US Wire "Extreme" Extension Cord

[Kilgore Trout]

Just finished up a couple of cold weather work days (well, kind of cold, 35 degrees) using this extension cord and figured I would post a quick review.

I was using the 50 ft 12 guage. Got it from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001LUT9SM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Cord stayed super flexible despite the low temperatures. The power cords on all of my power tools were rock hard (shop vac, miter saw, compressor) but this extension cord was just like room temperature. Used it to power my new Makita MAC5200 air compressor (3HP). Powered the compressor with no issues. Not sure how it will do for long term durability but I was pretty impressed with the flexibility. Has me considering getting a 100 ft 16 gauge for use with my electric yard tools. US made to boot.

This was my first "good" extension cord and I was duly impressed.

On the same lines. I also used a blubird air hose which also stayed nice and flexy despite the lower temperatures. Not US made, however.

 

[dewalt378g]

Thanks, nice post, good to know. I was searching cords earlier this year. I had a few Yellow Jacket cords I got from Lowes and really liked them. That was like seven years ago and now Lowes doesn't carry them anymore...(typical...all big box stores). Eventually ended up getting one from Amazon.


I don't know what your yard tools are drawing, but at 100' I would get the 12 awg.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Good point on the gauge. Checked my yard tools. Nothing higher than 13 amps, so the 14/3 should work. Only thing I have pulling 15 amps is my circular saw, which I never use more than 50 ft from a plug anyway. I can just use the 12/3 for that one.

 

[kylefitz]

I have 2 heavy gauge Yellow Jacket cords from lowes. Both of them are not very flexible in normal temperature let alone when it gets cold out. I wall have to check that cord out. You can never have to many extension cords!

 

[purplezr2]

Lets just state that 35 degrees is not cold, that is about jeans and sweat shirt weather. In the spring it is T shirt weather.

Yellowjack cords end up stiff at that temp I know that.

I'm not sure what the cord I have outside right now is for plugging in cars, but it seems pretty good at 0F.

 

[oldldh]

Lets just state that 35 degrees is not cold, that is about jeans and sweat shirt weather. In the spring it is T shirt weather. QUOTE]

In Minnesota it might be...

But down here on the Gulf Coast, that's "Put another log on the fire" weather...

 

[shanker]

Lets just state that 35 degrees is not cold, that is about jeans and sweat shirt weather. In the spring it is T shirt weather. QUOTE]

In Minnesota it might be...

But down here on the Gulf Coast, that's "Put another log on the fire" weather...

damn straight... 35 degree's and I'd wouldn't leave the house and preferably be snuggling up with a woman that's well insulated!


I have one of these USA Power extension cords and love it...but it only freezes where I live on the gulf coast every few years or so...

 

[vssjim]

What is nice about US wire products is they are really made in the US and cost the same as chicom stuff, there are only a few companies making cords in the US and this is one that has a lot of items in the catalog

 

[kunkernator]

Funny this should come up now. I just purchased this same cord two days ago, except the 100ft version. I am still waiting for it to be delivered. I am actually using it to run power out to my chicken coop, to run a heat lamp for them.

 

[jrobb316]

Sweet, another purchase I'll be making Once the temp dips below 30 degrees I try to shut down any outdoor projects. It's only emergencies after that or like this year, things I procrastinated on. Looks like a high quality cord anyways, which is what I'm after.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

35 degrees is unseasonably warm for this time of year, hence I was working outside rather than down in my basement. This time last year I had to replace a car battery terminal out in the cold and it was 19 degrees. That sucked.

Regardless, I was impressed with the US wire extension cord. Particularly since late in the afternoon (temp around 40) I took down my Christmas lights and the extension cord for those was crazy stiff.

For anyone who is interested in purchasing one, just make sure that you get the "extreme" line if you want US made. Not all of the other lines are made in the US.

 

[jrobb316]

Nice tip, I was looking at that myself since I need a extension cord for work but that doesn't need to be extreme. My truck, buried in snow, has a flat tire that cannot be repaired, so I'll be shoveling a place for my jack and working on that this weekend. High temp of 28. Oh joy

 

[PhantomEB]

Added to bookmarks. A Canadian sure could use a few!

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Just figured I would update this thread with some "real" cold weather use. Busted the extension cord out yesterday in 9 degree weather. Still super flexible. Pretty happy with this cord and plan to get a longer one for my yard tools in spring.

 

[Richard Cranium]

glad it is working for you, Thanks for the update.

 

[owenst7]

Just for anyone who doesn't know, SJEOW is the type of cord to look for if you regularly work in below freezing temperatures.

 

[carbon]

I sorta went off the deep end on this subject and found that for very cold weather flexibility (-40F degree) and extreme cut/oil resistance for a cord that will last a super long time you want to buy cord labeled SOOW and add your own USA made plugs. I think you can get lighted plugs too.

The outer stuff is like gas hoses at the gas station. Tough rubber, no plastic and flexible at very very cold temps.

The downsides of this cable is it's heavier and debris sticks, just a little bit, to the surface. But you're not going to cut it so easy either.

For reference:

S = Severe Service Cord - 600 volts (also 277/480 or 480) - May be utilized in place of SJ or SV in extra-severe service
SJ = Junior Severe Service - 300 volts (also 120 or 120/208 or 120/240 or 240 or 277, but not 277/480)
T = Thermoplastic
H = Heat Resistant or High Heat (HH) Resistant
N = Nylon Outer Jacket Material
E = Elastomer - thermoplastic that looks and feels like rubber
O = Oil Resistant Outer Jacket Material
OO = Oil Resistant Outer Jacket and Oil Resistant Insulation
V = Vacuum - 300 volts (typically used with vacuum cleaners and other portable cleaning equipment)
W = CSA Weather and Water Resistant (approved for indoor and outdoor use)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_cord

 

[North Run Grader]

Don't store in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. Hanging on your exterior wall in the afternoon sun , they will only last 10 years or so, stored properly and you aren't abusing them driving over them on a gravel driveway you may outlive them. My old boss bought a roll and built 5 100 footers, the ones stored outside were showing their age, the inside ones were dirty, but functionally fine, after 12 years. Spend the money on the good ends and you're golden.

 

[rlitman]

Just for anyone who doesn't know, SJEOW is the type of cord to look for if you regularly work in below freezing temperatures.

J just means it has a thinner jacket.
E means it is elastomer jacketed, whereas SO or SJO is rubber jacketed.

Either may be fine in cold weather, but the elastomer cords that are actually designed for cold use (like the ones in this thread) are probably better.

What is absolutely evil in the cold are thermoplastic cords (SJT is the worst, and is the typical rating of orange/yellow cords). These turn into stone in the cold.

For those operating under OSHA guidelines, making your own cord out of SO cable and adding on ends is verboten, so this may be your only good cold weather option.

 

[MWEric]

Don't mean to hijack, but I just picked up this from Costco for 35.99.

 

[clarence wetzel]

t.p.e. equals thermoplastic elastomore its a
rubber plastic combination