Can You Plug an Ac Into an Extension Cord
You lot've installed a new window air conditioner, but the build in cord doesn't quite reach. Y'all need an extension!
If this sounds familiar, go on on reading to learn more about the best extension cords for your air conditioner!
In this proHVACinfo guide, you volition acquire the post-obit:
- What are extension cords for air conditioners? (What makes them different?)
- What are the different types of extension cords for air conditioners? (Acquire what matters)
- How do extension cords for air conditioners work?
- What do yous await for in the all-time extension cords for air conditioners? (Crucial safety considerations)
- And much more!
Our Overall #one Rated Option
January 2, 2022
After spending quite some time pouring through the all-time air conditioner extension cords on the market, we decided that the Powtech 12ft Heavy Duty Appliance Cord deserved the best overall title.--break--Why?--suspension--This extension string for air conditioners that is designed with functioning, value, and prophylactic in mind.--interruption--Information technology has a high loftier ability rating at 1875 watts, significant it can handle upwards to 15 amps (or around 9,000 watts!)
Short on time? Check out our quick list of the best extension cords for air conditioners!
| Image | Product | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Top Pick | Our Elevation Option | Powtech 12ft fourteen-Gauge Appliance String
|
| View on Amazon |
| High End Pick  | High Finish Pick | Thonapa ten-Guess Extension Cord
|
| View on Amazon |
| Best Budget Pick  | Best Budget Pick | Qualihome Heavy Duty Air Conditioner Cord
|
| View on Amazon |
 | Clear Power Heavy Duty Extension Cord
|
| View on Amazon | |
 | Iron Forge Tools 10ft Lighted Extension Cord
|
| View on Amazon |
What Are Extension Cords For Air Conditioners?
Put simply, an extension cord for an air conditioner is a heavy duty cable designed to handle the high power draw that is demanded from devices similar window air-conditioning units.
If y'all happen to look at the pre-installed power cord on your window air conditioner, yous'll undoubtedly notice that information technology'southward significantly thicker than the cord on other devices y'all may ain, for example a prison cell phone charger, or even a Television receiver.
This is considering they use thicker wire than standard cables, capable of handling a higher current safely.
With that in mind, an extension cord for an air conditioner is like in principle to a standard extension cord.
It plugs into your apparatus's cablevision and extends its range, only with the critical departure being that it has a larger judge wire, similar to the pre-installed cable on the air conditioner.
Using a standard extension cord volition create a canteen cervix upshot, causing the extension to overheat and potentially start a fire.
What Are The Dissimilar Types Of Extension Cords For Air Conditioners?
When shopping for your air conditioner extension string, exist aware of these central differences.
Voltage, Amperage, and Wattage
As a bones physics refresher, wattage, usually referred to equally a number of watts, is the unit in which an appliance is rated for how much electricity it uses to operate.
Amperage is a unit of measurement used to measure electric current.
Electrical electric current, only like a river, is how the electricity flows, but instead of water, it's the flow of electrons that nosotros're measuring.
More amps mean a higher current.
Finally, voltage. Volts are the unit of measurement used to measure how much electric force is being used to crusade the electrons to flow.
And then, a higher force used ways a higher voltage.
As it relates to extension cords for air conditioners, you'll discover that they are rated on the three factors nosotros just looked at.
They will be rated with a maximum safe amperage and wattage, typically by what'due south known as the gauge (more on that below)
Exist sure to check the information sticker on the back of your air conditioner for information about the power requirements, and never choose an extension string that can't handle those requirements.
Sometimes your air conditioner volition say the amperage outright.
If not, information technology will indicate the wattage.
In the US, a adept rule of pollex is that every 600 watts equals five amps (since the United states uses 120-volts).
Judge
Extension cords for air conditioners are available in different gauges, differing in bore depending on the duty load that they need to be able to handle.
The estimate rating is based upon American Wire Gauge, and is expressed every bit a number.
The larger the cable, the greater its ability to carry ability over a longer altitude – this is especially of import every bit voltage drops over distance, and running equipment that uses a motor (like an air conditioner) with too trivial voltage can cause serious, and permanent damage.
Extension cords for air conditioners are commonly a minimum of 14 gauge, which is considered medium duty.
The tricky affair with gauges is that lower -gauged extension cords can handle more than amps (yes, you read that right!)
Check out our handy rule-of-thumb below:
- 16-guess cords can handle upward to 10 amps for upward to 100 anxiety
- 14-judge cords can handle 10 – 15 amps for upward to 50 feet
- 12-gauge cords tin handle 10 – 15 amps from 50 – 100 feet
As a general principle, when running extension cords for higher-powered devices like AC units, you don't want to utilise an extension cord whatsoever longer than necessary.
So don't use a 50-foot extension cord when you merely need to cover x-feet.
For that reason, our recommendation below are generally on the shorter-end in terms of cord length (though several accept shorter and longer alternatives).
Plug and Connector
Some other surface area of departure you'll notice when looking for air conditioner extension cords is the plug and the connector.
The plug is the side referred to as the male cease; this is where the prongs are.
The connector is the female person end, where plugs are connected.
Extension cords are available in both grounded and not-grounded varieties. Grounded cables accept 3 prongs and 3 slots.
One of the 2 flat prongs is the live, or hot usher, and the other is the neutral.
The big circular prong is the ground, or earth conductor.
If your air conditioner has 3-prongs on its congenital in cablevision, always utilize a iii-prong extension cord.
Other extension cords will have a 2-prong plug and connector.
You'll note that on 2-prong cables, the two prongs and the slots on the connector are different widths. This is a condom feature to ensure that the alive and neutral conductors e'er marshal with the excursion conductors of the socket they're plugged into.
Call back, you can plug a ii-prong appliance into a 3-prong cord, but never plug a three prong apparatus into a two-prong cord!
Jacket Blazon
The jacket type refers to the outside casing that houses the wires in the extension cord. Standardized letters point the cord has sure characteristics. They are:
- S – Flexible cord; general use
- West – Approved for outdoor use
- J – "Junior", 300-volt insulation (if at that place is no "J", by default the cord is rated for 600v)
- P – Parallel wire structure (like those used in air conditioner cords)
- T – Jacket is fabricated from vinyl thermoplastic
- E – Jacket is made from thermoplastic elastomer rubber
- O – Oil-resistant
How Practice Extension Cords For Air Conditioners Work?
The philosophy here is quite elementary.
Plug your window air conditioner or standalone air conditioner into the extension cord, and plug the other cease into a wall outlet.
This gives you lot extra range in the event that your air conditioner'south build in cable doesn't attain, and if y'all buy an extension with multiple outlets, you'll also gain extra connectors to plug in other devices and appliances.
Extension cords for air conditioners are available in a wide range of sizes, but remember what nosotros said earlier – voltage drops over a longer distance, so if yous only demand to encompass a 10 foot gap, don't go for the 100 human foot cable!
What Do Y'all Await For In The Best Extension Cords For Air Conditioners?
Equally passive items, information technology can be tricky to tell the departure between good, and average extension cords.
Then, if you're trying to figure out what helps a cord to stand autonomously, accept a expect at these features.
Lighted Connections
Some of the best extension cords feature connections with lighting.
This handy feature helps to describe attention to the connection, which in turn helps to forbid trips and falls over the cable, and ultimately avoid accidental disconnections.
It also alerts you to the fact that there is power to the device, which, in the result of your air conditioner declining to ability up, is a quick indicator that the fault is with the unit, and not the ability source.
Basis Mistake Circuit Interrupter
This is a device built into some extension cords that will automatically cut the power to the extension cord if a footing fault is detected.
Stopping the power in this style tin can forestall catastrophic damage to devices like air conditioners.
Locking Connector
A locking connector is a handy characteristic that prevents accidental disconnections.
They come in a couple of forms, sometimes as a box that closes over both the male and female ends, or a connector with a clamping lever.
Multiple Connectors
Having more than one connector volition permit yous to plug multiple appliances into the same extension cord.
Be careful to observe the maximum ratings of the cablevision vs the power depict of all of the appliances you plan to plug into it, though, and never exceed those maximum ratings to avoid risk of fire.
Our Reviews Of The Best Extension Cords For Air Conditioners
If you're looking for a quality cord that's reliable, well designed, and safety for whatsoever room in the dwelling, this is the 1 for you.--break--Powtech's 12' 14 gauge cable is rated to 1875 watts, and 15 amps at 125 volts – this all ways that information technology's well suited to pretty much any household window air conditioner and most freestanding units, too.--break--It has a 90 degree angled plug, giving close to a flush finish when plugged in, which is great for tucking the string out of sight backside a piece of article of furniture.--break--For your peace of mind, it's UL listed, then you lot tin rest assured that information technology has undergone appropriate standard testing before being placed for auction.
Pros
- Heavy duty vinyl insulation--break--Pleasant greyness coloring--interruption--Abrasion Resistant
Cons
- No locking connectedness--intermission--No GFCI protection
Our high-end option is this extension string by Thonapa.--interruption--It's a 10-gauge model, so it's able to handle more power demands than xiv or 12-approximate cords.--break--It has some serious heavy duty ratings, besides, rated for 1875 watts and information technology has a solid pattern, as indicated by its SJTW rating.--break--Information technology's sideslip-resistant, and the bright color and LED lights help you lot go along rail of the cord and monitor when it'southward in use.--break--While this cord is canonical for outdoor use (the "W" in the "SJTW" rating), the female person end of the cord has 3 power sockets, and so the wiring can be exposed to the elements if not all 3 sockets are in utilise.--interruption--This probable isn't an issue since you're looking for an extension cord for your AC but tin be a factor if you might apply the string for other appliances (like heavy duty power tools) in the future.
Pros
- 10-judge string--break--LED Power indicator calorie-free--intermission--Sturdy build quality
Cons
- Heavier (due to higher gauge)--intermission--Colour isn't too discreet--break--iii sockets tin can be exposed to elements if not all in use
Qualihome Heavy Duty Air Conditioner Cord (Best Budget Choice)
Bank check on Amazon
While in that location are no frills when it comes to this extension cord, if you're looking to salvage money and you're happy to sacrifice features, this cable from Qualihome is a bully choice.--break--This extension cord is 14 gauge, and is rated for 15 amps, 125 volts, and 1875 watts, plus information technology's ETL listed – making it suitable for pretty much any normal duty window air conditioner.--interruption--For an additional bonus feature, the connector features grip grooves for a potent grip when connecting and disconnecting.
Pros
- Great value--suspension--Strong structure
Cons
- Color received isn't guaranteed--pause--Not UL listed
This 14 gauge cord from Clear Power offers some fantabulous features at a off-white price.--break--One of the standout features is of course the locking connection.--break--The lock is simple to operate with a simple twist of the lever, and prevents unwanted disconnects.--break--Yous'll also discover an indicator lite in the connector, as well, letting you lot know that the cable is powered.--break--Information technology features extreme water, weather condition and even temperature resistance, plus, the cord is even flame retardant.--break--The prongs are nickel coated brass, which aids in corrosion resistance, and likewise helps to prevent arcing.
Pros
- Agency tested in the United states of america--break---forty°F upward to +140°F temperature resistance--break--H2o resistant
Cons
- Lock tin sometimes seize--break--Only one connector
This is an ultra-premium extension cord for air conditioners.--break--It'southward designed in the The states, and made by Atomic number 26 Forge Cable, a veteran endemic company.--interruption--It is designated SJTW, which indicates that it'southward a hard service cord with thermoplastic insulation, and is weather resistant.--break--Information technology has a lighted 3 way connexion, and reinforced prongs for incredible resistance to breaking and angle.--pause--The cord itself is 10 gauge, making information technology an platonic pick for everyone running a heavy duty air conditioner through information technology.--pause--Not only is it well designed and thoughtfully fabricated, but it also features a lifetime replacement warranty.
Pros
- Lifetime Warranty--break--Extremely well insulated
Cons
- Relatively expensive--pause--Ability indicator can be too bright
Concluding Thoughts On The Best Extension Cords For Air Conditioners
We're glad that you've joined us for this proHVACinfo guide to extension cords for air conditioners.
Buying any onetime cable to extend the reach of your air conditioner can pose serious fire risks.
Taking the time to learn the power requirements of your air conditioner and enquiry an appropriate extension cable is critical for safety.
Also, don't have the power requirements likewise literally.
If your device draws 15 amps, don't rely on a 15 amp extension cord, with continuous use information technology will still overheat and cause a burn down risk.
Make sure you leave some headroom when it comes to power.
Our final words of wisdom – for safety reasons, you should only ever use extension cords as a temporary gear up.
If you lot need a long term solution, accept an electrician wire in a wall outlet within the reach of your air conditioner'due south built in cord.
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Source: https://prohvacinfo.com/air-conditioning/extension-cords-for-air-conditioners/
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