Do power cords occasionally get hot from having a high amount of electricity go through them....... Fire risk?

Answer 1

Yes .The more current through them the hotter they get . If enough current is drawn through the cord a fire hazard does exist .

Answer 2

Yes, they do. And yes, if it's severe enough, it can be a fire hazard.

For example, a vacuum cleaner has like a 20 foot cord and draws 10 or so amps. The cord will get warm, but not too hot or dangerous.

But, if a thin extension cord is used with something that draws a lot of current, like a power saw, compressor, etc., the cord can get excessively hot. Once it gets hot enough, the plastic can melt, expose the wires, and spark leading to a fire hazard.

So, the cords that come with equipment should be adequate for their intended use. But, for large, high-power devices, always use an extension cord thick enough and rated for the current being drawn.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Yes. Big difference between "hot" and "warm" though. If you are referring to the cord on some device, then have it checked by a competent service person. That is an indication that it is drawing too much current for some reason. If you mean an extension cord that gets "warm", that indicates too much load on the cord at that time. Reduce the load or use a heavier cord. In both cases, if "warm" is more like "hot", yes, big fire hazard!!!

Answer 4

yes and yes! It's due to what we call overload. The fuse is supposed to blow to protect from overload, but it doesn't always work. Electrical fire is a real risk. Spread out the load...plug stuff in at different places.