI keeps trippingWhat to check when a cord, outdoor lights or a pressure washer trips the GFCI, and when to call an electrician. Hot extension cordWhat a hot or melted extension cord means, what to check, and when to call an electrician.

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General guidance from manufacturer and standards data. Products vary, so check the label and the maker's instructions.