Extension cords for power equipment - lawn and garden equipment - Column

Flower & Garden Magazine, June-July, 1994 by Doc Sprockett

A couple of months ago my son needed a young diseased tree removed from his back yard, so I volunteered to come out with my small electric chain saw. There was no way I was going to get the job done without my youngest grandson, Scott, tagging beside me, so I made sure I set a good example by bringing along all my heavy-duty safety equipment.

I carried the saw myself, but let the youngster tote my face protector, chaps, gloves and ear protectors. The chaps made a big hit; when I put them on, Scott thought they made me look like a cowboy. Just as I had put on all my safety gear, I realized I'd forgotten to bring an extension cord so I sent Scott to get one.

When I saw him coming back with a short, white, electrical cord, I had to shake my head. "Scott, I said an extension cord, not a lamp cord."

"This is an extension cord, Grandpa," he replied.

"That's something I use to plug in my reading lamp at home," I told him. (These types of cords are insulated with a light, thermoplastic insulation for indoor use and are intended for two-prong plugs, not grounded plugs.) "See here, boy, the chain saw plug has three prongs and this lamp cord only has slots for two."

Now it was Scott's turn to shake his head. "No problem, Grandpa," he said, taking the plug and putting it into the socket with the round prong sticking over the end. He grinned at me.

"Where did you learn a stunt like that?" I asked.

"From Mom," he replied. "She does it all the time."

It was time to give the boy a quick lesson in electricity. "Look at the size of this lamp cord extension compared to the chain saw's cord," I said. "The lamp cord extension is a lot smaller. It has 18-gauge wire, which is too small to give the saw power to cut through wood."

Scott nodded in agreement but added, "Mom says the big orange extension cord is too heavy."

"Well, sure," I said. "That's because it has heavier insulation. Look here, the lamp cord extension bends a lot easier than the chain saw cord, too. But the extra insulation helps protect the cord from dirt and moisture outdoors."

An extension cord should match the tool you plan to power. Electric chain saws, electric trimmers, electric tillers or any other lawn and garden equipment needs a power cord with 12- or 14-gauge wire that will supply adequate electricity to the motor. I had Scott tap the outside of the chain saw housing. "That's insulated," I told him. "If something in the motor were to touch metal, the insulation in the housing would help protect me from being shocked.

"The electric chain saw has a grounding wire running from the saw along with the power wires. This ground wire helps carry current that may cause shocks away from the equipment operator. That's why it's important for that round prong to be plugged in, not sticking out," I explained.

Manufacturers of electric power equipment will generally list the appropriate size extension cord and the recommended maximum cord length. In general, though, electric lawn mowers and edges shouldn't be operated with extension cords longer than 100 feet. Electric power equipment requiring steady, constant power - chain saws, for instance - really shouldn't be operated with cords that exceed 25 feet. That length limits the use of such equipment in many applications, but is a standard recommendation for safety. I had Scott pace off the distance between the tree I was going to cut down and the electrical outlet outside the garage.

We found a 25-foot extension cord in the garage and I had Scott carry it so he would really notice how much heavier it was than the lamp cord extension he had brought from the house.

Outside the garage door, I showed Scott the outlet we were going to use. Last summer, my son had an electrician wire the house with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI). These devices can detect when a tool or other electrical device produces a current that could be redirected to the user. When the GFCI detects current starting to shock the operator, it shuts off the circuit within about 1/40 of a second. This helps to prevent electrical shocks to the user.

Scott was eager to test the buttons and plug in the cord, but I continued the safety lesson by having Scott examine the cord for frayed ends, cracks or breaks. It's dangerous when an exposed cord comes in contact with damp ground, no matter what other safety precautions you take. He checked the entire cord, giving it his thumbs-up seal of approval. I pointed out that the cord must first be plugged into the equipment, then into the outlet.

Scott is a good helper and he wanted to be at my side when I turned on the chain saw to cut the tree, but I never like to do these kinds of jobs when children are nearby. Instead, I suggested he go in the house and give his mother a lesson in extension cord safety. I knew she'd have a thing or two to say about me, but with the saw buzzing and my ear protection on, I didn't have to listen.