Extension cords - risks with appliances like clothes drier and heater

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timmmay

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#271785 26-May-2020 21:25

We've moved our clothes drier and the supplied cord doesn't reach the outlet. Putting in a new outlet is quite messy.

I can buy a standard domestic extension cord which has 1mm square conductors, but for something like a clothes drier I wonder if the extra heavy duty cords with 1.5mm conductors would be better. If so, where can you find short 1m or 2pm cords in white?

NB: this thread started out asking where to find extension cords, but has turned into a conversation about electrical safety.

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#2492301 26-May-2020 21:32

1m would not require a heavy duty ext lead it's still just plugging into a 10A plug

Edit: Bet the power cord coming out of the drier is not heavy duty

SomeoneSomewhere

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#2492312 26-May-2020 21:46

Heavy duty/normal duty refers to the thickness of the sheathing, and its resistance to damage.

Conductor size is separate.

snnet

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#2492313 26-May-2020 21:48

1 meter is probably okay with 1.5mm conductors, but I have seen longer lengths cause issues to outlets and appliances (especially with a load like a dryer) - appliance plugs welded to extension leads and power sockets crisped

timmmay

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#2492324 26-May-2020 22:10

Thanks all. I noticed heavy duty at 1.0mm and heavy duty and 1.5mm. if I can get away with a good quality standard household cord that's easy, I just figured with high load appliances used regularly I should go for a heavy as I could.

DarthKermit

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#2492326 26-May-2020 22:11

What does the label on your dryer say about how many watts it draws?

vexxxboy

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#2492328 26-May-2020 22:17

or you could be like the majority of people and buy the cheapest one you can find and not give it a 2nd thought.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

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timmmay

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#2492329 26-May-2020 22:19

DarthKermit:
What does the label on your dryer say about how many watts it draws?

Not sure, assume 10A. Can look tomorrow. F&P tumble drier.

snnet

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#2492330 26-May-2020 22:21

vexxxboy:

or you could be like the majority of people and buy the cheapest one you can find and not give it a 2nd thought.

Yeah, not for a dryer lol

Seen it a few times if the leads are around 5+ meters long, nearly burn the house down

Bung

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#2492407 26-May-2020 23:28

snnet:
vexxxboy:

or you could be like the majority of people and buy the cheapest one you can find and not give it a 2nd thought.

Yeah, not for a dryer lol

Seen it a few times if the leads are around 5+ meters long, nearly burn the house down

The usual vented F&P dryers are rated 8 amps max. I can't read the cord any further than MM Cables something something 75C but certainly not 1.5mm.

What were the circumstances that the extension cords "nearly burnt the house down"?

snnet

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#2492426 27-May-2020 05:35

Bung:The usual vented F&P dryers are rated 8 amps max. I can't read the cord any further than MM Cables something something 75C but certainly not 1.5mm.

What were the circumstances that the extension cords "nearly burnt the house down"?

If you read other posts on this page I've said what I've seen - crisped/blackened power sockets etc

You'll find most dryer instructions will also stipulate (along with dishwashers etc) that extension cords aren't to be used

I don't overly care, I'm not the extension cord police, so if someone wants to do it they'll do it and what happens happens. Just putting it out there what I've come across quite a bit.

timmmay

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#2492428 27-May-2020 06:29

Thanks for point out that an extension cord isn't recommended, I looked and found it in the manual.

If there's an actual risk then I can get an electrician to replace the cord with a longer heavy duty cord, I guess. Shifting stacked appliances is really quite difficult though. If having a good quality extension cord is ok then I'll do that. Any further thoughts? I did mention to my electrician I was looking for an extension cord and he wasn't worried but I'll double check with him.

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Bung

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#2492435 27-May-2020 07:13

snnet:
If you read other posts on this page I've said what I've seen - crisped/blackened power sockets etc

You'll find most dryer instructions will also stipulate (along with dishwashers etc) that extension cords aren't to be used

I don't overly care, I'm not the extension cord police, so if someone wants to do it they'll do it and what happens happens. Just putting it out there what I've come across quite a bit.

Blackened power sockets aren't the result of extension cords they can happen with the appliance cord if the socket or plug are faulty. Sockets get loose, some plugs have been known to have bad connections from flex to pin. I seem to remember Goldair heaters being bad for hot plugs. I'm not disputing that it's better to have the socket close to the appliance but in my kitchen the dishwasher needs a 1m cord to reach the socket and I have no concerns at all about that. I would not use a power strip with its unreliable thermal breaker.

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#2492436 27-May-2020 07:14

snnet:

If you read other posts on this page I've said what I've seen - crisped/blackened power sockets etc

whats that got to do with the size of the conductors in the cord? seems like a crap socket or plug to me.

manufactures put the recommendation in the manual to cover their asses. 1m is nothing, next to no voltage drop over that distance. and a 1mm2 cable generally rated at 10+amps for that distance with a .2% voltage drop.

Just buy a decent brand extension cord and stop worrying about it.

timmmay

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#2492437 27-May-2020 07:19

Is the thicker conductor in heavy duty cords just to reduce voltage drop? If so then I have no concerns and will just buy a decent consumer brand. I don't really want a bright orange cord in the laundry, but if it was necessary we'd do it.

I have noticed the cord and plug for one of my heaters in the laundry gets quite warm when run for an extended period, so I only run it on half power now, and not for too long.

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#2492461 27-May-2020 08:13

If you are that worried about it, make your own cable, it will cost probably 10 times the price but you know the components. I am talking about proper HPM plug and socket, not cheap Chinese plug and socket at bunnings.

The alternative is get a heavy duty IEC computer lead that you will probably have lying around, cut off the IEC connector and replace with an extension cord socket once you are happy with the cable diameter.

Voltage drop is not the issue, the quality of the plug and socket it the issue.

John

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