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I bought an electric corded blower. So I had to buy an extension cord (13 Amp). The 50 ft was just short, so I went for a 100 ft cord.
My question is that could I have bought the 50 ft and plugged in a 25 ft to its end to get my work done. What are the serious consequences of doing this? I have the general hint
At that length unless you're using some cheap azz Chinese extension cord you should be fine. I would get a longer cord simply because the possibility of the connection between cords getting in a wet or water puddle. And you better put a knot at the connection because dragging it around can disconnect the connection and can damage the prongs if you yank or pull off center
As said above get one 100' extension cord for safety sakes. And get one with the heaviest amp rating because there usually is a slight line drop in a 100 ft cord. At least match the amp power of your unit to the amp power rating of the cord. I personally use a 12 amp rated outdoor cord. Covers everything I use outdoors.
If you are plugging that into a "GFCI" outlet (has Test and Reset buttons), then not to worry. Those outlets are designed to protect people working with electrical equipment in wet environments.
With newer homes, outside outlets should all be protected by a GFCI circuit breaker or outlet. Many times one GFCI outlet will be feeding/protecting the other outside outlets. Sometimes the GFCI outlet protecting the outside outlets is in a garage. It may even say what is where inside your breaker panel (don't count on it!).
The other issue is something called "voltage drop". With long runs of wire, the electricity "loses its power"! This is more of a problem with something which uses a lot of electricity like a compressor. Place that at the end of a 100 foot "cheap" extension cord and it may just "humm" - not start running. Christmas lights which use very little electricity and no problem.
Anyway for things which use a lot of electricity and to get them to run properly - get a "large gauge" (size) wire extension cord. Like 12 gauge. These are called "contractor" extension cords and are sold at home improvement stores.
Note it is NOT how big the outside of the wire is!!! Look for the gauge of wire printed on the label. It will be 10, 12, 14, 18, 20, 22. 10 is the largest wire, 22 the smallest.
If it does not say the gauge of wire on the package, do not buy it. Following is a 10 gauge 100 ft. cord for $139.00 (they are not cheap, you get what you pay for)...
I bought the 100 ft, 14 gauge, 13 Amp Husky from HD. I was just wondering if I could have used a 50 ft, 16 gauge, 13 Amp HDX along with 25 ft of 14 gauge, 13 Amp Husky. That would have served my purpose of powering my 12 Amp blower at the reach I need it to be.
Leaf blowers come in a couple of strengths - 7/8 amp and 12/13 amp. In most cases a an 8 amp model is adequate, it just takes a little longer. If you use an extension cord that isn't large enough, you just de-rate and heat the motor and the cord gets warm. In a worst case, you bung up the socket and plug from an overheated connection.
In real life, I've never had a motor fail on a leaf blower, but I HAVE had the bearings fail on a few. That is going to happen irrespective of the voltage powering the unit. Also, power line voltage can fluctuate +- 10% Some days we get voltage at 124 volts, sometimes 114 volts. If I went out on a 124 volt day with a light extension cord, things would be happy. If I tried the same thing at suppertime on a hot summer Friday when voltage can be low, I could cook some equipment as well as my supper.
Leaf blower motors have a LOT of air going through them to cool them. A corded weed whacker would be much more likely to be damaged, as those motors are more compact and have less airflow.
I don't get too bent out of shape with exterior extension cords. I have two water pumps sitting at the end of about 300' of extension cord and they run for hours with the voltage at a little over 105 volts.
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