How Do I Choose the Best Power Cord?

When attempting to choose the best power cord for any application, you will need to choose a cord with the heaviest wire. You should also choose from only the power cord choices that include a grounding pin on the plug. If the power cord will be used in a wet environment, a sealed plug design also may be advantageous to you. When choosing a cord to be used on a construction site, color is commonly a deciding factor when selecting the best cord possible. Other considerations when you are attempting to decide on the best cord available to you are the cord's length, number of outlets and amperage rating.

Commonly referred to as an extension cord due to the ability of the cord to extend the use of electricity away from the outlet, the best power cord often provides much more than simple electricity. When choosing a potential power cord, you can protect both yourself and your tools by choosing a cord with a proper ground system. This will protect the user against electric shock if the cord happens to be cut or nicked and comes into contact with water. Some of the better cords also incorporate a surge protector into the design of the power cord to protect your tools against unforeseen power surges.

If possible, you should never choose a very thin cord. This type of cord often has light gauge wire that is prone to overheating under the load of some types of power tools. You will usually be better off with a large-diameter power cord. This is especially true if operating more than one power tool or device on a single electrical cord. Also a plus when choosing an electric cord for use on a construction site is a cord that incorporates a heavy nylon cord inside of the electric cord; this will allow you to pull a power tool up to higher elevations by the electric cord without damaging the cord.

The color of a power cord can also be a determining factor when you are attempting to choose the best cord for a given application. By choosing a brightly-colored electrical cord, tripping accidents are reduced by the easy-to-see cord. It is also less likely to accidentally cut through a brightly-colored power cord. The highly-visible, colored cord is not easily lost in the tangle that so often is the case on a work site.