Do I need a higher grade extension cord?

4 years ago

I’m a tenant with two housemates in the 2nd and third floor of an old house. There is only one circuit for the 3rd floor which has both of their bedrooms. We’ve been using a heavy extension cord from the 2nd floor which has prevented the circuit from blowing for 6 years, but that’s been happening lately.

One housemate’s father also thought the end of the cord was too warm.

The current one is 16/3: should I replace it with 14/3? Or is a new 16 fine? Or is a sudden increase in the fuse blowing something in the building?

Please don’t tell me the landlord should rewire the house (not happening) or to use less hydro (needed on a v cold 3rd floor).

Thanks!

Featured Answer

wdccruise

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

You don't need a better extension cord, you need three smoke alarms, two fire extinguishers, ladders from the windows to the ground, good health insurance, a suitcase filled with clothes stored offsite, the phone number of a nearby hotel, and an auto-dialer that will call 911.

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Comments (10)

klem1
4 years ago
I agree ^^^^ there is no "right"extension cord to replace proper wireing.
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kudzu9
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
In addition to agreeing that this is a fire situation waiting to happen, I will point out that a 16 gauge cord is just slightly better than lamp cord, and can typically only handle a maximum of about 840 watts safely. I suspect if you add up everything that's plugged into it that you're exceeding that capacity.
Dave
4 years ago
NEC does not allow extension cords in lieu of permanent wiring. if equipment is powered from an extension cord for more than 30 days, permanent solutions should be installed.

Your landlord needs to have an electrician evaluate the situation and add extra circuit(s). Theres no safe solution besides that.
mtvhike
4 years ago
You have two issues: the blowing circuits and the inadequate extension cord. A new 14/3 extension cord is needed but it won't stop the fuse blowing, you're simply using too much power for the existing circuits. What is causing those failures? Surely you're not using space heaters! One 15A circuit should be enough for a bedroom with a couple of lights and maybe a TV.
Seabornman
4 years ago
I have been winding extension cords through my house as I renovate and redo all of the electric. One 50ft. cord went from 1st floor to basement for 5 years. Buy a 14 ga. cord in the length you need.
Dave
4 years ago
Seabornman, thats not safe practice and you realiy should not recommed that to others on sn internet forum.
Jake The Wonderdog
4 years ago
@mtvhike has it right (along with the others saying it's a fire hazard).

You have three problems:

1. You are using extension cords in a hazardous manner

2. You are exceeding the capacity of the extension cord. If it's warm, you are are exceeding the capacity.

3. You are exceeding the capacity of the circuit (the fuse is blowing). Changing the extension cord won't fix that.

Look, I can sympathize... I've been in bad housing situations before. But not for 6 years.

Get a different plan - not a new extension cord.

Seriously, this is going to burn. It's not just the cord, it's using electric space heaters. It's the landlord not attempting to be safe. It's all of it.

Get several very low cost smoke detectors in the short term. Get out as soon as you can.
mtvhike
4 years ago
Where do you live? Isn't your landlord REQUIERED to provide heat in a safe manner? You didn't answer my question, but you simply should NOT be using electric space heaters, except in an emergency and then, just for a short time.
organic_sumac
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks very much for all your feedback: it's very helpful. Part of the challenge is that the thermostat is on the ground floor: I asked my downstairs neighbour to turn it up a few days ago and now only 1 housemate is using a space heater, and only occasionally. However, increasing the heat to be adequate on floor 3 (yes, there's a bylaw that says it needs to be 21C in the winter) means its hot on the 2nd floor (my bedroom, the most insulated, is 25) and even more on the 1st floor.

We tinkered with the dampers a few years ago: I might try that again. The problem with the house being 120 years old is that the vents are too big for the modern furnace (I think) so they aren't blowing air with enough force to get where it needs to go, as well as the 3rd floor not being insulated.

We're getting a new maintenance company soon: the inspectors who came and looked at it said "to be assessed" in October 2020. The new company will be *much* more professional than the old one.