According to the U.S. Product Safety Commission, extension cords are one of the most dangerous electrical household items due to improper usage. Each year, extension cord accidents result in approximately 50 deaths. In addition, extension cord use results in over 4,000 people being rushed to the hospital as well as over 3,000 residential fires each year.
Given that news, how does a homeowner choose the right extension cord for their holiday display?
First let’s do a quick review of electrical extension cord capacity:
- The length of your extension cord directly affects voltage at the end.
- Extension cords are designed for indoor and outdoor usage, so choose and use the right one depending on your display.
Just because the extension cord can reach both ends of your display doesn’t mean it’s the RIGHT cord for the job. If the holiday display is drawing more current than your extension cord can carry, it can cause the cord – and more importantly, whatever it is connected to, to overheat and start a fire.
How to know you have the right extension cord
Luckily, all cords are labeled with wattage restrictions to help you choose the right one. Following these steps will make sure your extension cord is right for your holiday display:
- Read the info on your extension cord. The label has valuable information as to the use (indoor or outdoor), size, and wattage.
- Read the info that came with your display. These labels will tell you whether the items are suitable for outdoor use and indicate how much wattage is consumed when in use.
- Determine how long your cord has to be. The cord can provide power up to a certain wattage up to a specific distance. Any longer, and the capacity gets lower.
If you’ve got a cord with the right wattage up to the distance you need it, then that’s a good cord.
Before you install everything!
Be sure to place your extension cords correctly. They should NOT be:
- coiled or bent
- left where people can trip over them
- tacked in place
- running under rugs or heavy furniture
Never keep the cord plugged in when it’s not in use. A cord will still conduct electricity until it’s unplugged from the outlet.
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