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 Essential to modern life and a familiar part of our surroundings, yet often not treated with deserved respect. Run over, walked on, crimped in windows and doors, left out in sun and storm alike, strung together, bent, yanked, and 

strung across rooms and under carpets, strewn across wet grass and through holes in walls, taped up and snarled in tangles that would give a sailor nightmares. Used in the office, in the lab, and in the field, taken for granted until you 

need one. What are we talking about? [url=http://www.cbpowerplug.com/power-cord/american-ul-power-cords/]American UL power cords,[/url] one of the most indispensable tools we use today, but too often with little consideration. And, 

sometimes used in a fashion that could have disastrous results.

In 1997, more than 12,000 people were treated for electrical shocks and burns; about 2,500 of them were treated for injuries stemming from extension cords.1 In addition, each year about 4,000 injuries associated with electric extension 

cords are treated in hospital emergency rooms. Half of these injuries involve fractures, lacerations, contusions, or sprains from people tripping over extension cords. Roughly 3,300 home fires originate in extension cords each year, 

killing 50 people and injuring about 270 more.2 However, with a little care and some precautions, these conveyors of power can be used safely.

Indoors or outdoors, the use of extension cords serve different needs and should be selected accordingly. Regardless of location, always use the three-prong type of cord approved for either indoor or outdoor use. In addition, the cord 

should have a certification label from an independent testing lab such as UL (Underwriters Laboratories) or ETL (Electrical Testing Laboratories) on the package and attached to the cord near the plug.

The amount of current a cord can handle will depend on the diameter of the conductors (copper wire part of the cord). Cords that contain more copper can safely handle more power. The wire size is measured by the gauge of the wire. You 

will usually find numbers like 16, 14, or 12 gauge on an extension cord package and the cord itself. Now, this is one of those confusing issues. You would think that a 16-gauge wire is bigger than a 12-gauge wire, but it’s not! As the 

number gets smaller, the thickness of the conductor gets bigger. A 12-gauge wire can safely carry much more power than a 16-gauge wire. Compare the capacity on the label to the intended load.