How Many Amps Will A 12/3 Extension Cord Support?

Question

I know it is 20A, but convince my wife..

Answer 1

It's 20 amps.

Although it will take as much as 30, the electrical code in most North American states only allows for 20 amps.

You two get along!

Answer 2

12 3 Extension Cord

Answer 3

10 3 Extension Cord

Answer 4

I don't know if I can covince your wife or not but here's the real deal...

"14/3" written on a cable tells us that the wires inside are 14 gauge, and that there are 3 of them. 12/3 means, you guessed it, 12 gauge. Something that says 14/2 or 10/2 has only 2 conductors (i.e. no ground wire) inside, and should not be used as an extension cord. By the way, the lower the gauge number, the bigger the wire, the more power it can handle. Ten gauge and 12 gauge are heavy duty.

You must choose your extension cords with your power consumption in mind. Assuming you've done your math, you can use the information below to help choose extension cords that are capable of safely handling the load you're planning to put on them.

14 gauge stranded copper wire is rated for 12-15 Amps.
12 gauge stranded copper wire is rated for 18-20 Amps.
10 gauge stranded copper wire is rated for 25-30 Amps.
A standard Edison plug (3-prong household outlet) is usually rated for 15 Amps.

All electrical conductors and connectors should have their current rating listed on them somewhere, but sometimes they don't. You must never assume that using two different outlets in a room means you're using two different circuits. Usually the outlets in a room are on the same circuit, and very often that circuit extends to ceiling fixtures or outlets in other rooms as well. So don't think you're safe because you plugged three 1K's into three different plugs in someone's living room! If you don't know enough about house wiring to determine what circuits you're using, find someone who does, or use fewer or smaller lights to avoid possible overloads. Better yet, shoot outside! Hope this helps...

Answer 5

#12 wire (depending on the type) is rated for 25 to 30 amps. That being said the receptacles in your home are only rated at 15 or 20 amps maximum. The circuit breaker feeding the recetacle will trip when you are drawing over the current it is rated for. Just a side note as well, when explaining the type of cord you are looking at never count the ground wire. 12/3 wire means that you have two "hots" a neutral and a ground. I am sure your extention cord is 12/2.

Answer 6

As stated in the National Electrical Code book 20 amps is what it's rated but in reality you shouldn't load anymore than 15 amps.Also you have to consider how long it is and how many coonections you have through out the circuit.I'm assuming you are hooking up christmas lights so if you have several connections in a length of cord you will loose a small percentage as you go.

Answer 7

This may help. The copper house wiring the makes up the branch circuits ( the ones that go to the outlets) generally is 12 gauge wire. The circuit breaker that protects such a branch circuit is typically a 20 amp breaker. A 15 amp circuit is generally made up of 14 ga. wire ( a slightly smaller diameter wire ).

Answer 8

20 amps is the common breaker used for 12 guage wire. A 15amp breaker is used for 14 guage wire. The breaker will pop before the wire burns so in reallity the wire should be able to carry a little more than 20 amps but I wouldn't test it. Look in the UGLY's electrical code book to confirm what I'm telling you is acurate or simply head over to Home Depot in the electrical wire dept. there is a chart hanging on the wall telling the amperage each size wire will cary.

Answer 9

hey wife, it is 20 amps. To check this, touch you right index finger to the hot wire and stand in a puddle of water with a copper wire run between the puggle and a good grounding stake outdoors. You will be convinced.

Answer 10

R L,
16/3=Approx. 10 amps
14/3=Approx. 15 amps
12/3=Approx. 20 amps
10/3=Approx. 30 amps
These are approximate numbers and they don't hold true all the time, but they are a good ball park standard.
TDCWH