16A Extension Cord: 1mm2 Wire Thickness Safety & Connecting 35m Series for 15A Load

Good morning,

I have a question, many manufacturers give a 16A extension cord with 1mm2 cables.
Is this cross-section acceptable for 16A?

I need to connect about 10 extension cords in series with a length of about 35m to a socket with a 16A fuse. If there is a 15A load at the end, can such extension cords burn?

Up to 16A it should be 2.5mm2. What is written on the plug is not always in accordance with the standards (as you can see), but it is rather about the voltage drop on the cable - with a short cable it is small, so manufacturers "ignore" the standards. If you are going to pull the power supply 35m - I would be worried about the voltage drop more than if the cable will burn out - when unfolded, it has a chance to cool down - worse when you are dealing with a 35m cable on a reel and you only use a short distance, and the rest is wound up - then long-term operation of such an extension cord can generate so much heat that the insulation will flow. In the case of several extension cords in series, the voltage drops on the cable itself may also result in contact resistance - depending on the quality and "wear" of the sockets.

Personally, I would start with one 35m extension cord. There are quite a few spots in your solution that can cause poor contact and heat generation. It is not known what quality the extension cords will be. They don't have to be old, they can be "Chinese".

@rahtava If you have not bought 10 extension cords yet, invest in a decent cable and buy tips and you will have an extension cord for years and these 1mm 35m 15A will only laugh

rahtava wrote:

I need to connect about 10 extension cords in series with a length of about 35m to a socket with a 16A fuse. If there is a 15A load at the end, can such extension cords burn?

If the plug or socket says 16 / 250V, it means that the plug itself or the socket is able to withstand 16 amps at a voltage of 250V AC. 16x250 = 4000W, which is how much you can connect to such a socket (i.e. two less powerful kettles). However, this has nothing to do with the cable cross-section as it should be at least 2.5mm2 per wire (preferably 3-wire).

PATAFIAN_PATAFIAN wrote:

16x250 = 4000W, which is how much you can connect to such a socket (i.e. two less powerful kettles). However, this has nothing to do with the cable cross-section as it should be at least 2.5mm2 per wire (preferably 3-wire).

Buddy, in what locality in Poland do we have a nominal voltage of 250V?
As for the number of cores, it MUST be 3-core, because I do not assume that it is only for devices in protection class 2.

arlix wrote:

Buddy, in which place in Poland do we have a nominal voltage of 250V?

Nominal 230V, maximum 250V is possible and in accordance with the standard. When the kettles are connected, the current increases proportionally to the voltage increase. PATAFIAN_PATAFIAN counted correctly Look below.

398216 Usunięty wrote:

- it's worse when you deal with a 35-meter cable on a drum and use only a short section, and the rest is wound up - then long-term operation of such an extension cord can generate so much heat that the insulation will flow

On the spool four meters long extension cord, I have a warning: Max. 2500W 10A 250V fully developed and max. 1000W 4A 250V fully wound up. Extension cord bought at a time when the nominal voltage in Poland was 220V, but the product is probably exported because the warning in four languages / Polish, English, French and German /

rahtava wrote:

I have a question, many manufacturers give a 16A extension cord with 1mm2 cables.
Is this cross-section acceptable for 16A?

Theoretically yes, but the conditions are two - the length of the extension cord and thermal protection in the extension cord. Unfortunately, not everyone knows that the protection in the 16A switchgear allows for a much greater "throughput", so how does this relate to the theoretical load of the extension cord? - is a colleague able to calculate the current flowing in the circuit?

rahtava wrote:

I need to connect about 10 extension cords in series with a length of about 35m to a socket with a 16A fuse. If there is a 15A load at the end, can such extension cords burn?

Yes. This cross-section of the extension cord at this distance is a trouble, a harmful effect.

vodiczka wrote:

I have a warning on the spool of a four-meter extension cord: Max. 2500W 10A 250V fully developed and max. 1000W 4A 250V fully wound up. Extension cord bought at a time when the nominal voltage in Poland was 220V, but the product is probably exported because the warning in four languages / Polish, English, French and German /

Try to use an extension cord that is not fully extended on the islands. When he sees you safety officer You are flying out of the construction site.
So stop deliberating on warnings because you can't do something like that.
The extension cord must be fully unrolled !!! Always!
Because you will turn your back and someone else will connect to your unrolled spool.

There were pics on the forum, how such "sanctioned" by "instructions" laziness ends.
This is creating an ideology that defies the laws of physics and exposing people to the danger of fire!

Hi.

kkas12 wrote:

The extension cord must be fully unrolled !!! Always!

Krzysztof, this is not true and there is no legal support.

About two years ago I witnessed a PIP inspector fining a guy for working with a partially unfolded extension cord.

But probably not in Poland?

kkas12 wrote:

So stop deliberating on warnings because you can't do something like that.

The extension cord I am writing about (four meters) is not for construction but for home use. The inscription was placed by the manufacturer of the extension cord permanently, i.e. by cutting the negative inscription in the form of an injection spool. In your opinion, his warning does not make sense?
My example shows that the determination of the maximum allowable power of the load at the maximum supply voltage is correct and the difference between the unfolded and folded load capacity is significant (10A and 4A in the given example).

kkas12 wrote:

This is creating an ideology that defies the laws of physics and exposing people to the danger of fire!

The description on my extension cord is perfectly consistent with the laws of physics.

Look at it. Again, those nasty angels think differently from some of us.
What is this nation, what is this nation?

It's not about the correctness of the terms, but about the fact that using an undeveloped extension cord can result in a fire.
And such "exploitation" by an unconscious layman cannot be ruled out.
And an electrician should always consider the most unfavorable conditions.
Therefore, including such information does not make sense, and it does not matter the length of the extension cord. It is about the principle.

kkas12 wrote:

Look at it. Again, those nasty angels think differently from some of us.
What is this nation, what is this nation?

You're right, nation to d ... because they drive on the left side. Contrary to our traffic law

Akrzy74 wrote:

Krzysztof, this is not true and there is no legal support.

And since their regulations do not apply to us, follow their regulations when you work in Dublin and ours when you work in Oborniki Śląskie.

kkas12 wrote:

And such "exploitation" by an unconscious layman cannot be ruled out.

And that's what the warning on the extension cord is for

rahtava wrote:

I have a question, many manufacturers give a 16A extension cord with 1mm2 cables.
Is this cross-section acceptable for 16A?

Buddy, you are shaking the whip on yourself, at the end of such an extension cord, you will have 202V at the end of such an extension cord.

What are you going to feed with this?

You already condemned.
You ordered to apply Polish law and you called going beyond its scope overzealous.
But I know that a good habit is always a good habit no matter what the home-grown lawyer calls it.
And I am sure that it is only a matter of time that such a provision will appear because, as you can see, in a country where common sense is exterminated in accordance with the letter of the law, a record is needed to sanction every duplicity and activity, because a Pole cannot function without it.
Let the hut burn down, as long as it is lawful.

To whom and what does this post refer to? [retrofood]

I have such an extension cord in my garden:
https://www.leroymerlin.pl/elektrycznosc/akos...b-40-40y-lm1-40-m-elgotech,p257505,l1070.html
Mostly used for a lawn mower, grill not necessarily fully unfolded.

Each extension cord has a thermometer and it works on a coiled one, because it heats up incredibly.

Stream of consciousness ... I think you wanted to write a therm. If you are not sure how to write, write: it has thermal protection.

Strumien swiadomosci swia wrote:

Each extension cord has a thermometer and it works on a coiled one, because it heats up incredibly.

No buddy, not everyone. Especially the older products. Moreover, it is never certain that the thermic is functional or not bridged because its operation was a pain for the user.

kkas12 wrote:

No buddy, not everyone. Especially the older products. Moreover, it is never certain that the thermic is functional or not bridged because its operation was a pain for the user.

Honestly, I have never seen a thermal switch or a thermal fuse on a garden extension cord, for example, sold loose (without a drum) and often people add drums to such extensions made of several wires or a car rim and they still work on it. This is stupid in my opinion, but some people will not be able to translate it.
As for extension cords sold on drums, I know from my own experience that most of them have a thermal switch installed, but it does not always work or works only when the insulation on the extension cord wound on the drum is so hot that it starts to flow or smell like burning.

PATAFIAN_PATAFIAN wrote:

thermal switch but not always working

I have a few and a 2200W farelka triggers a thermic on each one, and you also need to develop it.

A colleague of the author intends to power 3.5kW on extension cords.

It's not about what device someone wants to power, but about not using the extension cord when it is not fully developed.
Don't tell me that every user knows what such a string (if any) means.
And the drum is a drum regardless of whether it was made by the manufacturer of the extension cord or its user.

kkas12 wrote:

Don't tell me that every user knows what such a string (if any) means.

Don't tell us that every user knows that an extension cord should be fully developed.
You can unfold it nicely and someone will come and roll it up so that it does not get tangled under his feet.

And he should know.

But write directly, buddy.
Working with a fully expanded extension cord is stupid.
You will write?

Working with a fully expanded extension cord is no foolishness.
However, I do not agree with your opinion that you want to impose on all forum members contributing to this topic.
In your opinion, every user should know that you are not allowed to use a partially unfolded extension cord. I prefer him to know when he is allowed and when he is not. So that he could use the warning on the drum and know what load he can connect with partially unfolded, and if there is no such warning, he unfolds completely.

And you gentlemen, tell me if the size of the drum (its diameter and width) plays a role? Well, in the case of garden extension cords, the drum is large (about 30 cm) and has, for example, 20 meters of cable wound on it. In the vacuum cleaner, for example, we also have a drum, only smaller, and even when the cord is completely wound up, everything works perfectly (the cord does not heat up).

PATAFIAN_PATAFIAN wrote:

And you gentlemen, tell me if the size of the drum (its diameter and width) plays a role?

With a fixed cable length, a larger reel provides better cooling because fewer coils are wound on it.
As a rule, load a partially unrolled cord only as it is fully coiled in accordance with the warning on the drum, and in the absence of such a warning, unwind it completely.

PATAFIAN_PATAFIAN wrote:

In the vacuum cleaner, for example, we also have a drum, only smaller, and even when the cord is completely wound up, everything works perfectly (the cord does not heat up).

Apparently, the cross-section of the wire is selected so that it does not heat up excessively even when fully coiled. I will not believe that nothing heats up. Work on the curled 10 minutes and then pull it through the fingers of the other hand. You will feel it is slightly warm.

vodiczka wrote:

Apparently, the cross-section of the wire is selected so that it does not heat up excessively even when fully coiled. I will not believe that nothing heats up. Work on the curled 10 minutes and then pull it through the fingers of the other hand. You will feel it is slightly warm.

I have been working on a completely coiled cord in the vacuum cleaner for the second year, and this is because when I develop it, it does not always want to curl, therefore I connect an external 4-meter extension cord to the vacuum cleaner (to the plug that protrudes from the back). For me, vacuuming takes not 10 but 30-40 minutes due to the large rooms. I checked several times by touching the entire drum with the cable after 30-40 minutes of work and it was always cold, in hot weather only slightly warm (but only minimally). The vacuum cleaner has a power of 1800W.