The generator is considered one of the most essential power supply equipment that is required if you are living in a disaster-prone area. In today’s article, we will discuss if you can use an extension cord with a generator.
Using an extension cord for a generator
It is not recommended to use an extension cord to power up a generator because the extension cords are not designed to take the heavy electric flow caused by the generator. In addition to that, frequent power drops may damage the generator and the appliances if you use an extension cord.
The extension cord is considered one of the most common electrical equipment that is found in almost every household.
It is known to be a power extender or a drop cord that is made using a flexible electrical power cable with a plug on one end and a socket on the other end. Generally, the extension cords are available for indoor and outdoor use.
Generally, the extension cords are used when you have to power something far away from the electrical outlet. It is very efficient and convenient to power up small household appliances.
However, sometimes you may need to power up a generator using the extension cord. The generator is considered one of the most essential power supply equipment that is available in almost every household.
Generally, if you are living in a disaster-prone area, you may need a generator to run the household appliances seamlessly.
The generator is a piece of heavy electric equipment that helps to run household appliances during a power surge or power outage. That is why most people rely on using a generator during any disaster.
It is not a good idea to power up a generator using an extension cord. The reason why it is not recommended to power up a generator using an extension cord is that the extension cords are not designed to handle the heavy electric loads of the generator.
The distance of extension cords can cause the power to drop to the generator and damage the appliances.
If you try to power up a generator using an extension cord, you will need to place the extension cord under rugs and carpets. As a result, it can cause the buildup of heat and start a fire.
That is why it is not safe to use an extension cord to run or power up a generator. In addition to that, due to the heavy electric flow caused by the generator, the extension cord can easily get burned.
In some cases, the extension cord may not be able to handle the heavy electric flow of the generator and can damage the household appliances as well as the generator components.
That is why it is highly recommended to avoid using an extension cord to power up a generator. You should always power a generator using a proper electric source that will provide maximum efficiency.
In addition to that, it will provide you with a seamless power supply without any fire or electric risks.
This will ensure proper safety for the members of your house. Although you can use extension cords to run portable generators, it is not recommended to do so.
How long of an extension cord can I use with my generator?
The extension cord is considered one of the most essential electric equipment that is found in almost every household.
Generally, the extension cord is made using a flexible electrical power cable that has a plug on one end, and a socket on the other end.
Generally, the extension cords can be used indoors and outdoors and you can provide any appliance with a power supply whatever you want using the extension cords.
Sometimes you may consider running a generator using an extension cord. However, it is not recommended to use an extension cord to power up a generator.
The reason why you should not use an extension cord to power up a generator is that frequent power drops can cause significant damage to the generator components as well as the appliances connected to it.
However, if you are willing to use an extension cord to run a generator, you should maintain the 10 or 30 feet long extension cord and it should be used for up to 7500 watts generator.
How do you hook up a generator to an extension cord?
Generally, it is not recommended to use an extension cord to power up a generator because the extension cords are not designed in such a way that can handle the heavy electric flow of a generator.
If you use an extension cord to borrow up a generator without following the proper rules, it can cause significant damage to the generator components as well as the appliances connected to it.
That is why you should always be careful and follow the proper guidelines to connect a generator using an extension cord in addition to that.
When you hook up a generator to an extension cord, you should simply plug the gen cord into the 20 or 30-amp outlet on your generator.
In addition to that, the opposite end splits into several household outlets where you can start connecting additional extension cords safely.
This will be much more efficient and convenient for the generator to run using an extension cord.
What happens if you use an extension cord for a generator?
The generator is considered one of the most essential household equipment. When you were living in a disaster-prone area and facing frequent power surges.
The generator helps to run all the appliances during the power search for a long time. That is why many people tend to have generators in their homes.
However, you may want to power up your generator using an extension cord, but it is not recommended to power up a generator using an extension cord because the extension cords are not designed to handle the electric load of the generator.
If you use an extension cord to power up a generator, it can cause a variety of problems. First of all, powering up the generator using an extension cord will increase the chances of getting fired due to a spark.
It can also damage the electrical equipment run using the generator due to voltage drop. Below is a brief discussion on what happens if you use an extension cord for a generator:
Unexpected power drops:
The first thing that will happen when you use an extension cord to power up a generator is you will notice unexpected power drops. It will happen due to the distance of the extension cord from the power source to the generator.
Damage to the components:
If you use an extension cord to run the generator, it can cause significant damage to the generator components as well as the appliances connected to the generator.
Fire risk:
Since the extension cord is not able to handle the heavy electric flow of the generator, it can cause the heat to build up and spark from the extension cord, which can increase the chances of Catching Fire.
What gauge extension cord do I need for a generator? How to measure?
Although it is not recommended to use an extension cord to run a generator, sometimes you can follow the national electric codes to run a generator using the extension cord.
There are several techniques that you can follow to run a generator using the extension cord.
There are a variety of extension cords that are needed to be measured before connecting to a generator.
For heavy-duty appliances such as generators, you can try using a 10 gauge U ground extension cord or 10 gauge twist lock Extension cord.
In addition to that, you should always keep in mind that the generator should be connected with such type of extension cord that can handle the heavy electric load of the generator.
Otherwise, the components of the generator may get damaged due to uncertain power drop. You can simply follow the techniques below to measure what garage extension cord you will need for a generator:
Calculate total wattage:
The first thing you need to do to measure the gorge extension cord for your generator is to calculate the total wattage of all your devices.
Divide them by 110:
After calculating the total wattage, you need to divide the number by 110, which is the standard household voltage.
Round down the whole number:
For a better figure and proper calculation, you will need to round down to the nearest whole number and the result will be what the cord gauge that it will need.
Final Thoughts
It is not recommended to run a generator using an extension cord because the extension cords are not designed to run heavy appliances like the generator. Due to heavy electric flow and power drop, the generator can get damaged if run or powered up using an extension cord.