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My cord is too short, can I use an extension cord?


The concern is that an undersized or unsafe type of insulation found with most general purpose extension cords is unsafe and….



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Electrical Question from Ian about Electrical Safety
[ad#block]Question: I’ve seen various places online that state you should not use an extension cord with a washing machine. I’ve also seen others that say you can. Which is accurate? My cord is about a foot short of my outlet and I want to use a heavy duty cord to connect it. Is this safe?

Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical question Ian. The concern is that an undersized or unsafe type of insulation found with most general purpose extension cords is unsafe and I totally agree. However there are specific use cords which state they are designed to be used for devices such as microwave ovens. These cords are short and the wire gauge and insulation type is safe for the stated application. If you find one of these specific application cords and its states that it is safe for your application AND it has a Genuine UL Listing AND you will not be altering the cord in any way then it should be safe for your application. However if your electrical appliance explicitly prohibits the use of any extension cord then I advise against it.

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Complete Guide to Home Electrical Wiring

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Includes:
Wiring GFCI Outlets
Wiring Home Electric Circuits
120 Volt and 240 Volt Outlet Circuits
Wiring Light Switches
Wiring 3-Wire and 4-Wire Electric Range
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The Safest Way to Test Electrical Devices and Identify Electric Wires!

The Non-Contact Electrical Tester
This is a testing tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and is the first test tool I grab to help identify electrical wiring. It is a Non-contact tester that I use to easily Detect Voltage in Cables, Cords, Circuit Breakers, Lighting Fixtures, Switches, Outlets and Wires. Simply insert the end of the tester into an outlet, lamp socket, or hold the end of the tester against the wire you wish to test. Very handy and easy to use.

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The Plug-In Outlet Tester
This is the first tool I grab to troubleshoot a problem with outlet circuit wiring. This popular tester is also used by most inspectors to test for power and check the polarity of circuit wiring.
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The Wire Stripper and Wire Cutter
My absolute favorite wire stripping tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and this is the tool I use to safely strip electrical wires.
This handy tool has multiple uses:
The wire gauges are shown on the side of the tool so you know which slot to use for stripping insulation.
The end of the tool can be used to grip and bend wire which is handy for attaching wire onto the screw terminals of switches and outlets..

The wire stripper will work on both solid and stranded wire. This tool is Very Handy and Easy to Use.


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