Will Rigid replace extension cords under warranty?

[atikovi]

I bought some 14/3 50' cords a year and a half ago from Home Depot. Plugged two together a week ago but now they won't come apart. Would this be covered under their lifetime warranty? I want them replaced, not a refund as I still need them.

 

[Beerhippie]

Sounds to me like you overloaded those cords and welded the two ends together. There isn't a tool in the shop I'd run off two daisy-chained 50' 14 AWG cords.

 

[LopezBart]

Sounds to me like you overloaded those cords and welded the two ends together. There isn't a tool in the shop I'd run off two 50' cords.

M18 battery charger

 

[Beerhippie]

M18 battery charger

Got me!

But only one....

 

[PelicanPines]

My recommendation... Keep your new 100 foot cord and buy two new cords... Don't plug them together.

 

[PelicanPines]

M18 battery charger

My power board with all the chargers is on a 20amp.

 

[Etchase]

13 amps continuous. Handles everything I have.

 

[micromind]

If you pull hard enough, something will come apart.........

I doubt if they'd warranty it, especially given the amount of time since new.

 

[atikovi]

Sounds to me like you overloaded those cords and welded the two ends together. There isn't a tool in the shop I'd run off two daisy-chained 50' 14 AWG cords.

Lawn mower on a regular 15 amp outlet. If the circuit breaker didn't trip, it can't be overloaded. Never had a similar problem with any other brand in the last 50 years.

 

[atikovi]

I doubt if they'd warranty it, especially given the amount of time since new.

Lifetime warranty.

 

[The Cobbler]

Lawn mower on a regular 15 amp outlet. If the circuit breaker didn't trip, it can't be overloaded.

there's difference between an overloaded circuit breaker & an overloaded line due to voltage drop

 

[atikovi]

there's difference between an overloaded circuit breaker & an overloaded line due to voltage drop

Direct from B&D

https://support.blackanddecker.com/hc/en-us/articles/360057225571-What-extension-cord-should-I-use-for-my-outdoor-power-tool

Says for up to 100 feet, 14 ga is approved.

 

[whateg01]

They might, but they might also deny it if they think you overloaded it. And then you can fight with them, come back here to bad-mouth them, and still end up buying a new 100 foot cord. Or you can just buy a couple new ends and fix them and get on with your life.

 

[oak_park]

Do you have the receipt? Did you choose email receipt when purchased at Depot? If so, your best bet is to try a store return. If you contact Ridgid, they will want YOU to pay to ship the cords to them for inspection, which would likely get denied replacement.

From their website....

"It is our experience that a product that fails prematurely due to a manufacturing defect in materials or workmanship, will generally do so very early in the products life cycle, often the first or second time the product is used. When returned for inspection, these products are generally found to still be in like new condition and show very little signs of use. It is uncommon for a product that was manufactured with a defect, to survive under normal use for any extended period of time. Products that are returned for warranty inspection after months or years of continuous reliable service are rarely found to be defective. The most common demand for service is the result of normal wear and tear issues, which are not considered to be a defect in materials or workmanship.

 

[whateg01]

Do you have the receipt? Did you choose email receipt when purchased at Depot? If so, your best bet is to try a store return. If you contact Ridgid, they will want YOU to pay to ship the cords to them for inspection, which would likely get denied replacement.

From their website....

"It is our experience that a product that fails prematurely due to a manufacturing defect in materials or workmanship, will generally do so very early in the products life cycle, often the first or second time the product is used. When returned for inspection, these products are generally found to still be in like new condition and show very little signs of use. It is uncommon for a product that was manufactured with a defect, to survive under normal use for any extended period of time. Products that are returned for warranty inspection after months or years of continuous reliable service are rarely found to be defective. The most common demand for service is the result of normal wear and tear issues, which are not considered to be a defect in materials or workmanship.

The couple things I bought at home Depot that required warranty replacement, they said to contact ridgid directly. It wasn't worth the effort to me.

 

[The Cobbler]

for $5 to buy a replacement cap & plug I'd probably just do that .than try to warranty it.

 

[atikovi]

Have the paper receipt.
Wouldn't expect HD to do anything after a year and a half.
There is a Rigid service center close to where I go regularly.
Shouldn't have to ****** up a nice lighted cord end with some replacement plugs.
This isn't some mechanical part that wore out or was abused. It was used for it's intended purpose.

 

[The Cobbler]

Sounds like you should proceed with the warranty . what's the saying, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

 

[finn]

Lifetime warranty.

Only with a receipt.

If that’s the yellow cord with the lighted female end, they seem to be junk. I was gifted one with…wait for it… a melted male plug. Don’t know what the previous owner (son’s late father in law) did to it, but that male plug had either some serious amperage draw or a high resistance connection.

Since the rest of the cord including the female end looked geed, I splurged and bought a new male plug.
Works good now.

 

[whateg01]

I bought some 14/3 50' cords a year and a half ago from Home Depot. Plugged two together a week ago but now they won't come apart. Would this be covered under their lifetime warranty? I want them replaced, not a refund as I still need them.

Seems to me you made to your mind before asking the question. So why ask?

 

[atikovi]

Only with a receipt.

If that’s the yellow cord with the lighted female end, they seem to be junk. I was gifted one with…wait for it… a melted male plug. Don’t know what the previous owner (son’s late father in law) did to it, but that male plug had either some serious amperage draw or a high resistance connection.

Since the rest of the cord including the female end looked geed, I splurged and bought a new male plug.
Works good now.

Yes I have the receipt. The orange and gray style. Engineered for heavy-duty indoor and outdoor jobs

RIDGID 50 ft. 14/3 Extension Cord in Orange and Gray (3-Pack) HD#214-074 - The Home Depot

The EXITO RIGID 50 ft. 14/3 Orange and Gray Extension Cord is designed for heavy-duty indoor and outdoor use. This durable cord can withstand temperatures from -57° up to 167°F. It has a durable strain

www.homedepot.com

 

[atikovi]

Seems to me you made to your mind before asking the question. So why ask?

How so?

 

[Zewnten]

According to all the extension cord manufacturers a 100 foot 14 AWG extension cord is only rated for 11 to 13 amps at a moderate temperature.

Their chart an electric lawn mower should be OK. Obviously there are a lot of other factors coming into play. Are the brushes wearing down on the motor causing higher Amp draw, working in the full sun causing excessive heat, corrosion on the cord (usually in the female end), poor connection from the prongs to wire etc.

Personally I'd go up a size in gauge for the wiggle room.

 

[kbuhagiar]

Seems to me you made to your mind before asking the question. So why ask?

I agree with the above. You've made your case. Just do it. Let us know how it turns out.
IMHO you've already spent too much time on this, since the only entity that can provide you with a definitive answer is the manufacturer.

 

[finn]

This brings up the age old questions re warranty once more:

The cords failed in what the consumer considers perfectly normal use. There was no obvious defect in workmanship or materials. Why would he possibly want the manufacturer to replace the cord with an identical product that will inevitably fail in the same manner.

Seems like beating your head against a stone wall until the pain stops.

He needs a heavier duty cord, or at least a more robust plug instead of more of the same.

A warranty replacement isn’t going to change anything permanently.

 

[lund]

Have the paper receipt.
Wouldn't expect HD to do anything after a year and a half.
There is a Rigid service center close to where I go regularly.
Shouldn't have to ****** up a nice lighted cord end with some replacement plugs.
This isn't some mechanical part that wore out or was abused. It was used for it's intended purpose.

14 gauge is minimal for 100' at close to 15 A on a high draw appliance ... no matter what Rigid may say in their ad. Their 14 gauge copper is not magically better. Remember also, this is stranded copper for flex, not solid, and that degrades current carrying capacity a bit. You may also have significant distance from your panel to the outlet on a 14 gauge (or if lucky, on a 12 gauge with a 15A breaker). You also have interface resistance at plugs and possibly the plug socket at the wall. If the plugs are sockets are not good quality (this is a cheapo cord you are showing), you will have a lot of heating at those points due to enhanced surface resistance at the prong connections. Likely when you ran the mower a long time, you heat welded the junction and the resistance further spiraled up with enhanced surface degradation. I am surprised that you did not notice the cord, and particularly the plugs, getting hot. They may be part melted.

You need to cut off the ends and use better quality connections at the ends and/or get a heavier duty 100' line (12 gauge would be better even if it is 14 gauge upstream). A good quality rubber cord will flex easier and likely work much better for your application. You may be expecting too much from a daisy chained light duty cord (sorry 14 gauge stranded is NOT heavy duty). It may border on misuse (due to daisy chain at close to the current limit). So if you were honest on what happened to Rigid I doubt they would warranty it. Even if they did, it is probably not worth the trouble to end up back to the same issue you started with (which can even be unsafe if you are heating your wall socket too).

 

[atikovi]

So if you were honest on what happened to Rigid I doubt they would warranty it. Even if they did, it is probably not worth the trouble to end up back to the same issue you started with (which can even be unsafe if you are heating your wall socket too).

In the last 50 years I've used no name green, yellow and orange extension cords in the same fashion and have never encountered this issue. Heck, I even join three 50 footers together for the farthest reaches of the lawn. I only bought the 3-pack of Rigid because some of my older cords were getting tangled, plus the Rigid has a light in the end which is convenient at night to find. Plus I thought they were a solid brand.

 

[rust in the eye]

Seems a bit silly to be having all of this speculation when Rigid will be the final arbiter.
Me? If bought from HD and I had the receipt would try there first. Hit and miss with HD, doesn't hurt to ask, perhaps call first and speak with a manager, a task in itself.
I've not had good experience with Rigid standing honoring their warranty so don't buy anything from them anymore.
Good luck!
To weld the contacts from an overload you'd have had significant heat which would be obvious. Only the OP can speak to that.

 

[lund]

In the last 50 years I've used no name green, yellow and orange extension cords in the same fashion and have never encountered this issue. Heck, I even join three 50 footers together for the farthest reaches of the lawn. I only bought the 3-pack of Rigid because some of my older cords were getting tangled, plus the Rigid has a light in the end which is convenient at night to find. Plus I thought they were a solid brand.

Rigid probably does not manufacture cords themselves but rebrand. Big brands change supplies all the time. I would physically examine cords ... and especially the plugs before buying anything unless an industrial brand. Probably the main issues are weight/gauge, quality of plugs at the ends, and materials (vinyl is cheap but kinks a lot, rubber is more flexible). If you want cords to work well you need to carefully manage them and avoid kinks in use. That is easier with rubber cords. That and heavier gauge work better, but cost more. Generally speaking, daisy chaining is not a good idea. It is better to use cords long enough for what you need.

Look at how construction crews handle their cords and you will see most are very careful with them for good reason!

Hope this helps.

 

[Leon bee]

What really seems silly is ruminating about this while could be cutting off those ends and replacing them. Then back to work.

 

[Beerhippie]

What really seems silly is ruminating about this while could be cutting off those ends and replacing them. Then back to work.

Why does he need the ends? Obviously, they're a point of failure.

Cut the ends off, strip the wires, twist together and wrap in duct tape.

What could possibly go wrong?

 

[atikovi]

Why does he need the ends? Obviously, they're a point of failure.

Cut the ends off, strip the wires, twist together and wrap in duct tape.

What could possibly go wrong?

If I cut them off there certainly wouldn't be any warranty. Do they even make illuminated ends as replacements?

 

[Beerhippie]

 

[liliysdad]

If I cut them off there certainly wouldn't be any warranty. Do they even make illuminated ends as replacements?

 

[duneslider]

Why not just give it a try? I have taken old tapemeasures in that had lifetime warranties and they just got me a new one and sent me on my way. This was at lowes with kobalt brand tapes but still...

 

[micromind]

Why does he need the ends? Obviously, they're a point of failure.

Cut the ends off, strip the wires, twist together and wrap in duct tape.

What could possibly go wrong?

If you don't stagger the splices, it'll blow up when you plug it in........

 

[whateg01]

If you don't stagger the splices, it'll blow up when you plug it in........

You just have to make sure you twist the hot cw, the neutral ccw, and the ground - uh, I guess tie it in a square knot!

 

[Beerhippie]

You just have to make sure you twist the hot cw, the neutral ccw, and the ground - uh, I guess tie it in a square knot!

You mean the colors have meaning?

 

[PelicanPines]

You mean the colors have meaning?

Not if you are color blind.

 

[whateg01]

Not if you are color blind.

I love that scene in the hangover 2 or 3 where all the wires are grey!