Patio Refrigerator and Freezer Question?

[4570Man]

Extension cords are a mystery to many...

A friend rented a floor sander and basically could not use it... He used a 16 ga cord on a 15 amp circuit.

I brought over my 10ga cord and miracle of miracles the problem was no more.

The unit was marked use 12ga or better... He thought 16 was better than 12

I've got a lot of heavy 10 and 12 ga cords in my truck...

The skill worm 77 and my emglo compressor demand proper size.

I have custom made cords for everything in my shop using at minimum 12 gauge and 10 if needed. I don’t have a huge demand for cords in my van since most of my stuff is cordless. But if I do have to use a corded saw it always gets a 12 gauge cord. I’ve had to run cords in a customers kitchen windows before to plug into a 12 gauge circuit. Code doesn’t require it but any house I build gets 12 gauge for the garage and exterior outlets. You’d be surprised how common it is for construction guys that you’d think would know better to string out 200 foot of light gauge cords for saws and air compressors. BTW an air hose doesn’t loose anything like a cord does. It’s better to plug the compressor into the source and string out more hose given the option. And you can plug a reserve tank into the end to fix any loss it does incur.

 

[grsthegreat]

Extension cords are a mystery to many...

A friend rented a floor sander and basically could not use it... He used a 16 ga cord on a 15 amp circuit.

I brought over my 10ga cord and miracle of miracles the problem was no more.

The unit was marked use 12ga or better... He thought 16 was better than 12

I've got a lot of heavy 10 and 12 ga cords in my truck...

The skill worm 77 and my emglo compressor demand proper size.

my skillsaw 77 (old steel version) and emglo compressor are from about 1990ish era. they demand lots of power or bog down.

 

[kenmac]

Code doesn’t require it but any house I build gets 12 gauge for the garage and exterior outlets.

In my home, Every outlet and every switch /light is 12/2. No 14/2 at all here.
My shop is the same.

 

[4570Man]

In my home, Every outlet and every switch /light is 12/2. No 14/2 at all here.
My shop is the same.

I use 14 gauge everywhere code allows with the exception of the garage and outside outlets. I see zero point to spend more money and work harder cramming it in the box for a circuit that’s never going to do anything. Especially a lighting circuit with LEDs.

 

[grsthegreat]

In my home, Every outlet and every switch /light is 12/2. No 14/2 at all here.
My shop is the same.

I went #12 to every outlet, but I went 14 for lights. But it’s all in steel flex, metal boxes. No romex.

 

[kenmac]

I use 14 gauge everywhere code allows with the exception of the garage and outside outlets. I see zero point to spend more money and work harder cramming it in the box for a circuit that’s never going to do anything. Especially a lighting circuit with LEDs.

it only cost a little more to use 12/2 for all outlets. I didn't have to pull it or stuff it into boxes. That's what the electrician got paid to do.

I didn't really care for the lights being 12/2, but I wanted every outlet 12/2. Electrical guy misunderstood and wired the lights 12/2 as well, and that's ok.

I have lived in homes with outlets 14/2 and I didn't like it , seems like every time I wanted to plug something in it pulled just enough to trip the 15 A breaker. I now don't worry about that

 

[kenmac]

I went #12 to every outlet, but I went 14 for lights. But it’s all in steel flex, metal boxes. No romex.

unless mice develop enough where they can chew through the metal, you shouldn't have any issues LOL

 

[tomplum]

I didn't read the whole thread, but in general freezer manufacturer's don't want it plugged into a GCFI, which your outlet likely is.

 

[ultrarunner]

Yes it is… GFCI with green indicator lamp.

Simply not permitted to have a outside non GFCI outlet unless it is original and predates GFCI adoption.

But for rentals the Housing Rental Inspector can require GFCI even if no ground exists…

Never did make it today… too much to do at my day job.

 

[grsthegreat]

Housing rental inspector? What’s that.