Cold weather extension cords - necessary for my location?

[stickshift]

Recently picked up an electric snow thrower. I saw mentions of using cold weather rated extension cords. Apparently regular outdoor extension cords get very stiff at very low temps.

The snow thrower I have is 13A, so for a 100ft extension cord, I'll need 12 gauge. Cold weather rated 100ft 12/3 extension cords aren't cheap - almost $1/ft. Which makes me wonder just how necessary this is for my application.

I'm in Long Island, NY. When it snows, it's usually not far below 32*F. Seems like whenever it's below, say, 20*F, we usually don't get snow, and if it does snow, it's fairly little. I also don't have a huge amount to cover in terms of walkway, driveway and sidewalk, so I figure less than an hour with the snow thrower.

Given this, can I get away with a regular outdoor 12/3 extension cord? Or am I likely going to be miserable dealing with a very stiff cord? And is that the only issue with low temps and extension cords? Or can the temps damage the cord somehow?

 

[Kevin54]

Look into a "contractors cord". Most of those stay flexible in cold weather. A little more expensive, but you can easily roll them up when cold. I bought mine at Lowes.

 

[InsanePyro]

Or can the temps damage the cord somehow?

No but your electricity can jell right up!

 

[dylanmitchell]

Here's a cold-weather 12/3 100 foot cable for about 75 cents a foot still expensive though. My favorite cord is a 12/3 Yellow Jacket but I've heard they get stiff in the cold. Also make sure your blower uses a 15 amp plug before you buy a cord.

You can also pick up 10/3 or12/3 SJ-cord and plug caps to make your own.

I have an electric leaf blower that draws 13 amps and the 12/3 yellow jacket gets a little warm during extended but works fine and doesn't seem to lose power.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001KY03FC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Yellow-...ty-Lock-Jaw-Extension-Cord-64823601/303020521

 

[ttpete]

You want rubber insulated SOOW cord. It stays flexible in cold weather, unlike the plastic insulated stuff.

 

[DFB]

Try what you got and if it freezes up and cant be flexed you'll know for certain

Ahh you can always drag inside and thaw it back out

 

[greenskeeper]

OP will be fine with regular run-of-the-mill extension cords

 

[BruceMc]

OP will be fine with regular run-of-the-mill extension cords

At those temperatures, yes to a point. But they would still be better off buying a quality winter cord in the long run, since the cord is going to be getting dragged all over, bent, twisted, kinked, etc. Cheap plastic-covered cords won't last.

If it was just for static use (like Christmas lights), it wouldn't make much difference.

 

[greenskeeper]

At those temperatures, yes to a point. But they would still be better off buying a quality winter cord in the long run, since the cord is going to be getting dragged all over, bent, twisted, kinked, etc. Cheap plastic-covered cords won't last.

If it was just for static use (like Christmas lights), it wouldn't make much difference.

How many cheap plastic cords could the OP buy, use, and wear out before hitting the price-point of winter cord? Especially on long island where you may or may not be blowing snow every year.

 

[Shadowdog500]

We use one of these for the engine Preheater on our airplane.
US Wire and Cable 99100 Extension Cord, 100ft, Blue/Red https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001KY03FC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

We have the 100’ length one. It is 12 gauge. It stays out every winter, holds up to the weather conditions for years and stays pliable no matter how cold it gets. Would highly recommend!

 

[stickshift]

How many cheap plastic cords could the OP buy, use, and wear out before hitting the price-point of winter cord? Especially on long island where you may or may not be blowing snow every year.

We definitely get snow multiple times each winter, but yeah, I can't see a decent plastic extension cord wearing out in a few winters. Especially since it will be somewhat protected from abrasion by snow and ice.

 

[sberry]

get a good one but get a 14, so much lighter and in some cases a 16 might work. In the cold wouldn't hurt a thing for limited use.

 

[themiller]

Good luck using a cheap o cord in the cold. What a royal PITA. Given the intermittent use and cold environment of the blower I’d go 14 gauge and not lose sleep over it.

Once you use a good cord it’s hard to go back. The cheap cords freeze like hoses and are almost unbendable in the real cold. I only use them for Christmas lights now.

 

[sberry]

Yes, a 14 will run anything comes with a 15 end without overheating it. Run a 13A motor continuous.

 

[Bighead38]

Just use a regular extension cord and don’t leave it outside to freeze.

 

[AMCguy]

Get a cheap 14 ga cord. Keep it indoors until ready to use. It'll unroll fine in the cold.

Afterwards and during, it'll be warm from use. Roll it up quick like a bunny.

Glenn

 

[LS6 Tommy]

You want rubber insulated SOOW cord. It stays flexible in cold weather, unlike the plastic insulated stuff.

At 120VAC he only needs SJOOW.

Tommy

 

[The Cobbler]

you want a cord that stays flexible in cold weather, nothing worse than fighting a cord that is stiff .
look at SJEOW cord

 

[The Cobbler]

here's one for $55 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Southwire-...418166&hash=item28853a65d1:g:1hcAAOSwELRdgQn-

 

[roc_on_the_rocks]

Use a 16 gauge cord, it'll stay warm and pliable. Joking!

 

[Super Mech]

We use one of these for the engine Preheater on our airplane.
US Wire and Cable 99100 Extension Cord, 100ft, Blue/Red https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001KY03FC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

We have the 100’ length one. It is 12 gauge. It stays out every winter, holds up to the weather conditions for years and stays pliable no matter how cold it gets. Would highly recommend!

I have a shorter version of this and it stays very flexible in the cold.
One of the better extension cords I’ve ever owned.

 

[kaymccampbell]

My homemade SJEOW cord was flexible in very low temps. Good enough to work in subzero roof repairs, when the cords on the power tools were like sticks. It finally got hard and brittle after about 30 years of continuous outdoor exposure. The cheaper premade cords become sticks at about 30 degrees, and disintegrate after maybe 5 years, if they don't just crack first. Get the 12 gauge SJEOW, you won't regret it.
I actually have chunks of SJEOW in service in indoor use, that are still like new after 40 years.

 

[American Locomotive]

Get the cold weather cord. At 30 degrees the cheap pvc jacketed cords are like tent poles.

 

[BruceMc]

How many cheap plastic cords could the OP buy, use, and wear out before hitting the price-point of winter cord?

Not very many. And unlike a lot of other things, a failure of an electrical cord (especially outdoors in wet conditions) can have undesirable consequences.

 

[greenskeeper]

Not very many. And unlike a lot of other things, a failure of an electrical cord (especially outdoors in wet conditions) can have undesirable consequences.

snow is an excellent conductor

 

[dylanmitchell]

Here are the terms for those like me who have to look them up.

SJEOW

SJ = Junior; rated at 300 VAC

E Elastomer; (thermoplastic rubber)

O= Oil-resistant outer jacket

W = Approved for outdoor use



S = Standard; rated at 600 VAC
SJ = Junior; rated at 300 VAC
E Elastomer; (thermoplastic rubber)
T = Thermoplastic
O = Oil-resistant outer jacket
OO = Oil-resistant insulation and outer jacket
P = Parallel construction (flat)
W = Approved for outdoor use
V = Lightweight, round vacuum cleaner cord

Here's glossary https://uswireandcable.com/glossary/#

In Southern California, even 12/3 SJTW thermoplastic or pvc seems to work fine.

 

[ttpete]

Here are the terms for those like me who have to look them up.

SJEOW

SJ = Junior; rated at 300 VAC

E Elastomer; (thermoplastic rubber)

O= Oil-resistant outer jacket

W = Approved for outdoor use



S = Standard; rated at 600 VAC
SJ = Junior; rated at 300 VAC
E Elastomer; (thermoplastic rubber)
T = Thermoplastic
O = Oil-resistant outer jacket
OO = Oil-resistant insulation and outer jacket
P = Parallel construction (flat)
W = Approved for outdoor use
V = Lightweight, round vacuum cleaner cord

Here's glossary https://uswireandcable.com/glossary/#

In Southern California, even 12/3 SJTW thermoplastic or pvc seems to work fine.

For snowblowers? That was the original application........

 

[kaymccampbell]

Here are the terms for those like me who have to

Stuff clipped

In Southern California, even 12/3 SJTW thermoplastic or pvc seems to work fine.

In southern California a Bakelite cord would be flexible enough.

 

[stickshift]

My homemade SJEOW cord

How did you make it?

 

[stickshift]

Here are the terms for those like me who have to look them up.

SJEOW

SJ = Junior; rated at 300 VAC

E Elastomer; (thermoplastic rubber)

O= Oil-resistant outer jacket

W = Approved for outdoor use



S = Standard; rated at 600 VAC
SJ = Junior; rated at 300 VAC
E Elastomer; (thermoplastic rubber)
T = Thermoplastic
O = Oil-resistant outer jacket
OO = Oil-resistant insulation and outer jacket
P = Parallel construction (flat)
W = Approved for outdoor use
V = Lightweight, round vacuum cleaner cord

Here's glossary https://uswireandcable.com/glossary/#

In Southern California, even 12/3 SJTW thermoplastic or pvc seems to work fine.

Thanks for posting this. Yeah, the 'E' is what's in contention in this thread. Some say I can get by with a 'T' cord, others say it will get very stiff. Would hate to buy a 100ft T cord and be disappointed in its cold weather performance, as the snow thrower is literally the only application for which I need a 100ft 12/3 cord.

I've got a 25' 12/3 SJTW with a triple tap head, so that's not going to get me very far from the garage with the snow thrower. I've got an alert set up on Slickdeals, so hopefully I'll be able to catch a really good sale on a 100ft 'E' cord.

 

[hh76]

If you already have a cord, use it. If you need to buy a cord, I would spend a little extra and get a nice cord.

I have a couple of cheap cords, and they work fine in the cold, but they do get a little stiff. Not a big deal, but it is a little annoying when coiling up.

 

[jonshonda]

Get a cheap 14 ga cord. Keep it indoors until ready to use. It'll unroll fine in the cold.

Afterwards and during, it'll be warm from use. Roll it up quick like a bunny.

Glenn

When you bring warm stuff outside and put it in the snow, snow will stick to it. Just buy a cord that will stay flexible in the cold. It's going to be a big enough pain just using an electric snow blower, much less coupling that with an extension cord that has kept it's shape from when you wrapped it tightly around your arm.

Life is just too short to drink cheap beer and use ****** extension cords. Most of the time the cheap pvc insulated cord is what I hate most about cheaper power tools.

 

[sberry]

Thanks for posting this. Yeah, the 'E' is what's in contention in this thread. Some say I can get by with a 'T' cord, others say it will get very stiff. Would hate to buy a 100ft T cord and be disappointed in its cold weather performance, as the snow thrower is literally the only application for which I need a 100ft 12/3 cord.

I've got a 25' 12/3 SJTW with a triple tap head, so that's not going to get me very far from the garage with the snow thrower. I've got an alert set up on Slickdeals, so hopefully I'll be able to catch a really good sale on a 100ft 'E' cord.

You still don't have an application you need a 12 cord for.

 

[stickshift]

You still don't have an application you need a 12 cord for.

Yeah, I saw your earlier post.

The guides I've seen all suggest 12 gauge for 100ft when using a 13A tool.

For example, here, they suggest 12ga even for 12A and 10A draws.
https://www.protoolreviews.com/buying-guides/extension-cord-size-chart-wire-gauge-amps/50202/

Yeah, I can probably get away with 14ga in the cold, but I'd rather not burn up my new snow thrower. And I also recently smoked an undersized extension cord using a miter saw (plug junction was literally smoking). Later on, I used that extension cord for a 7A tool thinking it would be OK, and that tool's plug's blade got stuck in the extension cord's female plug, so then I had to replace the cord on that tool. So you could say I'm a little gun shy right now about trying to be aggressive with respect to sizing extension cords.

 

[Robbie B]

No but your electricity can jell right up!

Hate when that happens.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[The Cobbler]

.... Yeah, the 'E' is what's in contention in this thread. Some say I can get by with a 'T' cord, others say it will get very stiff. ..... hopefully I'll be able to catch a really good sale on a 100ft 'E' cord.

O is quite flexible, but I think you'll find it has a bit more of a "bias" than the "E: does

 

[BruceMc]

Life is just too short to drink cheap beer and use ****** extension cords.

Words to live by.

 

[ClappedOutBport]

You want rubber insulated SOOW cord. It stays flexible in cold weather, unlike the plastic insulated stuff.

Came here to suggest rubber insulated. Lasts longer, flexible, and you get to use the quality of ends you want.

 

[DFB]

Life is just too short to drink cheap beer and use ****** extension cords.

I'm stealing that one!

 

[cybrdyke]

Thanks for posting this. Yeah, the 'E' is what's in contention in this thread. Some say I can get by with a 'T' cord, others say it will get very stiff. Would hate to buy a 100ft T cord and be disappointed in its cold weather performance, as the snow thrower is literally the only application for which I need a 100ft 12/3 cord.

I've got a 25' 12/3 SJTW with a triple tap head, so that's not going to get me very far from the garage with the snow thrower. I've got an alert set up on Slickdeals, so hopefully I'll be able to catch a really good sale on a 100ft 'E' cord.

It's "T" that you DONT want.
The "E" is much better and very commonly used in cold environments.
CD