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The Importance of Quality Power Cords: Avoiding Electrical Hazards
Supplying energy to all your electrical devices is paramount; however, you cannot mount electrical sockets everywhere in the house due to the clutter. Your best option is to locate them strategically, i.e., where you need electrical supply the most; hence, when designing the house, pay attention to the location of key equipment.
Despite all these limitations, the best strategy is to use power cords, which enable you to disseminate power supply to all the points in the house without much clutter.
The cords are not only for indoor uses; they are necessary for outdoor uses, mainly DIY outdoor actions such as repairs, welding, and lawn maintenance.
Therefore, your goal should be to select the quality power cord that could meet your needs in all these environments, hence the need for some guidelines and safety tips to meet your needs. Here are some guidelines you should focus on to select the right power cords for both needs.
1. Features of A Quality Power Cord
When buying a power cord, the greatest challenge and commitment should be to select quality and the right power cords suitable for your home and electrical safety. That should not be a challenge as long as you focus on the following features:
i. Voltage Capacity
The voltage capacity determines the ability of an extension cord to supply power to the connected devices without short-circuiting and other challenges. For home use, you do not need a cord that supplies a high voltage since you are not operating large machines; you are operating smaller electrical devices such as televisions, phones, and music systems.
The best power cord for such devices would be a 15-20 amps power strip for all the energy needed. Additionally, focus on the number of ports available, determining the number of devices you can connect to at any time.
ii. Intended Use
The type of power cord to select will largely depend on the intended use; hence, you should determine your intended use before selecting the cord you need.
For instance, when using the power cord for outdoor uses, you need a heavy-duty extension cord that will supply a higher voltage and wattage to meet all your electrical uses; therefore, the perfect cord for your needs is the 30-amp power strip that can supply about 3,600 watts (120V) suitable for devices such as grinders, power saws, and lawn mowers.
Another suitable feature for these electrical cords is the power cord length, which means you should select the most extended power cord length that can enable you to supply the power to the needed place. Consider a 60- to 100-foot extension cord, allowing you to work effectively.
Besides the lengths, you should note that the cord will likely lose more power as you supply power over longer instances; hence, you should resort to other methods to avoid voltage loss. One of the factors to consider is the thickness since the thicker the cable, the lower the amount of voltage lost. Ensure they are thicker enough to withstand the impact of environmental conditions on power loss.
For indoor uses, you need the most flexible, dynamic, low-key extension cord that can fit onto tiny laces and is usable in nearly all places, including passing them underneath a rug. The only extension cord that meets these features is the flat extension cord, which can fit into tiny spaces, such as behind the cabinets.
If the power source area is too congested, you need to utilize plugs that will not be conspicuous or lead to clutter; hence, an ideal cord should be the flat plug power strip to enable you to connect your cord without affecting other devices around the power sockets.
2. Focus On Cable Labeling
Whenever you buy an extension cord, focus on the cord labels, which are the alphabet initials on the cord, which enables you to understand the type of cord you are buying. The initials include O, W, T, etc. The W is one of the best indoor uses since it is water resistant, can withstand humid conditions, and can also be used for outdoor needs.
O are mainly for industrial needs, which you can use in oily areas such as garages susceptible to oily conditions. T is a thermoplastic power cable that can withstand vast environmental conditions, such as heating and humidity, since it is made from thermoplastic cables to withstand all environmental conditions.
3. Importance of Quality Power Cord
Now that you know the features of a quality power cord, you should enjoy various benefits of owning one, hence an ideal strategy for avoiding electrical hazards.
Besides supplying the much-needed energy to all the devices in the house, the main concern should be preventing main electrical hazards such as short-circuiting, sudden fires, electrical shocks, and other conditions. Therefore, you need the cord to protect the children, devices connected, and general house safety from fires.
Besides compliance with all the electrical safety rules in offices and homes, you should also take all the necessary precautionary measures to protect the users.
First, ensure the extension cords have covers that enable you to cover the extension cord outlets to prevent children from inserting things into the cords. This can also protect from spillage that could easily lead to electrical shocks; hence, you must always cover the outlets, especially when cleaning.
Another safety feature is to use the GFCI protection mechanism, which enables you to prevent certain conditions such as wetness, especially when living in humid houses, environments, or outdoor uses. Select one with the best jacket that can be used for indoor uses, i.e., select a rubber jacket that could be easily maneuvered around the house for lighter and movable uses.
Conclusion
Quality should be a key issue when selecting an extension cord to ensure it lasts longer, can serve all your needs, and is safe for indoor and outdoor uses. Therefore, pay attention to the labels, cable length, thickness, materials, and other voltage capacity. Also, consider the embedded safety features or buy accessories such as covers to prevent electrical hazards.