Extension cords - risks with appliances like clothes drier and heater

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#2492462 27-May-2020 08:14

Heavy duty is the insulation thickness not the copper thickness. Relevant for construction and builders etc where they get abused so its a site requirement.

You wont find a 10A 1.5mm cord that short because its not going to have a voltage drop issue. They only go to 1.5mm on the long 10A cables. They spec that out so the voltage drop on a single cable is within allowable limits, if someone cascades cords despite all instructions saying not to, then it is on them.

Richard rich.ms

Bung

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#2492492 27-May-2020 08:48

richms:
You wont find a 10A 1.5mm cord that short because its not going to have a voltage drop issue. They only go to 1.5mm on the long 10A cables. They spec that out so the voltage drop on a single cable is within allowable limits, if someone cascades cords despite all instructions saying not to, then it is on them.

Never say never. "Available in 1M, 2M, 3M, 5M, 10M, 15M, 20M and 30M lengths." From a NZ lighting service supplier to entertainment industry. But Timmmay is not running a rock concert in his laundry 😊

I remember the electrician in the office saying one of the common problems was people trying to run big freezers out in the garage on long extension cords. The volt drop meant the fridge compressor didn't start properly and eventually burnt out.

Scott3

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#2492500 27-May-2020 09:04

https://kelpls.co.nz/products/10a-black-extension-leads-tapon-plug-1-5mm-saa

My searching turned up the same result as Bung.

Piggy back socket is not ideal for use in a high load application, but the cord is available if you want.

Our current dryer is fitted with a 1.0mm^2 cord, but our previous one had a 1.5mm^2 cord.

timmmay

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#2492504 27-May-2020 09:14

@Linux your last post was inappropriate. Maybe you need to consider the way to talk to people on Geekzone.

My aim is to ensure I have a quality extension cord that doesn't cause problems like heating in the cord or the plug, which happens with some cords. I don't want a fire because I used a thin cord that heated up when a clothes drier is drawing 8-10A for 2 hours or more.

What I've learned is the 1.5mm cables are to prevent voltage drop, not to do things like reduce heating, and that heavy duty main applies to the build quality. The clothes drier cord is 1.0mm so that's a good guide that it's sufficient.

Thanks to everyone who made constructive comments.

Froglotion

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#2492567 27-May-2020 10:00

Another option could be removing the cord off the drier? Get a longer one made up and wired back on. No connections to worry about. Won't compare price wise to an off the shelf extension cord, just giving another option.

timmmay

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#2492589 27-May-2020 10:24

Froglotion:

Another option could be removing the cord off the drier? Get a longer one made up and wired back on. No connections to worry about. Won't compare price wise to an off the shelf extension cord, just giving another option.

Yeah good point, I mentioned that above. We'd have to unstack everything, pull it apart, restack it, it'd take hours and cost hundreds.

Froglotion

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#2492620 27-May-2020 10:34

Ah I must have missed that comment.

Wouldn't cost THAT much, would be a quick and easy job for a sparky. Sounds like a bit much work though if it's that packed in.

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timmmay

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#2492674 27-May-2020 11:43

Yeah to get at the appliances you pull a stacked washer / drier out and maybe have to disconnect the tub and move it first. Maybe it only takes an hour or two, but you need two people as it's so heavy.

snnet

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#2556874 4-Sep-2020 11:12

Just requested this to be unlocked to upload a picture of what can happen should someone choose to use an extension cord with such appliances...

timmmay

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#2556880 4-Sep-2020 11:25

Good call. Sometimes you can't avoid using extensions, which is why I was looking for good quality ones. Checking them regularly, making sure they're uncoiled, and having smoke alarms in the area, I'm ok with the risk.

1101

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#2556883 4-Sep-2020 11:31

timmmay:

What I've learned is the 1.5mm cables are to prevent voltage drop, not to do things like reduce heating,

You dont get a voltage drop without heating . Thats were its lost (as heat) . How much heat is another matter (bugger all)
possible issue would be extension cord plug/socket . You are adding another plug/socket & putting 8A(?) through it.
Ive had power plugs get very hot . Just bad build/design ? Compare the beefy UK plug to NZ's .

And real world issue of clothes dryer fires isnt power cables
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/horowhenua-chronicle/news/article.cfm

:-)

snnet

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#2556889 4-Sep-2020 11:38

1101:

And real world issue of clothes dryer fires isnt power cables
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/horowhenua-chronicle/news/article.cfm

:-)

Absolutely -- I recently purchased a heat pump dryer and I knew to clean the lint filter, but it took a couple of uses before I discovered the lint filter filter!

I am assuming that is what the link was meant to refer to (it says not found)

gzt

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#2557060 4-Sep-2020 14:51

Echoing what was already said, the biggest risk is the extension plug and socket.

Bung

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#2557335 5-Sep-2020 07:16

snnet: Just requested this to be unlocked to upload a picture of what can happen should someone choose to use an extension cord with such appliances...

Were there any more details of this incident. A "fire caused by an extension cord" that just happens to be beside a hot water radiator. Was it actually the fact that some idiot had draped the cord over a heater that that caused the problem?

larknz

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#2557363 5-Sep-2020 10:16

Why not buy the shortest cord you can with 1.5 conductors and cut it to the length you want and fit a new cord connector or plug, depending on which end you cut off.

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