Can I Run Portland Electric Pressure Washer by Extension Cord
In this post, I will explain the safe use of an extension cord with a pressure level washer.
So, tin you use an extension cord with a force per unit area washer?
Yep, you lot can use an extension cord with a pressure washer provided you use it safely. Make sure you completely unwind it, every bit it tin can go quite hot and melt. Also, make certain that it is UL approved, and that the outdoor extension cord is not lighter than xiv gauges and not more than sixty feet long.
Every extension cord has a maximum amperage rating or a limit of the electrical current that tin safely pass through information technology. Check your pressure level washer before you program to connect it to your extension string. Always choose the extension cord with an amperage rating higher than your pressure washer. Hither you can find good outdoor extension cords.
If you are planning to connect multiple machines to a single extension cord, add together up all amperage requirements to brand sure that you practice not overload your extension cord. If the power requirement on your pressure washer is listed in watts, you must carve up the wattage by 110 to catechumen this rating to amperage. Sometimes the extension cord you lot have bought and plan to connect to your force per unit area washer does not prove an amperage rating, in such a situation, you lot tin can calculate its electric current capacity by its wire judge.
The lower the gauge, the higher the capacity of the wire. A sixteen gauge extension cord is used for hedge trimmers, holiday lights, portable fans, and like other light-duty applications. A fourteen estimate extension cord is suitable for your pressure level washer, a lawnmower, table saw, a power drill, and other medium-duty applications.
A ten to twelve gauge extension cord is suitable for an air compressor, circular saw, concatenation saw, store vacuum, and other similar heavy and extra heavy-duty applications. In improver to the amperage and the wire guess, you must as well bank check the cord length when selecting the right type of extension string. If you select a very long cord, it will create more electrical resistance and deliver less ability to your pressure level washer.
Information technology is recommended by the experts to use an extension string of the proper length to foreclose power loss, especially when y'all have connected your pressure washer with a loftier amperage rating. Using the correct type of extension cord is important to ensure the electrical safety of your pressure washer, its operator, and to forbid home fires. If your extension string is longer than sixty feet or lighter than fourteen gauges, there may be serious consequences for your pressure level washer and yourself. Here you can notice good outdoor extension cords.
You will run the take a chance of electrocution and your pressure washer can be damaged beyond repair.
Contents
- 1 Safety Precautions Y'all Must Follow While Using an Extension Cord With Your Pressure Washer:
- 2 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
- 2.i i. Are electric powered pressure level washers as powerful as a gasoline-powered pressure washer?
- two.2 2. What are some necessary safety precautions y'all must observe while pressure washing?
- 3 Final remarks
Safety Precautions You Must Follow While Using an Extension Cord With Your Pressure Washer:
Always keep the plug away from the standing water, sprinkler system, spray, and runoff. Brand sure there is a safe distance between the plug and the object that you are force per unit area washing. Fit the extension cord and the pressure washer snugly and plugin tightly so that the connection is safe and solid.
Never plug-in extension cords together. If you extend the length of your extension cord past daisy-chaining, it may lead to overheating your extension cord. This may create a serious fire hazard.
By chaining them together y'all also reduce the electric current and gauge to a great degree. You lot will probably be left with your pressure washer not getting sufficient power to operate properly and give the desired results. Installing an boosted electrical outlet instead is the safest option.
Never exceed the rating of your extension cord. All extension cords take sure wattage limits. Y'all must always respect the wattage limits.
Never connect a space heater and a pressure washer into the same extension cord, as a chiliad and 5 hundred watt space heater typically draws 12.5 amp. Information technology will overload a sixteen gauge extension cord. Never use the adapter plugs to connect three wire plugs to a two-prong receptacle without grounding. Here you tin find good outdoor extension cords.
If your extension string has 3 prongs, yous must utilize all 3. One prong is hot, the second is neutral and the tertiary is the grounder. If you force an extension cord to plug into a two-prong outlet y'all are risking electrocution.
The third prong of your extension cord drastically minimizes the adventure of burn past giving ability surges a safety identify to misemploy. Never plug your sensitive devices into any common extension cords. Pocket-size surges tin can harm your sensitive machines so connecting them into extension cords with a built-in surge protector is very important.
Never allow your extension cords to become a trip hazard. Lay it out of the way of foot traffic. E'er avoid running your extension cord over a high traffic expanse like the foyer, aisle, corridor, or lounge of your habitation or office.
If your extension cord is loosely hanging, information technology is prone to exist tripped over. Information technology volition get hooked on and volition exist ultimately disconnected. Not merely is it a tripping hazard but information technology volition also pull down the machines that are connected to it, causing a life-risking accident, resulting in a burnt extension cord and the pressure washer damaged beyond repair.
Never hide your extension cord nether your carpets or furniture. This volition overheat the extension cord and start a fire. If the surface area or object y'all plan to pressure wash is located too far abroad, consider setting upward an additional electrical outlet nigh that area or object.
Never rely on staples or nails to mount your extension cords. If you want to prevent it from loosely hanging, and getting unplugged again and over again, metallic staples or nails are not safe either. They will puncture the safe or plastic protective cover and the current will flow through these metallic nails or staples causing electrocution and starting a fire. Here you can find proficient outdoor extension cords.
You must buy an extension cord designed for outdoor use if you will be pressure level washing the areas outside your home. Information technology is more rugged and fifty-fifty weather-resistant. It will withstand the beating of the elements.
Retrieve that the National Electrical Lawmaking does not allow the apply of extension cords as permanent wiring. Always store your extension cords and pressure washers indoors. If they are left outdoors, unattended and unsupervised, they are just accidents waiting to happen.
Always choose the right type of extension string for your needs. There are iii types of extension cords: for frequent use, for occasional use, and for rugged use. There are seven different designation messages that testify the divergence:
Due south: Indicates an extension cord platonic for indoor applications only.
Westward: Indicates an extension cord ideal for outdoor applications only. Insulation is the main difference between indoor and outdoor extension cords. Extension cords ideal for outdoor applications has bright orange plastic, condom or vinyl covers.
J: Indicates an extension cord that has three hundred volt insulation. If y'all can't encounter J letter, it means that the extension cord has insulation heavier than six hundred volts.
P: Indicates an extension cord that has a parallel wire construction.
T: Indicates an extension cord with a jacket made upwards of vinyl thermoplastic.
East: Indicates an extension cord with a jacket made up of thermoplastic elastomer rubber (TPE)
O: Indicates an extension cord that is oil resistant.
Here yous tin can find good outdoor extension cords.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
1. Are electric powered pressure washers as powerful as a gasoline-powered pressure washer?
An electric powered force per unit area washer is limited by the amount of electricity information technology tin can get from your wall outlet or your extension cord. While the gasoline-powered pressure washers are simply limited by their size, make, and model. When it comes to portable powers like pressure washers, those that are powered by gasoline are more efficient than the electrical ones.
In residential areas, your pressure washer is limited by the electricity bachelor to it, from your home wall outlet or your extension cord. Your firm has a breaker in its electricity distribution board that can blow if you endeavour to draw actress current. While a gasoline-powered pressure washer has no breakers to accident, it needs a larger combustion chamber for more energy.
2. What are some necessary safe precautions you must observe while force per unit area washing?
Always read, understand, and follow your user's manual before operating your pressure washer. Always use proper eye protection. It can crusade muck and grit to fly effectually at a very high speed.
Never allow the water and the electricity to mix. E'er use a ability supply protected by RCD. Make certain the joins of your extension cord are well off the ground.
Unwind your extension string from its drum or reel to maintain safety.
In lodge to conclude this response post, I would say that you can safely employ an extension cord with your pressure washer. Merely go along in mind that the extension cord should non exceed the recommended limits. Your extension cord which you lot are planning to employ with your pressure washer must not be lighter than fourteen gauges and non more than threescore anxiety long.
If you read and follow the manufacturer's prophylactic instructions you will forbid yourself and your loved ones from any danger.
Source: https://www.gardentoolexpert.com/can-you-use-an-extension-cord-with-a-pressure-washer/