No don’t use that 50 or 100 foot orange 16/3 cord from the garage. There should be a tag on the back of the fridge or possibly on its cord. This tag should specify its electrical requirements: some combination of amps, volts, and watts. Could you edit your question to include that information?
What gauge extension cord should I use for a refrigerator?
Extension cords with a lower gauge number—like 10 or 12 gauges—are considered heavy-duty cords because they have a higher capacity to deliver power. Since the 10-gauge cord is an extra heavy-duty extension, it makes the best choice for big power loads like a refrigerator.
Is it safe to use an extension cord for a refrigerator?
Refrigerators are huge and need a lot of energy to run and thus a regular extension cord may not be able to take on the job and be a fire hazard to boot. That is why I generally do not recommend plugging your refrigerator into an extension cord for safety reasons.
Can you run a refrigerator on a 16 gauge extension cord?
No don’t use that 50 or 100 foot orange 16/3 cord from the garage. There should be a tag on the back of the fridge or possibly on its cord. This tag should specify its electrical requirements: some combination of amps, volts, and watts.
How many amps can a 16 gauge extension cord handle?
Any 16-gauge cord between 0 and 100 feet long can adequately handle tool loads up to 10 Amps.
Do I need a heavy-duty extension cord for a refrigerator?
Yes, you need a heavy-duty extension cord for the refrigerator because a light-duty extension cord lacks grounding and has a lower gauge. A heavy-duty extension cord is grounded with a 3-prong plug and has a higher capacity to deliver enough power, free from overheating or shock.
Can I plug my freezer into an extension cord?
GE strongly recommends that an extension cord not be used with a freezer due to the potential safety hazards under certain conditions.
What gauge extension cord is needed for a freezer?
A typical refrigerator or freezer draws 15 amps of current at 120 volts, and that amount of current calls for a 14-gauge cable at a minimum. However, 12-gauge cable is safer because refrigerator and freezer compressors can draw more than the rated current every time they cycle on.
What is a 16 gauge extension cord good for?
Sixteen-gauge cords are low wattage and are intended for use with small appliances such as portable fans, alarm clocks, table lamps, or floor lamps (note: an electronic device such as a TV or computer should be connected to a surge protector).
What does 16 3 mean on an extension cord?
On the packaging of the extension cord, there should be some numbers. These are the gauge of the wire and number of conductors (wires) in the cord. So, a number like ’12 3′ means the cord has 12 gauge diameter wire and 3 wires. Here is the breakdown: 16 gauge=light duty.
What can 16 gauge wire handle?
16-gauge are used for light-duty extension cords supporting 13 amps. 14-gauge are usedfor light fixtures, lamps, lighting circuits with 15 amps. 12-gauge are used in kitchen, bathroom, outdoor receptacles, and 120-volt air conditioners supporting 20 amps.
Can you connect 18 gauge wire to 16 gauge?
Yes the 16-gauge will work just fine. Make sure your connections are well insulated.
How do I choose an extension cord gauge?
Recommended wire gauge for extension cords
Larger numbers mean smaller wires, which in turn means it can carry less power. A cord measuring 14 AWG is the thinnest we recommend—and at lengths of only 25 feet or shorter—and the much thicker 10 AWG is likely the thickest gauge you’ll find in an extension cord.
