Major appliances should be plugged directly into a wall outlet. Never use an extension cord with a major appliance – it can easily overheat and start a fire.
For larger appliances that draw up to 15 amps like a refrigerator or a portable heater, a 14-gauge cord would be safer. Tools or appliances that require up to 20 amps like a shop vacuum or a circular saw should go with a 12-gauge or 10-gauge extension cord.
Manufacturer instruction for refrigerators and freezers warn against using an extension cord of any kind. If such a connection has an excessive current resistance, the voltage drop will result in a lower voltage to the compressor motors, and if full rpm is not achieved for back EMF, the motors can overheat and fail.
So, power strips are great for computers, TVs, lamps, phone chargers and other low-wattage devices. However, they are not designed for large appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes dryers and clothes washers.
Extension cords have a maximum amperage rating @ 120volts and many devices like vacuum cleaners, space heaters, air conditioners, refrigerators, and certain welding equipment, can pull an unsafe number of amps through the extension and cause a fire.
For extension cord temporary use with refrigerators, look for one that is 10-gauge, between 15 to 20 amps. With those specs, you're mainly looking at a short-length cable under 50 feet long. If you need any more than 100 feet, then forget it. We always recommend you contact an electrician for advice.
Larger appliances, such as microwaves and refrigerators, may not be plugged into a power strip or extension cord. Such appliances must be plugged directly into a properly installed outlet.
A 115-volt or 120-volt, individual, properly grounded branch circuit with a 3-prong grounding type receptacle, protected by a 15 or 20 amp circuit breaker or time-delay fuse. Should be on a dedicated circuit.
This surge generates an excessive amount of heat, which can damage multiple parts of the refrigerator. Three components in particular that we often see damaged by a high voltage surge are the control board, the compressor, and the ice maker. The control board is the most sensitive component in the refrigerator.
Extension cords are generally not designed to handle the high-power demands of refrigerators and can pose fire hazards or cause appliance malfunctions. Whenever possible, connect your refrigerator directly to a properly grounded outlet or consider having an electrician install a new outlet closer to the appliance.
Refrigerators don't have heating elements and use less wattage than other kitchen appliances, but they still demand a fierce amount of power because they're constantly running. While the fire risk is a bit lower with fridges, an extension cord could still cause the fridge to modulate its power and malfunction.
Select cords rated to handle the amps and wattage of the devices with which they'll be used. A cord's gauge indicates its size: The smaller the number, the larger the wire and the more electrical current the cord can safely handle. For use with larger appliances, thick, round, low-gauge extension cords are best.
We strongly recommend that an extension cord not be used with any Refrigeration appliances (Refrigerator, Freezer, Compact Refrigerator, Ice Machine, Beverage Center, etcetera) due to the potential safety hazards under certain conditions.
This will show in Knowledge Search results if there is not a snippet of the article to include showing words or phrases in the article matching your Search terms. Using an extension cord to a refrigerator is not recommendable due to safety reasons and might afffect the unit's cooling performance.
Introduction. On average, refrigerators consume between 300 and 800 watts of electricity, depending on the age of the model. Most refrigerators use between 3 and 6 amps and operate at around 120 volts.
Another common cause of compressor failure is a build-up of dirt and dust. This can happen if the fridge isn't cleaned regularly or if there's a lot of dust in the air. Over time, the dirt and dust can clog up the compressor, causing it to overheat and break down.
The most common causes of refrigerator failure include a faulty temperature control, a freezer that is not cold enough, and dirty condenser coils. To prevent these issues, you should unplug the refrigerator at least once a year and reset it.
The answer depends on the specific requirements of your refrigerator and the electrical circuit it's connected to. Most standard refrigerators can indeed be plugged into regular outlets, provided that the outlet is grounded and can handle the electrical load.
Portable heaters, refrigerators or large electrical draw appliances should never be plugged into the power strip, but rather a dedicated electrical wall outlet.
Yes, your refrigerator does not need a special outlet. If you are talking about a regular domestic refrigerator, you can plug it into the regular 110 to 120 volts outlet.
Always use caution when using extension cords and never use them with appliances or equipment that draws a lot of power. It is important that an extension cord with a machine that draws more than 15 amps of power.
Do not use an indoor extension cord outdoors. Do not overload cords with more than the proper electrical load. Do not run extension cords through doorways, holes in ceilings, walls, or floors.
Just like any electrical device, your outdoor extension cord should be unplugged when not in use. Leaving your cords plugged in unnecessarily increases the risk of damage and potential hazards.