HOW TO MAKE A SUPER EXTENSION CORD!

Hey Gang! We hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving 🦃
Extension Cord companies aren’t gonna like this one! In this video we show you how to wire up your broken extension cords to make them better, safer, and essentially keep them forever. We hope you pick up a tip or two, let us know what you think! Thanks for watching and we’ll see ya on the next one!

NEW StudPack Winter Merch!

.20-.35 cord OD strain relief #69915K64; .24-.47 cord OD #69915K63; .39-.55 cord OD #69915K67. The box cover is #71695K77

[StudPack]

Hey gang, the part numbers for mcmaster.com are as follows:
.20-.35 cord OD strain relief #69915K64; .24-.47 cord OD #69915K63; .39-.55 cord OD #69915K67. The box cover is #71695K77

[loganwilkins]

I'm 71 years old and have worked in construction since I was 15. I have never had as much information shared with me at one time as I have in this video. I love the fact that the most "minute information" isn't overlooked. I learned as much in 18 minutes as it took me several years to learn. Well done indeed. You sir are amazing at your ability to instruct.

[chanceharvey]

Did something similiar like this once. OSHA ticketed me a $1, 000.00 fine. Stated that although the parts were all UL listed and approved, that the whole extension cord and assembly as itself was not UL Approved. Funny thing tho, couple of years later, you now see the GFIC short corded extensions out there. Also, you can use this setup at home without any legal ramifications, but be wary of using it on a commercial construction site.

[mattrob]

I am a 2nd electrician apprentice, and I am a "why" person that needs to understand why I'm doing something, so I thoroughly enjoy your extended knowledge and the history behind it. Well done!

[penelopelgoss]

Loving it! My dad was an electrical engineer and an electrician and handyman born in 1927. He did a majority of the repairs to our home and 2 motorhomes while I was growing up. There are several of these heavy 16 and 12 guage hand made extension cords with and without boxes. I've already collected quite a few of them. He passed Nov 2022, and we're going through all of his items and selling his home. I'll miss his knowledge and learning from him.

[ProtoNeoVintage]

My dad, honored be his name, made something very similar over 50 years ago. It was mounted on a piece of ply with hooks on the corners to wrap the wire around for storage. We used to pour a lot of concrete and needed an extension cord that "could cope". It is sitting in my garage as we speak.

[rideoregonfirst]

As an electrician who has an extension cord modified just like this at home because it works so well and make so much sense at home...., but be aware that on a Construction Site, OSHA could absolutely give you a fine for having a "modified" extension cord. Cords are only still "Listed" if never damaged or cut, or also only if using a "Listed" replacement end connector designed for that portable purpose. Excellent video, and this is waaaay better (and completely safe, IMO) than many, many bad cord fixes I've seen over the years.

[billj]

Explaining "the hows and the whys, and the whys behind the whys" is one of the best parts of your videos. Plus you have good video of the details. I appreciate knowing why things are done and how things should be done so they work better. Too many people are happy to just put things together and call it done.

[grocerygetter]

I've NEVER seen ANY tradesman explain something in such detail! I learned a lot. Didn't know you could attach a Hayco to an electrical box. Never knew what the holes on my wire strippers were for! And didn't know that electrical screws were #6-32. Very helpful tips about all the different 'ear' options on an outlet too.

[nyknight]

My father who passed away made me a 2 gang box cord like this 20 years ago. It was starting to show its age so I updated it using your video. Thanks so much for helping me keep this memory of him alive.

[AALHADES]

I have made these with an addition. I mounted the metal box on a 10"-12"square of plywood so that when I pull my tool cord out I can use just one hand and step on the box. Without it I either have to step on the box, which may have 3 other cords plugged in, or hold the box down with one hand and pull out the cord with another. It also keeps the box facing up no matter how I pull the cord around. I also spray painted it NASA orange to let it be easily seen on a busy jobsite.

[firstmkb]

I’m a homeowner and knew all of the “big” things, but missed so many of the details you showed along the way! The hole in the wire cutters for making loops, the drywall ear removal, and other standard features I never noticed. Great video!

[MikeMuncher]

This is how you do an instructional video! No filler, but TONS of information presented in a friendly and conversational manner. Thanks for that!

[williamwinder]

Pro Tip: save the screws that come with the receptacles and switches if you don't need them. They are the exact same size as the screws for cover plates. You just might have to trim them.

[robincross]

I'm a retired broadcast engineer. For remotes for the radio station, we had 3/4 inch plywood cut into an 'H' shape. The horizontal was wide [high]. Wide enough to screw the metal box to it. The verticals were to keep the extension cord from falling off. This gave a nice place to wind up the whole thing which made it easier to carry. I could go further about how to wind up an extension cord so that it never gets tangled. Enjoy.

[bigdaddeo]

My father made something like this when he was building our house in the late 1950's. Of course, without the ground fault. I still have it. For that build, he was everything from mason to plumber to electrician to roofer. He built the entire house himself over about 3 years.

[joejoe-lbbw]

This video should get a DIY Oscar award! So well done and explained. Bonus, no drama or soundtrack, just the details.

[jasonstarr]

ok, so 45 years ago, when I joined up with my father's small painting and remodeling business, we expanded into ground up construction over about ten years. At two different points I had journeyman electricians working for me, and from them I learned a great deal about electrical installations and repairs. However, this is one of the best and most common sense technical explanations I've ever received on things electrical. Now I'm not doing construction for anyone else, but on the new homestead, will be doing a lot of it, and with no electricity run to the buildings at the back of the place (two acres is a lot bigger than the standard 1/4 acre home site!), I have some fabulous heavy duty 12g extension cords from the old days. Definitely will be building a box like this! Thanks for the instruction.

[Thousand_yard_King]

I'm an aviation technician, and back in the 1980s I decided that I was sick of my extension cords getting destroyed all the time so I started putting on the four place gang boxes on the end with hospital grade males on the other end, I've made all of mine this way since then. The strain relief is a new addition on their hard to find. I used to put a spring over my wires and wrap it around the two screws for the clamp to create my own strain relief

[lrblouie]

I've wired a ton of receptacles and switches but I learned a bunch of new stuff with this video - one, how to properly cut the sleeve; the second you can use a interchangeable screw driver to tighten the wire nut (who knew!!!). Awesome!