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Why does a 10-amp rated extension cord work with 15-20 amp house outlets?
Here are the specs for an extension cord from Lowe's:
100-ft 10-Amp 16-Gauge Orange Outdoor Extension Cord
• Orange, SJTW Wire, 100' in length with durable 16 gauge wire
• cULus listed, rated 10A/125V/1250W
• Operates in a wide range of temperature from -40°C to +60°C
• Oversized plugs and strain reliefs
Just by the numbers and from a physics viewpoint, it seems that this cord would burn up or have a blowout. It obviously doesn't, and runs a wide variety of electric yard tools with no problems.
Why is this?
3 Answers
- dawgdaysLv 76 years ago
What determines how much current flows is the device that's provides the load, not the capability of the source.
An appliance draws a certain amount of current. You want a cord that is rated for at least that amount of current, and outlets and mains that can deliver 15-20 amps.
That extension cord is useful for a lot of things, but it is not suitable for a 1500W heater. For that, you would want heavier wire in the cord, such as a 14-gauge or 12-gauge.
- thomas fLv 76 years ago
It is because the appliances that you are operating do not pull more than 10 amps while operating. But attach enough load to your cord in maybe the 15-20 amp range, and you will likely see damage. I did just this very thing about a month ago, and it did not harm the cord, but it welded the plugs into the sockets, making it impossible to unplug my devices. I had to cut the cord and install new plugs and sockets.
- BillLv 76 years ago
If you plug in a device that continuously uses more than 10 amps, there's a good chance that it would burn out.
