One of the most popular tools in any home is the extension cord.  For a long time, rooms would be built with only one or two outlets, creating the need for additional power strips and extension cords as we moved into a more digital world.  As more devices found their way into our homes, the NEC updated standards for home construction to require additional outlets and electrical accessibility in each room.  Unfortunately, most homes still lack the proper number of outlets, and when a cable can’t reach, most of us will reach for an extension cord.

Most of the time, this isn’t a problem.  Extension cords function exactly as their designed to.  When you need a longer cord to place a fan or give a little extra reach to your vacuum cleaner, there’s nothing dangerous going on.  Where extension cords become risky is in their overuse.  Many people buy the longest, cheapest cord they can find and this is where danger sets in.

Electricity and metal have a very interesting relationship.  As current, the flow of electricity over a conductor, increases in a wire, the temperature increases.  Current is also adjusted as resistance increases to keep power at the same level.  When you add wiring to a circuit, the resistance of the wire itself stacks with the rest of the components on that circuit.  While one electrical cord doesn’t add much in the way of resistance, multiple cords will continue to increase the amount of power being used in the system.  As the current increases to keep up with the new demand, the temperature in the wiring also increases.

This relationship is used to great effect in your circuit breaker, where the difference in heat forces a breaker trip that protects your system.  In an extension cord that isn’t designed to handle the load being placed on it, insulation melts and fires can start.

Keep in mind that extension cords are always temporary.  Never use an extension cord for anything permanent.  They are designed to help you reach electricity for a task and nothing more.  When in doubt (or if you hear buzzing coming from the wiring, socket, or circuit breaker) switch to a higher amperage circuit and a lower gage wire for your extension cord (the lower the gage, the thicker the wire and the more current it will be able to handle).

According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, Guidelines for using an extension cord are as follows:

Remember that the more power you need, the more current you’ll be using.  Any device that includes a motor or heating element will either need an industrial-grade extension cord (power tools) or should not be used with an extension cord at all.

For the best in quality electrical repair work and installations, contact the professionals at Custom Electric!  Be sure to check back here each week for helpful advice, news, and guides or follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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If you live in the Des Moines area and need an electrician please call!  We service all of Des Moines and surrounding communities.  We get calls everyday asking if we work on older homes and existing wiring.  The answer is always yes!  We constantly get repair calls for older homes and love helping customers!   From the 50317 Des Moines zip code to the 50312 zip code and all others.  We love older homes.  In face we love older homes so much we have electricians that specialize in existing wiring!

You know the saying they don’t make it like they used to?  Well its defiantly true when it comes to electrical wiring in new versus older homes.  New wiring methods, practices, and materials are safer than ever before.  Older home wiring may need updated depending on the condition.  Our electricians specialize in getting the proper circuits and wires to were they need to go without damage walls and ceilings.  They carry specialized tools, cameras, and fishing devices to get the wire were it needs to go without damage.

Our electricians are on call 24 hours per day.  No matter what time of night your emergency is we have electricians ready to help!  They have access to a large inventory of parts no matter what the time is.  They carry most items on there service vans and if the item is not on there service van we carry many parts in our very own warehouse.  Even if the first two locations don’t have what you need we have 24 hour access to all the major supply houses via our on call service program with various strategic partners.  Our crew even has access to Mid American Energy if you have a damaged service that needs shut off for life or safety reasons.  Your Des Moines repair is in good hands with Custom Electrical Services!

Our team of highly skilled licensed electricians has the ability to repair or replace your overhead service.  Many older neighborhoods have the main power lines coming into there home from the air.  Or an arial service drop or overhead service.  Our electricians have the ability to bring out a bucket truck to access those high overhead lines coming into your home.  Often times after your overhead service gets damage the utility company is unable to turn your power back on for safety reasons.  They may require you depending on the condition of your service to have it repaired prior to getting power restored.  That is when Custom Electrical Services comes to the rescue!  We can repair your overhead service with ladders or our bucket truck if needed.  Get everything safely repaired and ready to be re-energized.  We will then contact Mid American energy once repaired and have your power restored.