Power Extension Buyer’s Guide
Power extensions are a basic home item that most people need at least one of. They make charging and using electrical devices much easier because you do not need to unplug a device every time you want to insert a new one.
There are many features to consider before buying an extension. Here are some of the most important ones as well as a few tips to make buying easier.
Thick Cords
Thickness of the wires in the extension cord matters. The thickness of the cord determines how much power you can give your devices safely. Many power extensions can give power to a number of different devices including lights, stereos, and battery chargers.
You should also be able to charge common devices all at the same time including computers, phones, watches, etc.
Cord thickness is listed as a gauge number. The larger the number, the smaller the wires are. Most of the time, you should not get a cord with a number less than 14 AWG.
A number less than that doesn’t give very much reliable power and your devices might not be charged very efficiently.
Indoor Versus Outdoor: Buy The Right One
There are different extension cords for indoor and outdoor uses. Outdoor extension cords are typically built stronger and are meant to allow you to use devices that need more electricity including tools and lights.
Many people use outdoor extension cords when they want to power saws or other tools in the garage. This is helpful when you want to work on something like a home improvement project or when you want to use equipment to clean the car.
Indoor power extension cords are completely different. They are only meant to power low-electricity devices like phones and computers. Try to get at least one indoor and one outdoor cord for your home so you are not stuck trying to interchange them.
Make Sure the Cord Is Flexible
You want to make sure you have an extension outlet that has strong and flexible cords. This allows you to move it around and put it under furniture or behind furniture without needing to worry about it breaking or being damaged.
These kinds of extensions are easier to use in tight spaces. If you need to travel with it, you also don’t have to worry about it breaking or snapping if it gets tangled in your suitcase.
Budget
Power extensions come at all different prices. Our products range from less than $10 to several hundred dollars. The price depends on the make and model. It also depends on the type of cord and the number of outlets it has.
In general, the bigger the extension, the more money it will cost. The more outlets on the extension, the higher the price. Try to only get the number of outlets you think you will actually use so that you are not spending more money than necessary.
Number of Plugs
The great thing about power extensions is that they come in all different sizes. You can get one with 4 or 5 outlets or you can get one with 10 or more outlets. The most common size is 6 outlets but there are much larger sizes if you need them.
You can also get power extensions with other features when needed. There are some extensions that come with covers for the outlets you are not using. This is a great feature for those that have small children.
You can also get power extensions for the types of devices you use. Different countries have different plugs. You can get an extension with the plugs your country uses so you do not need to buy adaptors.
Final Thoughts
Power extensions are extremely useful. Having a few around the home makes using all your appliances and devices much easier. They can also protect your devices since many extensions have built-in surge protectors.
With the wide variety of extensions on our site, finding the best one for your needs is easy.
