| 3.5 million American homes lose electrical power to | | | | difference in terms of safety and performance. |
| their homes every week of the year, according to | | | | The main considerations when choosing a generator |
| the National Weather Service. In an instant, lights, | | | | extension cord are |
| heat, refrigeration, communications and other vital | | | | • The gauge of the cord |
| services are lost. | | | | • The length of the cord |
| In years gone by the loss of power in a home or | | | | • Connector Durability |
| business was little more than an annoyance. Even | | | | • An Outdoor, All Weather Rating |
| today, a few hours without power are little more | | | | The gauge of a generator extension cord refers to |
| than a nuisance. However, extend the loss of | | | | its electrical conductors. The lower the number (e.g., |
| electrical power over days and, the consequences | | | | 12-gauge, 10-gauge, 8-gauge) the thicker and heavier |
| can range from destructive to lethal. | | | | the conductors. 10-gauge is considered to be the |
| Given our reliance on 21st Century technology, | | | | minimum gauge for use with portable generators. |
| it’s easy to imagine how destructive a few days | | | | Lighter duty extension cords are not recommended |
| without electrical power can be: Heating and cooling | | | | because they can’t consistently deliver the |
| systems fail. Pipes freeze and then burst, causing | | | | necessary amperage required to power the devices |
| flooding and structural damage. Sump pumps fail, | | | | they are connected to. |
| creating more destruction when basements and | | | | The length of an extension cord may seem obvious: |
| cellars flood. Security systems fail, leaving businesses | | | | get one that is too short and you are suddenly living |
| and residences easy targets for looters and thieves. | | | | too close to a noisy, noxious generator. But there is |
| Food spoils in refrigerators and freezers that died. | | | | also "too long." Get a generator extension cord that |
| Wells stop pumping water. The potential for | | | | is too long and you will experience amperage |
| dangerous fires spike because most Americans have | | | | drop-off. Plus, long cords are heavy to carry, difficult |
| long forgotten how to live safely with candles and | | | | to coil and a pain to store! |
| kerosene lamps. | | | | A high quality, properly designed generator cord will |
| In fact, the National Weather Service says that | | | | always have heavy-duty connectors that are molded |
| weekly interruptions of electrical service cost | | | | to the cord body. Properly molded connectors with |
| American businesses and homeowners $80 billion a | | | | strain relief collars prevent the ends from pulling away |
| year. | | | | from the cord body and help insure years of |
| Increasing numbers of savvy homeowners use a | | | | trouble-free use. A clear plug and connector, each |
| portable generator to cope with these costly power | | | | equipped with a power check LED, is a desirable |
| losses. Typically gas-powered, these versatile units | | | | feature typically found on high-end generator |
| set up quickly, enabling the home or small business | | | | extension cords. This convenient yet practical option |
| owner to rapidly restore power to selected | | | | readily lets the user know there is power in both the |
| appliances and services. | | | | cord and outlet circuit, saving worry and time. |
| However, the essential requirement to transfer the | | | | Finally, because generators are often used in adverse |
| electrical power from a generator to a sump pump, | | | | conditions, generator extension cords must be |
| refrigerator, water well, etc. is a Generator Extension | | | | durable and, most importantly, come rated for |
| Cord. And choosing the correct one makes all the | | | | outdoor, all-weather use. |