After using an extension cord, it is a good idea to wrap it before storing it in your cabinet or hanging it on your wall. In this instance, you may wonder what happens if you plug an extension cord into itself.
Technically speaking, nothing happens if you plug an extension cord into itself. This is due to the fact that there is no electricity involved in this connection. In general, it would be helpful to make any wrapping method easy, especially for longer cords.
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What Happens if an Extension Cord Plugged Into Itself?
Is It Dangerous?
In general, there is no danger of plugging an extension cord into itself. The main reason for it is that there is no electricity flowing in an unplugged extension cord.
In fact, plugging both ends of an extension cord together will make it easy for you to wrap it. This method is mostly suggested by many professionals for easy wrapping and storing an electrical cord. This way, you can easily make a figure 8 extension cord wrapping, even if you have a longer length.
The same thing happens when you plug an outlet into itself using a suicide cord (a cord that has both male ends). Even though it has live electricity flowing on the line, nothing will also happen, assuming that the electrical connection was installed correctly.
What brings danger when utilizing an extension cord is when you plug it together with another extension cord and make a series of electrical connections. As a result, it is essential to understand some risks of this method.
Some Risks Include When an Extension Cord is Plugged Into the Extension Cord
1. Resistance Increase
If you plug an extension cord into a power strip or any extension cord to meet the required length of your application, the electrical resistance will increase. This is because the electricity must travel too far and pass many obstacles.
An increase in resistance might result in overheating of wires. In this case, you are putting a risk of an electrical fire in your place.
2. Electrical Supply Problem
If you plug a power strip into another, there is also a chance that your power supply may not be enough to run your electronics. Due to the longer travel of electricity also, the occurrence of voltage drop also increases.
This means that the extension cord’s power supply input may differ from its electrical output. This way, you may end up with an unstable electrical connection, which could damage your connected device.
3. Risk of its Insulation
Another risk involved in daisy-chaining an extension cord is the risk of electrocution due to damaged wire insulation. This could result from continuous heating of the wire, enough to damage its insulation and expose the wires.
What Shouldn’t You Do with an Extension Cord?
Extension cords are undoubtedly beneficial for a variety of purposes. However, using it incorrectly may put your workplace at risk. In this case, here are some things you should keep in mind when utilizing extension cords:
- Do not remove its ground prong, which is supposed to prevent electric shock.
- Under no circumstance should you use an indoor-rated extension cord outside, as it can easily damage by the harsh weather outside.
- Refrain from covering or putting an extension cord under a carpet, as it could also increase the heat due to less heat dissipation.
- Never daisy-chain an extension cord, as it could also result in circuit overload and an increase in resistance.
- Do not use high-powered appliances, such as a freezer, with an extension cord, as it can easily overload.
- Plugging too many appliances at the same time will overload an extension cord.
If you want to plug your fridge into an extension cord, please read now the important factors you need to know in this post.
Conclusion
Knowing the answer to the question “what happens if you plug an extension cord into itself” will give you peace of mind. At the same time, understanding more about what you should not do with your extension cord is crucial for the safety of everyone in your house, including your property.
Keep in mind that extension cords are only good as your temporary solution. If you need an electrical connection for the long run, it is better to consider adding a circuit to keep your area safe and free from electrical hazards.
I am Edwin Jones, in charge of designing content for Galvinpower. I aspire to use my experiences in marketing to create reliable and necessary information to help our readers. It has been fun to work with Andrew and apply his incredible knowledge to our content.