Are these extension cords still OK ?

[Jaguar Fan]

Hi... I was using a 12 amp electric leaf blower attached to a 25 foot extension cord, which in turn was plugged in to a 100 foot extension cord. Both are pretty thick, but I'm not sure what guage the wire actually is (the 25 is a bit thinner than the 100).

You can see the female plug is on one end of the 100 foot cord. The male is on one end of the 25 foot cord.

While using the leaf blower, I noticed white smoke coming out of the junction of the two cords. They were very hot & the orange plastic was melting, but not yet on fire.

So... here's my question: can I replace the two (male /female) plugs, or do I need to toss the extension cords altogether?

See the pic:

 

[N8]

I would get rid of them all together. If they were hot enough to create smoke and melt the outer plastic, the inner sheathing is more than likely shot too. (sorry I cant see the pictures at work)
I would replaced them just for peace of mind.
(are you in Vegas?)

 

[walrus]

What size is the wire in the cords, anything less than 12, I'd chuck them.

 

[mrb]

you should be ok replacing the ends, looks like the contact in the female was bad (loose), and the arcing and overheating burned the male pin and melted the plastic. When you have a bad connection like this, it creats a runaway condition where the contacts burn a little, that creates arcing and heat which in turn burns the contacts more which makes it arc even more, etc...

I would expect that if you cut the cable back 6-12in you will discover that the wire is fine. Make sure you install your new ends properly.

What size wire are those cords though? It only looks like 16. You should see it imprinted in the cable every couple feet...

How many amps does they leafblower draw? You might be better off with #14 or even #12 depending on the current draw and length.

 

[Jaguar Fan]

... What size wire are those cords though? It only looks like 16. You should see it imprinted in the cable every couple feet...

How many amps does they leafblower draw? You might be better off with #14 or even #12 depending on the current draw and length.

The 25 foot is thinner: it is a 16/3. The 100 foot is thicker; I spent 5 mins looking for an imprint on the cable but gave up without finding one. I can't tell for sure if it is 14 or 12 guage, but I'm guessing 12.

The leaf blower draws 12 amps.

 

[mrb]

The 25 foot is thinner: it is a 16/3. The 100 foot is thicker; I spent 5 mins looking for an imprint on the cable but gave up without finding one. I can't tell for sure if it is 14 or 12 guage, but I'm guessing 12.

The leaf blower draws 12 amps.

toss the 25ft #16. If the 100ft really is 12, keep it and replace both ends on it with good ones. I use the leviton ends like these

stay away from the $4 hardware store grade ends. The best connector available (for your use) at homedepot is the clamshell type from pass and seymour http://www.passandseymour.com/pdf/H07.pdf Lowes doesnt have any connectors worth a ****. Where are you located?

 

[Jaguar Fan]

toss the 25ft #16. If the 100ft really is 12, keep it and replace both ends on it with good ones. I use the leviton ends like these

stay away from the $4 hardware store grade ends. The best connector available (for your use) at homedepot is the clamshell type from pass and seymour http://www.passandseymour.com/pdf/H07.pdf Lowes doesnt have any connectors worth a ****. Where are you located?

Thanks for the advice -- I will follow it.

I'm currently in Silicon Valley about 2 miles from Home Depot; I just now came back with a a pair of the pass and seymore connectors.

Thanks!

 

[mrb]

Thanks for the advice -- I will follow it.

I'm currently in Silicon Valley about 2 miles from Home Depot; I just now came back with a a pair of the pass and seymore connectors.

Thanks!

make sure that when you install the connectors, you dont remove too much jacket from the cable. You want the jacket going all the way through the strain relief area in the connector. When stripping the wires, make sure you dont nick or lose any strands, and make sure they are tightened in the clamps but no so much you strip the screw or deform the clamp. Match the male and female to the appropriate end of the cable so you dont have to cross the black and white in the connector to get them to the right terminals.

 

[mrb]

also, the little inserts at the back of the connector can be flipped around to get different hole sizes, do this to match your cable so you can tighten it without completely smashing the cable.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Replace the ends with the proper type as indicated above and you should do just fine.

 

[kbs2244]

I have nothing against replacing the ends on cords.
I do it all the time.
The factory female ones are pretty cheap and don't last through many uses.

But, at 125 feet, I would invest in a good heavy duty, 12 gauge, cord.
Maybe even make up one of your own now that you have some good connectors.
Leafblowers are run for long periods of time.
And conections are the weak point of any stringing of them together.

I have a devoted 130 foot on on my blower.
I coil it up with the blower when I hang it up.
It is the only thing I use it for.

 

[Dq383500]

I did get mine wet at the connection and it kinda looks like that,never tripped the 15 amp breaker though.

 

[rsanter]

I think the bad connection was in the plug that caused the problem. if you replace the end I think you will be fine.
on the other side I would look at the cost of the repair plug and the cost of a cord and see if its worth it.
if you replace the cords I would think about cutting the bad ends off the old ones and keep them for use as a replacement cord for a power tool or something

bob

 

[gewb]

Given your sig line "Life is too short to drink stale coffee, bad wine, or use cheap tools." why would you keep that cord?

Sounds out of character.

Regards,
GEWB

 

[lametec]

Match the male and female to the appropriate end of the cable so you dont have to cross the black and white in the connector to get them to the right terminals.

Or just rotate the cable 180°?

 

[mrb]

Or just rotate the cable 180°?

then the ground has to lift up and move between the black and white. when done right all 3 wires go right into their respective pins without crossing.

 

[lametec]

Is this just personal preference or some kind of code?

I figure the black/white will be spread apart to go to their pins, so there's ample room in the middle for the ground to go up between them.

I've never even thought about there being a difference between the two ends.

 

[mrb]

Is this just personal preference or some kind of code?

I figure the black/white will be spread apart to go to their pins, so there's ample room in the middle for the ground to go up between them.

I've never even thought about there being a difference between the two ends.

as far as code, not really except for following the instructions. The problem is if you have the wires all twisted around, on many plugs that keeps the cable from being far enough into the strain relief. Best to do it right.

 

[lametec]

I guess I've never bought a plug that came with instructions!

 

[mrb]

I guess I've never bought a plug that came with instructions!

its right on the side of the box

 

[cortez]

Old cords that are not repairable are great for tying down stuff on ones' vehicles (as well as almost endless garage and home stuff).

Even the better cords tend to get warm at both ends as there is more resistance with contact surfaces (outlets and tools).

Most times the insides are good and new only the ends replaced.

For my contracting work I use 8 and 12 gauge only for hundred foot lengths.

 

[lametec]

its right on the side of the box

It's been a few years since I bought one, but I'm pretty sure it didn't come with a box. Probably 'cause it was a cheapie. Still works, though!