EXTENSION CORD OVERLOAD - CIRCULAR SAW TESTING - TESTING AMPERAGE WITH A MULTIMETER AND AMP CLAMP
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- čas přidán 11. 03. 2018
- Today is testing my circular saw for amperage draw and its effects on a smaller gauge extension cords . The high amperage seen is peak amperage and only present for milliseconds and is not the running amperage . As you can see on the meter it drops fast to under 15 amps . An extension cord that is too long and too small of a wire gauge can not carry the amperage needed and in most cases will overheat your tool and cause damage.
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The answer to " Can I borrow your whatever" is 'NO". Thank you for the video, Steve
Good answer and your tools will last a lot longer too. HAHA
That was a very good test Steve.....best thing is don`t lend tools you want to keep....In my lifetime I have a list of good tools that never came back and when I needed them I knew I lend them but could not remember who....Well done....CHEERS
Thanks buddy its best not to lend for the reasons you say. Most power tools today should last a long time if you don't use the wrong cord. Cheers
Anything less than #12 is for Christmas lights. 👍
HAHA and that's what everybody seems to use Terry. Snowed last night and it's a balmy 34 on the F scale today :)
Thanks Steve! I found that very interesting! I appreciate your knowledge of electricity. I’m learning a few tricks from ya. Thanks again and God bless.
Thanks buddy much appreciated . You have a great day.
Wow Steve, this video got me all "amped" up and "sparked" some interesting dialog. Thanks Buddy!
HAHA my wife says the same thing to me. !!!!!
Very interesting Buddy! Great test!! So much damage can be prevented. Thanks!!
Thanks Doug its something manufactures have in every manual but it seems their not read. Cheers
Wow cool steve, fantastic advice
Thanks buddy
Very good information. Most people will grab what ever extension cord they can find.
So true and keep grabbing a new saw at the same time for many :)
I kept saying at my first shop. These extension cords are dangerous. No one would listen. I was like, "If the shop is supplying the extension cords and we can't use our own for "safety reasons" then the shop cords have to actually be safe! The boss was cheap on this. . . sigh.
great info Steve thumbs up and shared
Thanks bud 👍👍
Yea I hear ya , I run all my power tools on my homemade #10ga x 75' long with a 4 way box on the end. Love it and yes it was little over $100 to make it but very well worth it
I like .." I tell ya something" section at the end of the video.... :-)
Thanks you - " section at the end of the video" hum what part :)
Very true, using too small a cord will cause all sort of problems.
Yes and hopefully some that don't know will reach for the right cord in the future. Cheers Lloyd
Thanks Steve is some great info. A lot of times we just take for granted that an extension cord is a extension cord. I hope you talked him into buying a new extension cord when he buys him a new skill Saw, lol.
Thanks Becky as for my buddy he understands now all extension cords are not the same . You have a great night.
very nice and informational video.
Thanks Josh
😳👍I was fixed to buy some extension cords and that was my worried now I see. Thanks .
Cheers Steven.
I had to replay the start of the meter portion of the video again... I got distracted by meter envy!! LOL. However I am a proud owner of an A.C. splitter do-hickey and hot dog is that thing handy!
Excellent presentation!
When ever I stop and think about all the crazy hook ups and creative wiring I did when I was younger and in college ... it's a miracle that I'm still alive and didn't burn places down! It makes me wonder if there a Patron Saint of extension cords? Somebody was watching my 6 and sounds like they're keeping an eye on your neighbor too.
I've been burned too many times lending out my tools and don't do it anymore. Instead... if they want to borrow something, I simply tell them I have to come with the tool and I'll either do the job for them or at the very least, supervise. It's the only way to ensure you get your gear back in working order!
Thanks Kerri , no lending for most as from the past you get it back with not quite it ever working again :)
Thank you for all the useful information! Just like your weed killer I am killing it out here in Iowa. Thank you
LOL killing it . You must have watched one of my vids from my other youtube channel 😂😅😂😅czcams.com/video/ZX9IbSqkllc/video.html
This video Steve should help a lot of people out there to become familiar with the gauging on wires. Hopefully you’ll save a few burn out tools out there! 😀👍
Thanks Terry and Ive done it myself in the past and learnt the hard way too. HAHA
Wow that's a hell of a test Steve I guess I better replace a few of my extension cords. I'm like you though I don't lend my tools to anyone.
It's incredible the voltage drop if you use a 100 ft 16 gauge cord on a 15 amp power tool . Most times you will notice it runs slow and no power , if you don't notice it you will be buying a new saw. HAHA
It's good to share,,, for those who don't know,,, to overcome that voltage drop you can use a line conditioner,,TRIPLITE 2400W,,,,, I did it with an air compressor and a 100' extention cord drawing 13.5A on a 2 horse power motor,,, works great.
Oh wow. I am total dummy when it comes to sh*t like this. All that makes perfect sense now. I got to make sure the extension cords and heavy duty and in good condition. Very interesting info Steve. Thanks Buddy 😀👍⚡
Paivi it's a good thing to just throw out an 40 year old cord as well and get a new one as well :) Everything has a age limit as well as extension cords but for most just using a hedge clipper or trimmer they do fine. It's the ones with motors that need larger loads suffer the most. Paive DIY will be cutting lumber on youtube soon. LOL
Excellent information Steve. If I borrow a tool I make sure I have the funds to replace it.
Thanks buddy , borrowing can get expensive . Cheers
Blue? lol. Good test and advice Steve. I have some extension cords that are old and I need to check them out. Thank you. 👍
Haha colours are hard eh :) yes check your cord and make sure there's no kinks either.
🤣🤣 you have to be a Vermonter with that accent! I love it! Love the channel!
LOL your real close but a bit further north 🇨🇦
@@SteveRobReviews 🤣🤣🤣🤣 well same thing basically 🤣🤣🤣 some of us French Canadians never left home
Love you message and enjoyed watching it. I finally purchased a Skilsaw Spt70wt job site worm drive table saw. It shows 15 amps in the manual and on the name plate. I was going to get a beefier gauge but someone said this also is not recommended. My cable run is around 10 to 20 ft. Not that big. Should I just get the standard 15 amps, 14 gauge cord? Would a larger gauge help or hurt the longevity of my TB? Thanks
Brian 14 gauge should be fine up to about 30 feet . Once the saw starts up it will drop in amperage . Cheers
Good video, thanks. Lesson: GENERATORS also need 3X a saw's rated amps.
I have a brand new 15-amp EVO 9" metal-cutting saw and a brand new Northern Tool 3000-watt/3600-watt surge generator. Multiplying 120V x supposedly 15 amps you would expect the draw is going to be just 1800 watts. Not so as you showed us.
Cutting only 1/8" thick flatbed on a truck's diamond plate flatbed this was my experience: either the 20-amp circuit breaker on the generator trips or the overheat button on the saw handle eases out. Then you have to wait a minute to reset one or both. Impossible to get the work done..
I am planning on paralleling another generator to be able to get double the amps when the saw cut begins.
With your saw which also is rated 15 amps, you drew 43 amps at startup not even cutting- with the saw's cord and no extension cord. When you added the extension cord you dropped your amp feed to 35.
Let's say I am needing 43 amps for a few seconds to get my metal cut started. 43 x 120V = 5,160 watts. So in reality I need a 5KW or 6KW generator to adequately START and run a 15A/1800W saw. Hooking tools to shore power/home power we don't realize a surge of power because the house power is plentiful.
On a generator we need to plan a 3X factor of overpower to run saws.
I like the inverter generator's quiet 56 db vs a bigger generator which emits 76 db so I will try adding a 2nd generator with a parallel hookup. Thanks a lot for doing your tests which confirm I did not have enough juice from a generator to start my saw cuts. (I sent a boy to do a man's job so to speak.) I am sure electric air compressors need 2X or 3X amps at their startups, too. Lesson- oversize a generator for running power tools. Don't take a chance on burning out their motor windings with low power situations.
Wow😲.... so much that us the average person never thinks about
That's the basis of my channel , talking about many subjects that provide some assistance to those that could use it. Cheers 👍
A lot of people don't realize that smaller cords choke the power from the tool, which results in the motor overheating, which then burns your saw out every 3 years😀
The longer the cord, the more the resistance is, so if go long you better go heavy.
Yes and most that keep buying a saw never put two and two together EH :)
I'm surprised at how many people use a 100 foot 18 gauge extension cord to work 20 feet from an outlet. I'm guilty of it myself from time to time but I never put the numbers to it. For my plasma cutter I needed some extension cords and through my research found out about the voltage and amperage drop over size and distance. It's amazing just how much you lose. Now I've got 10 gauge wire coming from the both breaker panels in the shop for the plasma cutter and welder and they run great! I could hear a difference in your saw starting with the extension cord in the mix. And the whole video, I kept thinking "ok so who farted?" Cheers!
Haha man you have good ears . It's best to actually test because I have bought wingwang cords and the connections at the ends were only in contact with half of the wire - even a new extension cord can be a bad one . Cheers
While the wingwang copper seems to have gotten better over the past 10 years or so, not long ago almost all their copper was so diluted with so much crap that a 10ga wire would flow more like a 18ga.
LMAO!!! Hi neighbor can I borrow your skill saw?? I burn mine out all the time!! Great video Steve.
HAHA oh ya . It's amazing how that works Eh😂
Very interesting! I only have new extension cords because they keep getting "borrowed" and I never see them again!
Well that can get expensive to but you always have a new extension cord. :) Cheers Niamh
Let them have the failed ones, LOL.
Haha I would if I had any :)
My understanding is the listed amp draw is referring to the running draw as apposed to the initial pull. That being said, your theory is still correct but I believe the damage comes from the continued running at 15+ amps with the ext cord which you captured during the cutting. Without the ext cord it looked to pull about 13 amp even through the knot. Nice job my friend
Yes exactly and many use a beat up one that has many of the conductors inside broken making it worse . I would have liked to demonstrate using my buddies cord but didn't want to damage my saw. LOL
This example is the only exception to the saying 'shorter is better than longer'.
HAHA you are now officially an honorary Cannuk . 👍👍😂
Thank you Sir Steve.
The "worth is in the girth" always applies. Just ask her.
That is huge to know my friend. What drove me crazy looking at extension cords recently is that they gave the amp rating of the cord instead of the gauge. I was like, what if they cheat me on the gauge that I need for what I'm doing? I walked out without buying anything. Okay, it's rated for that, what's it's gauge? Checked everywhere on the packaging. The whole store had the cords labeled this way. I guess someone though it'd be convenient, but I couldn't trust it.
I see that too like small engines showing CC and not HP. Up here all the cords do have the gauge imprinted on the outer casing of the cord.
If they are labeled with their gauge on the cord, I'd have to buy it to open the package and find that out. If I was on my phone I'd find an emoticon of my head smacking my hand like Charlie Brown's, "Good Grief."
Thanks for sharing Hey steve can I borrow your saw! LOL
Sure Annie and I have the extension cord for it too . LOL
Our House volts are 220v@10 amps..I have 50' of 15amp lead that I run from inside the house 10amp outlet if I need to use the mig in the shed or outside and I've had that for 35 years...Electricity is an area that needs to be over engineered.
Zig 220v is awesome to have . The world never did come to a standard voltage and don't know why. I think it's just north america that uses 120v .
I have a small dewalt jobsite fan, if I use a 25ft extension cord 12/3 rated at 15amp. The cord provides more amp than tool requires. Will it damage my fan?
Your all good to go. 👍
👍👍
Great video, but why didn't his breaker pop?
The high amperage is only for milliseconds . Its a very good unit to handle it as others I have tried do pop.
I’m going to buy a 12 foot frost king piper heater cord to heat my outside water line during this winter. What size extension cord should I use? Play heavy duty 16/3? A 14/3? And I believe the heating cord uses 7 Watts per foot. I don’t know how many amps, I believe it said 13. ?
🤷🏼♀️
Great video❤
I’m learning about power tools amps wattage electrical wiring for little projects I have to do myself! 🤦🏼♀️
Before my husband passed away, I had a lot of confidence in doing projects because I knew he had my back.
Any help is highly appreciated😊🙏
Hi Linden
7w a foot x12 feet = 84 watts
84watts divided by 120 volts = .7 amp . so a 16 gauge extension cord is more than enough. Cheers 👍
When you used the circular saw and when it was cutting it went to 14 amps it never went up to 15.
Any appliance, tool or anything drawing electricity everytime your turn it on its always going to draw twice the amps for a second is like a car when you accelerate your car is going to suck more gas that when you are on the highway
this all makes sense...but now if I apply this in my own situation...would a 100ft. 12 gauge extension cord be able to handle circular saw and framing nailer?
Depending on the saw , it will work but may not be recommended and the framing nailer using a compressor absolutely not both at the same time . Instructions for your saw will state extension cord specs as well as compressor. Cheers
So how is it that a longer cord reduces amperage demand? Would picking the outlet furthest from the fuse panel do the same?
The demand is variable in direct relation to the load but the supply amperage is regulated by the service fuze at the electrical panel. A smaller gauge conductor has a limitation in supplying the amperage needed as the cable length is extended thus amperage is reduced unless you increase the conductor size.
Steve, right when I thought I was getting smarter, I just got dumber. I didn't understand that. Can you try again for me please?
STEVE ROB REVIEWS So the longer cable adds resistance (even though it's not measurable with an ohm meter) to bring down the amperage?
Thomas I'd say thats correct. In my experience a long undersize cord suffers from a large voltage drop .
Dave the voltage drop is the key. Let's say you need 120v and 15 amps for the saw but an undersize cable has a voltage drop of say 20 volts so your trying to get 15 amps out of the cable but ohms law would have you at 100v x15amps thus only getting 1500 watts instead of the required 1800 watts with 120v X 15 amps. Most of the damage is done under higher loads with excessive voltage drop and as it slows down the motor heats up. You try using a dollar store 22 gauge cord and you couldn't cut a piece of wood :) now that would be a good vid to do eh:)
This is why all my cords are 10 gauge or less than 20' chords
👍
Should have known it was going to be like a college class in the comment section.
I could have been that guy with the ratty old cord many years ago ! Dad was one of those 'can do it all guys' that knew electricity but didn't bother to teach me about wire gauges. So I upgraded my game several years ago and went to 50 ft 10 gauge after I found out 50 ft 16 gauge was just not beefy enough. I'm running a circular saw on it but I've recently discovered the circuit I'm on already has a heavy load on it. So I wanted to find out how many amps I'm drawing and why it's not tripping the circuit breaker. I didn't know about the splitter and I didn't know about the amp clamp. O boy, i'm getting dangerous now ! So yes, the saw (or other equipment) may run but you may ruin it or anything else that happens to be on that circuit. I'm also starting to understand that warning 'This device not to be used with extension cord'. Knowledge is power ! Thanks for the tutorial !
Ira the best thing in the world is knowledge and testing before guessing is definitely the right way . Cheers 👍
Good job, learned that as a kid, don't have anything smaller than 14 Guage now,an that's for drills. Have 3 10 Guage cords to, more power! Almost sold that old saw to a buddy, told him it was weak an he didn't care,then I looked at the ext cord . Yeah, blonde moment
Yes and it's not too hard of a lesson on a $50 saw but on a $500 saw the poor choice in an extension cord can run your day and a saw. Cheers Jeff
Good video. Those ratings are taken under ideal conditions, typically in a lab, at a specific voltage & RPM (in your case 5800rpm according to the tag). It is hard to say if that tag is rated with the saw under load or not. In the US it is supposed to be under load. If your saw free-wheels at lower or higher then 5800rpm, then it will definitely draw a different amount of amps. Plus the higher the load the higher the amperage draw. So if the motor is stuck/jammed (hit a nail for example) the amps go through the roof. This is not even including the resistance applied by the extension cord. So there are a lot of variables that affect the amperage draw of an electric motor.
Check out this article explaining all the stuff that is on the nameplate on the motor itself (inside the plastic saw casing): www.ecmweb.com/motors/understanding-induction-motor-nameplate-information
Thanks buddy well said. 👍
Read you come back and realized I did not talk about the main topic....this happens a lot to me....must have something to do with my deslectia....anyway just want to say that a nice saw you got there....I just own its little brother in the 18-volt bat. type and my big saw is an old Saw Cat made by Black and Decker and she`s a tough one.....and the main topic was to get the size of cord for the load and the distance.....in our electrical code we have a chart the tells us for the load ....that's the amp when you have a certain distance you should have a certain size of wire in order not to have voltage drop.....because when your voltage drops your amperage increases and your saw motor start to cook....enough said.....I wish you a good day....CHEERS
HAHA im the same - yes the wrong cord can get expensive buying power tools. Cheers
Steve - Your saw is plugged into some kind of orange outlet adapter that lets you use a clamp ammeter and voltage probes. What is that adapter called and where did you get it?
This is it here Jordan. Extech 480172 AC Line Splitter www.amazon.ca/dp/B0000YHN9W/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_H2KFA2ERZ3SM1PREH11M?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
@@SteveRobReviews Thanks for the fast reply!!!
Why do saws like this not trip a 15A or even 20A breaker on startup?
They only peak for a very short time .
Long extension cords are killers, especially when you're dealing with that kids strength 110V 🤣
I have seen so many power tools burnt out using a wrong extension cord. Your on 220v I have yet seen a powertool on youtube powered by it :)
Let's all kick the grids up a notch to 480v...then amperage would be way down!
If I lend out anything I go with it too.
Bruce I have has so many bad experiences lending stuff that its got to the point id rather just say no.
Agreed! Same here! Tired of finding my tools quietly dropped off in my carport in horrendous condition or ... not returned at all.
On the flip side though... I have had to borrow some tools from folks and I always return them with a gift. Example... If I borrow a saw, I return it with an extra new blade.
I also clean tools before returning them if need be. Folks that leave so much crud on their stuff, drives me bonkers.
Helps keep ya in good standing with the tools people for future reference.
Do you lose any amperage because you are plugged into an extension bar like you are? I have my circular saw pulled into a extension bar.
I haven't noticed any , more so on the gauge of wire and length of extension cord . Some power bars are low amperage under 15 amps and dont use them. Cheers
Which brand do you recommend?? for extension cord?
There is so many great brands out there but overall stay away from the ones that are real low cost because they are low cost for a reason :)
@@SteveRobReviews Thank you! Im looking forward for yellow jacket brand seems ok to me.
That'[s it, if the equmipment doesn't get the amps it needs it will brun up.
Yes and the way they make them you can't overheat it or your melting all the plastics LOL
or just use 10 gauge for everything right?
Yes but 10 gauge for a 100 ft hedge clipper cord can be real heavy to lug around 😅
Yes , very heavy
Can you use a cord for a 15 amp heatpress
Just follow the manufacturers recommendations and you cant go wrong.
@@SteveRobReviews i understand Steve. But I would like to place in garage. I'm thinking of getting a industrial cord 12 gauge. 25 or 50 ft
12 gauge should do just fine at 25 feet . Longer than 25 feet I would go with a 10 gauge.
Does this mean i should stop using speaker wire for my extension cords . lol
No it's just fine if you like to buy lots of power tools 😂😂
My Tool Rules : #1 Don't Move Them #2 Don't Touch Them #3 Don't Borrow Them #4 Don't even Look at Them ...!!!!!
And that's a good way to have tools for many years. I've seen too many bad endings borrowing tools . Cheers bud.
any reason oter then saving money to not get the lowest guage you can find?
Good question John. If you get a gauge too low your tool will work but you will just burn out the armature overheating it or some tools will not have the same power at all and burn out over a short time.
@@SteveRobReviews I just wanna clarify I mean buying all 12/3 instead of assortment of 12/3 14/3 and 16/3.
Sure that's fine as long as you dont get them mixed up.
Dew worm aye?
The longer the cord and the smaller wire gauge the more resistance you are going to get.
Good test there Brother but you will see more of a difference the longer you use the saw.
Yeah when I loan stuff out I do under a condition. The condition is I come with the tool and I am the operator. Had a friend want to borrow my van. What four4 I say. To move my sister out of her apartment he says. So I didn't lend him my van per say I loaned him me and my van.
Good way to do it and your in plain view of the lending going on. 👍
MostlymoparIH
Right on bro
Wait that amperage on the tools is start up amperage not continuous amperage
It's an amperage reading so max amps is good to know as well.Cheers David
@@SteveRobReviews ok gotcha 👍🏾👍🏾
I looked at the manual, and it doesn't specify any type of cord to use with my saw. Your video would be more helpful, if you could say the amperage, guage, and length of cord you use with your saw.
Saws have different amperage draws so the extension cords are different too. Look at the saw and see what the specs are in amperage then look at extension cords and match the two . Every new extension cord shows the amperage rating for that specific cord.
@@SteveRobReviews at Lowe's waiting to get in.
Don't you want to show the extension cord plugged into the receptacle and the splitter and saw connected at the FAR end ? To show the reduced voltage supplied to the device ?
I believe that's what I was doing . What are you referring to Dave ?
Oops. Maybe I saw it wrong. I'm looking at 4:30. The splitter is plugged into the bench and the yellow cord is attached at the outlet of the splitter. I would like to see the cord upstream and the splitter at the female end of the cord, to see the voltage being delivered to the saw. I expected that would show a much more significant voltage drop. I guess the amps would be the same through the circuit connected with the cord either first or last. Anyway, I understand the purpose of the warning. I have a long extension cord that I use with a leaf blower. I wonder how THAT is now. Always watch your postings. Keep them coming.
BTW, I just just saw yesterday that I TOO am banned from that famous other video site. I don't know why, or when he got me. :-)
Dave that's brilliant and yes I will revisit the test in the future . It's terrific when I see a comment like this that makes doing youtube all the better. Thanks Dave . Oh man getting banned is something else eh. LOL
In order for a 12 gauge extension cord to be efficient don’t you have to have 12 gauge wire running through your house which most people don’t?
Good question. The answer is no. The wire gauge of an extension cord and its length dictates the amount of voltage loss. House wiring receptacle is rated at 15 amp 1800 watts maximum so if you need 15 amps using an extension cord it's only possible matching the wire gauge to the length of the cord.
@@SteveRobReviews that doesn’t make sense
@Brandon Makes perfect sense if you have a good understanding of amperage draw of a load in relation to voltage drop over a given distance and wire gauge. Now does that make sense now 😉
@@SteveRobReviews no because you need 12 gauge extentikn cord to run circular saw but your house only has 14 gauge or whatever
@Brandon You definitely do not always need a 12g cord to run a circular saw. A 25 foot 14g cord is accepted but not at longer runs . You have to match the cord to the power tool requirements at different lengths from the household receptacle.
skill says you CANT use a 100 ft 12 G cord for theyre skillsaw
Skill makes a lot of saws, so if they say not to use 12g - 100 feet on a particular saw , don't use it . The vast majority of homeowners saws drawing 10 amps will do fine, so just match the saws amperage draw to the power cords ratings.
@@SteveRobReviews well the 100 ft 12 g cord is rated for 15 amps and the saw draws 15 amps
@redsresearch If the saw actually draws 15 amps I'd follow skills recommended but in my experience the amp rating tag on the saw is not the running amperage. Not all extension cords are the same as you will see in pricing . Voltage drop is always a concern as the voltage drops the amperage increases so in some situations you may only get 114v or less to the saw at 100 feet instead of 120v of the extension cord rating . Say your using the saw to cut heavy timbers and thus overheating the saw. Once you go past 50 feet on most runs voltage does drop so staying within 3% of 120v spec. on some devices is preferred as some will still do well with up to 10% + or - of 120v. Do some testing and measure how many amps your drawing and make a video to show 👍
@@SteveRobReviews so your saying it's fine to use my 100ft 12 g cord with my skillsaw made by skill?
@redsresearch I'm saying follow the manufacturers recommendations.