[Shop-talk] Extension cord length vs. wire gauge

[Jimmie Mayfield]

It comes down to voltage drop.  You generally don't want voltage drop of 
more than around 5%.


At 4 amps, a 100ft 16ga cord is going to have a voltage drop of about 
3.5V.  This is okay.  At 300ft, the voltage drop will be about 9.5V.  
That's unacceptable.  Assuming your equipment still functions, your cord 
would be dissipating around 40W of heat due to internal resistance.

300ft of 14ga cord will have a drop of around 6V.  That's marginal.

12ga cord will have a drop of about 3.75V.  That's okay.

So go with 12ga cord.


J


On 10/30/18 15:54, Scott Hall wrote:
> Guys,
>
> I need about 300 get of extension cord. 16 AWG was fine at 100 ft. Can 
> I string 3 of those together without a problem, or should I go up a 
> size? Draw is 4 amps.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Scott
>
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