How To Make The Best Extension Cord [Less than $20]

Walk-in any hardware store or look online and you'll see why you need to learn how to make the best extension cord for your garage or shop. Extension cords made from 12/3 wire routinely cost more than $1 per foot. Hence, a good quality 100-foot extension cord costs about $110 at Home Depot or Lowes. So the next time one of the outlets goes bad on your extension cord, you may think twice about throwing that away. For about $15 and 15 minutes, you can build the best extension cord you'll ever use. Ok, maybe we're being a little ambitious, but this is a very robust and heavy-duty extension cord, making use of your existing wire.
#diy #howto #homedepot

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[paulelliott]

Cords from broken vacuum cleaners make great extension cords for the next vacuum :)

[ginopumadera]

Hi Tim, I’m impressed not only at the utility of this video, but at the hands on usefulness of the content you are making available. Keep up the awesome work !!!!

[andymacpherson]

Hi Tim... Mount the back box onto a piece of wood with a Y at both ends, wrap the cord round the wood using the Y to keep cord tidy... This will help protect the back box .. and also ensures the cord is unwound before use ... We Used to make extension cords this way for the Royal Navy .. Keep up the good work Andy UK ..

[robertfrate]

Hi Tim, excellent job from trash to quality extension, done that many times and it’s awesome, excellent demonstration ty, Bob,

[jafinch]

Nice! I grew up with a few Dad made when I was younger. Neat timing too, my nephew just asked about welding with a generator since he wasn't confident using an extension cord and I tried to explain ohms law, rating devices and that you can do both. Mainly need to use a transmission that can handle the current. This reminded me I picked up 40ft 10/4 cord for an excellent price from a scrapper for something like $25 a few years back. Ended the FB messaging with, you can use that cord if your not using more than 30A welder... or at least that's what I thought offhand. Need to verify before setting up and write down the circuit and do the math. Anyways, I'm no expert at this... though I found for repairing cords where the inner wire insulation is good, I like the self sealing silicone tape with a little type 1 silicone on the end to prevent unraveling. Guessing can do the same with electricians tape, though sometimes that material gets stiffer seems... though maybe that's the non 3M brands. I even have a table saw that has an old style screw in fuse and switch that's like your design and I've seen some use light bulb sockets as well for a limiter.

[Spanky]

During the Christmas sales 2023, I was able to find a 12 guage Southwire extension cord for $45 on Amazon. Last I checked it was $60 for the same 100 foot that I got, which is awesome. I was waiting for prices like this for 2 years and I couldn't be happier. I can finally have a extension cord to my shed, for saws and/or lighting. I will probably only run 1 or 2 different items at a time, so 12 guage is all I will need for a 15 Amp circular saw or lighting and delicate sanding or soldiering. I couldn't be happier. 😊

[burnedupsparkytipsandrevie]

As a sparky I say good job only thing I’d recommend would be use a nema 3R water proof box, and a kellems grip (took way too much googling to find the official name) we make these all the time at work for food booths and temp lighting

[randysmith]

I just started watching this video but I agree on the upgrade. I used a flexible strain relief and a Red Hospital grade GFCI on the left and a Red Hospital grade outlet. Both are the 20 Amp style with the duel blade opening.
Thanks for another great video brother. This is a great tip.

[NWGR]

I've made a few of these. I prefer to use pigtails for all connections though. That way if the first outlet dies, the second will still work.

[robertsneed]

Very, very nice idea to make a 4 outlet plug with the extension cord. 👍🏾

[toycoma]

Cool, i didn't know you can do that. At my old job, I found a ryobi electric pressure washer in the dumpster, cut the 25ft. power cord and made a extension cord out of it, but only a single outlet. Took the pressure washer itself out the tubular frame then put a milk crate in it that fits perfectly.

[ExecMoose]

Company I used to work for made their own extension cords with 12-3 stranded from a roll. Really nice cords with replaceable parts. Then we got a new HR guy, and the first thing he did was make maintenance remove them from service and replace them with OSHA approved cords. Which sucked because cords that were plentiful, were then hard to come by because for a shop running 3 shifts 24/7 with around 300 people total, there were about 20 cords which everyone fought over.

[ice]

Hey Tim great video I made the same box but in the back where you were looking at the holes I put silicone in to keep water from getting in easy in case I'm working in a little slight wet area.

[hdlivemodels]

Next time flip one outlets so the hot terminals are in the center and the neutrals are on the outside. Use the holes on the rear for two or four screw mount magnets. You can stick it to any metal on a jobsite keeping it off the floor. It will also stick to a truck bed, tailgate, tow hitch if doing a lot of work out of the truck.

[apopkahollands]

One good idea is while you have the end off of the cord, go ahead and slide heat shrink over the wire to fix any nicks or abrasions in the wire sheath. Much better than electrical tape.

[msla]

Just found your tutorial and it's very informative, just what I needed. If you wanted to use this extension cord outside, could you use a box with a cover? This would be great for Christmas lights.

[catboypleasepet-jtot]

might want some outside plugs as well just to protect from rain if your using as a outside extension cord

[Literature-ftru]

Can you make a raintight alternative that extends outward for a plug? If its raintight and plastic, thats going to be job rated if you do your wiring properly it will be up to electrical safety specifications and there will be no grounds to not allow the use of it on site in my opinion.

[jerrysato]

Great info, very helpful … thank you!!!

[SRCardow]

You did an excellent job explaining what and why you are doing assembly.
But, First you shouldn't modify and extension cords at home and definitely not to a workplace as it is no longer rated as an extension cord.
If you employees people in your shop you do come under OSHA most likely General Industry not Construction they can have their electricians make extension cords with rules and inspections monthly. :)

But if you must at least use the right box.
A FS box with single hub or weatherproof box with all unused hubs blocked off, doesn't make it waterproof.
Glad you used a strain relief many others don't.
Connecting stranded wire to screws not wrapped around properly.
Glad you chose the commercial grade receptacle which clamps wire, works with solid and stranded wire.
Not all devices can use stranded wire, so not a good practice.
Box grounded kudos for that many video don't ground it.
Should have used green screw for ground
And please do not use in any wet location.

Just because it works doesn't make it right.