I have an outlet that is dead by the refrigerator. Can I use an extension cord temporarily and what would be the minimum? It is a small apartment sized refrigerator.
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How long a run to the next good outlet?– bibCommented Aug 22, 2016 at 23:44
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What is the amperage of the refrigerator?– bibCommented Aug 22, 2016 at 23:55
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I would buy the shortest appliance rated cord that will reach the nearest outlet. No don't use that 50 or 100 foot orange 16/3 cord from the garage.– TysonCommented Aug 23, 2016 at 1:38
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There should be a tag on the back of the fridge or possibly on its cord. This tag should specify its electrical requirements: some combination of amps, volts, and watts. Could you edit your question to include that information?– user4302Commented Aug 23, 2016 at 14:41
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1 Answer
Wire gauge tables for 16AWG list the maximum carrying current from 4 to 10 amps continuous; for 18AWG, 2 to 5 amps (for under 50-ft lengths, at least). I think it's unlikely that your fridge draws more than 2 amps under any conditions ( if you have a tag on the unit which lists watts, just divide watts by 120 (voltage) to get amps), so any extension cord you have will be fine. However, if the fridge has a 3-prong plug, be sure to use a matching 3-wire extension cord for grounding safety.
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Since it is a residual refrigerator simply buy a #12 extension, it will be an overkill but it will come in useful later.– GilCommented Dec 14, 2022 at 1:22