electrical question

Ok i have a 20 amp socket with a dedicated 20 amp breaker running to it. What i want to do is use it to run a window a/c which i know is just fine because the ac is maybe 11 amps. Anyway on all window a/c's i have read that you are not suppost to use an extension cord with them and that you should only plug the a/c directly into the socket. why is that? this socket is too far for the cord on the a/c to reach and i really dont want to have to install a new breaker and socket at the location of the a/c. The grow room cannot handle running everything and the a/c, so i need to run this a/c from this other socket. would it be ok to plug the ac into a 6 way surge protected power strip with a 15 foot cord to this socket? any info is appreciated. I do not understand why in the manual and all manuals i have read for window a/c's you are not suppost to use extension cords etc.

Most extension cords aren't built with the same load ratings in mind. They're made of stranded wire to allow flexibility rather than solid wire for low resistance. If you're going to have to use one buy one that is rated for the next size up. In your case I'd be looking for an extension cord made with atleast #10 wire.

whiteflour said:

Most extension cords aren't built with the same load ratings in mind. They're made of stranded wire to allow flexibility rather than solid wire for low resistance. If you're going to have to use one buy one that is rated for the next size up. In your case I'd be looking for an extension cord made with atleast #10 wire.

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so it will be safe to use as long as my extension cord wire is rated the next size up from the a/c's wire?

i just looked at the ac wire and it says its 16awg so im looking for 10awg to be safe correct?

i found this 14 guage for pretty cheap, would this work? http://cgi.ebay.com/EXTENSION-CORD-PANAMAX-MAX-POWER-CABLE-14-AWG-10-NEW-/260627853341?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3caea1701d

It's safer, but it's still not your best solution. You're still dealing with stranded wire which could short or break so you have sure you don't kink it up, etc. You'll have to keep an eye on it and if it ever feels warm you need to ditch it. If you plan to use it long term I'd look at moving the socket if possible.

EDIT:
Or maybe just extend the plug off the unit itself.

whiteflour said:

It's safer, but it's still not your best solution. You're still dealing with stranded wire which could short or break so you have sure you don't kink it up, etc. You'll have to keep an eye on it and if it ever feels warm you need to ditch it. If you plan to use it long term I'd look at moving the socket if possible.

EDIT:
Or maybe just extend the plug off the unit itself.

Click to expand...

ok, well to make it safe i will just do the job right and run a new socket and breaker. i just didnt want to if i didnt have to but i want to make sure i dont have a fire hazard on my hands. thanks for your input, its much appreciated.

How much farther do you need? I'm pretty sure lowe's and homedepot sell the power cords you might be able to find one to length and replace it.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xhc/R-100084483/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
^^^ that's the right extension cord

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xhc/R-202204636/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
Something like this would be good to extend it altogether save you the hassle of disconnects and the voltage drop from the connection.

whiteflour said:

How much farther do you need? I'm pretty sure lowe's and homedepot sell the power cords you might be able to find one to length and replace it.

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i need about 10 feet. I have never tried to replace a power cord on anything like this before.

i could probably work with that coleman cable though. i just have the fear of things being fire hazards, but it does say it works with a/c's. if you were in my situation would you try it?

after doing some measurments right now i could more than likely use that cord but it would be in the air and i would have to step over it everytime i enter the room. i will look around and try to find a 10 footer.

i found this, i think this may work fine. http://cgi.ebay.com/15Ft-15-Air-Conditioner-Appliance-Extension-Cord-/230378897609?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Air_Conditioner&hash=item35a3a700c9 its 15 foot.

i found this 9 foot 12 guage at the lowes website. i think i will go with this. it sucks because i was just at lowes today lol. http://www.lowes.com/pd_51659-58573-UT680609_0_?productId=3166653&Ntt=air%20conditioner%20cord&Ntk=i_products&pl=1&currentURL=/pl__0__s?newSearch=true$Ntt=air%20conditioner%20cord$y=0$x=0

You paranoid. I work with electrics for stage lighting regularly and we run stupid amounts of power through zip cords (brown plastic cheapo extension cords) for extended periods of time. (I'm not suggesting you should do this for an a/c.) The chance of any quality extension cord actually catching fire is very small, unless it is a cable that is sitting on something really combustible, or the housing has somehow been compromised in a way that will cause the cord to short. Also to keep in mind is that when the cable fails, from say shorting, the arc it creates is going to trip the breaker before a fire starts anyhow. Re-running a breaker and outlet for ten feet is overkill, just get some nice cable. Whatever high-end stuff you get from the despot is probably higher quality than what is coming out of the a/c unit itself.