Most of the accidents pertaining to electricity occur due to small mishaps or even due to a lack of proper knowledge about the same. Irrespective of which industry you are using, the god of the chord has to match the power requirements to ensure safety. Be it the C14 to C13 power cords or any other variant, it is important to keep in mind that eligibility is a major factor to consider.
Selecting the right power cord is not only about finding the right fit into the socket. You have to ensure that the power is flowing efficiently without any kind of inhibitions and there are no safety restraints.
Consequences You Might Face If You Out A Cord Of Wrong Gauge Into the Power Supply
The term “wire gauge” refers to a system that denotes how thick a wire is. Usually, if a wire gauge has a lower number then it is thicker in nature. A common characteristic feature of the thicker wires is that they have low resistance. This ensures that they can carry more electricity without the fear of overheating or causing accidents. Some of the major consequences that you should be aware of are:
i) Overheating
One of the most common consequences of using a chord with the wrong gauge is overheating. Usually, two instances can happen if you are using the wrong gauge. If the god of the chord is very thin in comparison to the amount of current passing through it, the resistance will build up. This in turn will lead to too much heat buildup.
It is possible that at that time the heat can cause insulation to melt or sometimes even degrade in quality. In worst-case scenarios, the overheating can sometimes lead to permanent damage and it can even start a fire. Anyone touching the appliance might get seriously hurt and might incur death as well.
ii) Equipment Damage
Another very common consequence of using the wrong gauge in a power supply is that it will lead to major equipment damage. Sometimes the damage caused to the equipment is permanent and irreplaceable in nature. In the case of most electronics and appliances, they are designed in a way so that they can operate perfectly within a specific range and voltage. The moment you shift from this voltage, it is possible that the equipment gets damaged.
Not only damage it is possible that in such cases the equipment will show some of the most unpredictable behaviour. If you think you do not have much idea about this then the best thing that you can do is get in touch with the professional who will guide you. The use of the IEC320 power cords is extremely popular for the convenience and ease of use that they bring in. The best part is that you will be able to find these power cords very easily in the market.
iii) Accidents
When you are using a cord with the wrong gauge in the power supply, you might increase the risk of accidents due to this. What are the possibilities? As we have already mentioned the overheating of the wire will lead to fire hazards in some cases. The worst part is that the fire will start up almost in a split second and there will be no way to manage the same. When wires become too hot, they can ignite nearby combustible materials, leading to a potentially devastating fire. Particularly, if you are in a home or office setup, there are usually quite a few combustible elements and hence catching a fire becomes much more common.
Along with that, another potential accident that might pop up due to the placing of a cord of the wrong gauge into the power supply is an electric shock. If the insulation on the wire deteriorates due to overheating, it exposes the conductive material inside. people can very easily come in contact with the exposed wire and this may lead to getting an electric shock. If the intensity of the shock is too high then it can lead to cardiac arrest and can sometimes cause death as well in serious cases. The electric shocks can sometimes lead to permanent damage to body parts as well.
iv) Reduced Efficiency
Finally, one of the consequences that you might face if you put a cord of the wrong gauge into the power supply is reduced efficiency. Why? The cord will end up struggling to meet the voltage and might lead to reduced performance for the device. You might also notice that the device is flickering and ultimately it will cease to function. Voltage drops can result in equipment malfunction or reduced performance, affecting productivity and increasing energy costs.
How Can You Choose The Right Cord?
Now that we know about consequences, the next important question that a lot of individuals ask is how can one choose the right cord. Some of the most common factors that you need to ascertain for the right measurements are:
- Take Into Account The Appliance Manual
One of the most important things that you can do is take the appliance manual into account. This is usually the best option to consider and it will specify in detail the amperage rating for your appliance. It is indeed the most important set of information that you will need to select the appropriate gauge for your appliance.
- Check Out For the Amperage Rating On the Cord
In the next step, you will need to check if the amperage rating is printed directly on the cable. Usually, for most of the quality power cords, you will find the rating clearly mentioned. Having good information on this will help you verify if the cord can handle the current need based on the weightage of your appliance.
- Don’t Use Damaged Cords
To avoid any chances of accident it is always suggested that you do not use any kind of cord that is damaged. Frayed wires, loose connections, or any signs of damage can pose a serious safety hazard. The best thing that you can do in this case is replace the discarded or damaged cord and use new ones which do not have any kind of infringements on them.
- Use the Thicker Versions
It is always suggested that if you do not have an idea about which is the best cord requirement then try to choose the thicker ones. One of the major reasons behind this is that a thick curd always has more capacity and the chances of overheating are much less. This will show that you will not end up causing an accident.
When you follow all the safety guidelines and choose the right power cord gorge you will ensure that both the device and you are protected. Taking help from professionals or just studying enough will help you to avoid major accidents. The usage of the C14 to NEMA 5- 15 is indeed quite popular and this is majorly because of the convenience that they tend to bring in.
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