Thinking, which is dangerous so I'm looking for pitfalls. I have a 100' 16/3 extension cord. Could I cut it into 4 pieces and combine them to make a thicker or larger guage extension cord? Guess I 'could' do it but assuming all the connections are made properly, what's the downside?
"Making" an extension cord
- Thread starter kjohnson1
- Start date
What's the down side ? All the wires may not carry the entire voltage and some might carry more. They may carry more than the 16 ga is rated for resulting in melted wire and a possible fire hazard.
Is your homeowners policy paid and up to date ?
Is your homeowners policy paid and up to date ?
thdewey
Well-known member
NO.
Downside(s) -
1. Fire that destroys garage/shop/home
2. Kill you/co-worker/loved one
3. Damage equipment that you or your boss paid good money
I could think of a few more.
Why is this a good idea?
GET THE RIGHT SIZE EXTENSION CORD!
Downside(s) -
1. Fire that destroys garage/shop/home
2. Kill you/co-worker/loved one
3. Damage equipment that you or your boss paid good money
I could think of a few more.
Why is this a good idea?
GET THE RIGHT SIZE EXTENSION CORD!
Clubber
Well-known member
If you need thicker gauge extension cord, go to Grainger an buy one. If you wish to make your own, go to Grainger and buy good quality cable, good quality ends (ie Hubble) and make one. You're thinking of taking 4 pieces of cable individually shielded and somehow getting all the ends together to their prospective places and of true equal size. The loads may not carry equally so heat (depending on load you plan on running through it) can be a hazard. I vote for "Not a good idea".
Rookie2
Well-known member
that's just crazy !
go buy one the correct size.
go buy one the correct size.
pmiranda
Well-known member
If you can find cord ends that will take four wires per "pin", safely clamp all four cables in the strain relief, cut the cord into 4 equal pieces, and take the time to wire-tie it together every foot or less, all that effort and expense will have created something almost as good as a $30 HF 10 gauge cord.
I'd rather have the 100' cord and my time back.
I'd rather have the 100' cord and my time back.
hifi_hokie
Well-known member
Kind of related to the post, but does anyone know of a US-made, 10/3 100' cord?
US Wire makes one, but seemingly only in bulk quantities?
US Wire makes one, but seemingly only in bulk quantities?
joe_padavano
Well-known member
This is the most rational response in this thread.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
ar2stp48
Well-known member
100 ft 16/3 cord. Why? This is without charts, but what will 100 ft of 16/3 safely run? Avoid tool damage and fire danger; spend your money on a heavy cord. A 100 ft 12 ga cord is not that expensive. Be safe and protect your tools, and possibly your shop.
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
If you're set on making your own 10/3 extension cord... 25' of 10/3 S/O:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-3-SOOW-S...xible-Wire-cable-/400403082532#ht_5724wt_1406
Buy quality ends.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-3-SOOW-S...xible-Wire-cable-/400403082532#ht_5724wt_1406
Buy quality ends.
Alchymist
Well-known member
http://www.lowes.com/pd_68598-89916...uctId=3547620&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1
Use as is, or cut in half, add those "quality ends" and have 2.
Use as is, or cut in half, add those "quality ends" and have 2.
pmiranda
Well-known member
I have one for my electric weed trimmer. It doesn't pull much juice and the thin cord is easy to deal with.
Back to the topic...the big danger with trying to bond two cords together is if they are of differing length, construction, or aren't joined well. If you end up with different resistance between the two conductors, the lower resistance one carries a load it's not rated for, heats up, and can fail or cause a fire. If you don't construct your cable correctly mechanically, you can cause this to happen over time even if it was working "correctly" the first time. The same problem can happen with a normal cord if it's damaged, particularly at the cord ends... some of the conductors will no longer make contact and you overload the ones that are in contact.
marty_p
Well-known member
Avoid it like the plague!!! 
Spend a little $ and sleep well at night!
Spend a little $ and sleep well at night!
G_P
Well-known member
Might as well go full redneck and just slap some cord ends on some scrap romex you find in a construction site dumpster.
There are many things I do to cut corners but paralleling 4 extension cords into one just seems like a huge fire waiting to happen. Electricity takes the path of least resistance and it wont divide itself through those 4 cords equally!
There are many things I do to cut corners but paralleling 4 extension cords into one just seems like a huge fire waiting to happen. Electricity takes the path of least resistance and it wont divide itself through those 4 cords equally!
G_P
Well-known member
You would be safer if you just used some random romex found in the trash with cord ends slapped on it.
Go to Home Depot and look aound the wire rack. People return custom legnths all the time. You can easily sweet talk the employee into giving you a discount on an odd legnth. Otherwise they will end up writing it off at inventory time and throwing it away.
I got plenty of wire that way and made up several cords.
Go to Home Depot and look aound the wire rack. People return custom legnths all the time. You can easily sweet talk the employee into giving you a discount on an odd legnth. Otherwise they will end up writing it off at inventory time and throwing it away.
I got plenty of wire that way and made up several cords.
Fast Orange
Well-known member
Go ahead and parallel those 16 guage cords-then post the tangled and melted mess in the WTF thread....LOL
Let some moths out of your wallet- go to a supply house or industrial supply and get a cord rated for the load.
For what you'll spend for a QUALITY set of cord ends,you'll get a molded,UL approved and safe way to run that piece of equipment.
Let some moths out of your wallet- go to a supply house or industrial supply and get a cord rated for the load.
For what you'll spend for a QUALITY set of cord ends,you'll get a molded,UL approved and safe way to run that piece of equipment.
Last edited:
tankd0g
Well-known member
Someone actually makes a 16/3 100' cord? That sounds like a good heating element for keeping ice off your roof 
I would never parallel insulated AC conductors if that is what you are talking about, it can do some pretty strange things. Are you trying to get yourself a heavy gauge 25' cord for some reason? If you don't need that 100' cord any more, what I would do is get some ends and cut it up into 25' lengths and make some cords. Then go buy a proper 12/3 25' cord for <$40. If you happen to have any lying around you could put ends on a length of left over 12/2 NMD90 (the red stuff). If you know an electrician they are bound to have the end of a roll or one they pulled off a hot water heater. A cord like this isn't exactly easy to work with of course.
I would never parallel insulated AC conductors if that is what you are talking about, it can do some pretty strange things. Are you trying to get yourself a heavy gauge 25' cord for some reason? If you don't need that 100' cord any more, what I would do is get some ends and cut it up into 25' lengths and make some cords. Then go buy a proper 12/3 25' cord for <$40. If you happen to have any lying around you could put ends on a length of left over 12/2 NMD90 (the red stuff). If you know an electrician they are bound to have the end of a roll or one they pulled off a hot water heater. A cord like this isn't exactly easy to work with of course.coljar
Well-known member
When my son was growing up, he use to say or suggest some pretty wild stuff just to get a reaction from my wife or me. You are just messin' with us, aren't you?
dadsEH
Well-known member
I think we scared the FNG off! And it was only his first post too...Why are you people so unkind....
That is the absolute only reason I would attempt something like the OP was suggesting. I did something similar once to make a short set of jumper cables to start a car. I didn't like doing it one bit at the time. . .
Sureshot
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I think you've all been trolled. Likely someone banned came back to get the safety police out in full force.
He will be back to ask about PVC airlines next.
JWILLIS is that you??
rvr6000
Well-known member
The only thing a 100' 16 gauge extension cord is good for, in my opinion, is making a couple 50 foot lengths of outdoor speaker wire.
Alchymist
Well-known member
G_P
Well-known member
I have a PVC airline. 125psi and no issues. Actually blew apart a cheap hose before the PVC failed.
But let's forget that argument.
Wire is cheap. Well compared to your house it is.
Even a chinese questionable cord of the right guge is better than. Paralleling tiny wires.
I've been experimenting with electricity since I was 5. (With fathers supervision).
Shortcuts are usually nothing more than a shortcut to a fire.
Seriously. Check craigslist. Scrap wire is cheap enough not to risk your home/family.
Hell, I got a 6/3w ground 50' cord for my welder free when my old landlord asked me to clean out a shed.
It's out there dirt cheap. You just have to look for it!
Sent from my C5120 using Tapatalk 2
timtim2008
Well-known member
anyone know where can i buy one of those illuminated outlet ends from??
casetractorfarmer
Well-known member
I used to use a 100 foot 16-3 for my electric weed wacker untell it got ran over in the mower .then i went and bought a gas one so much nicer than haven to drag and roll up that damn cord each time