Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help!
 

Free Answers in 3 Easy Steps

Register Now
3 Steps
 


Ask QuestionsprogressAnswer QuestionsprogressBuild ReputationprogressBecome an Expert
 
At Ask Me Help Desk you can ask questions in any topic and have them answered for free by our experts. To ask questions or participate in answering them you must register for a free account. By registering you will be able to:
  • Get free answers from experts in any of our 300+ topics.
  • Accept money for answers that you provide.
  • Communicate privately with other members (PM).
  • See fewer ads.
  Answer this Question    Ask about Tools & Power Equipment    Ask about another Subject  
 

hattieruth
Oct 28, 2009, 08:44 AM
Why is is that all my outdoor power cords have 3 prong polarized plug recepticles and all the outdoor equipment such as blowers, weedwackers, etc have 2 prong nonpolarized plugs? How do I safely connect the one to the other? Also why aren't the cords marked with the proper wattage?

crigby
Oct 28, 2009, 05:34 PM
Hi,
Well your cables may be required to have those plugs even if not used. Generally equipment will use a nonpolarized plug if it makes no differences where the power and neutral are.
You will have to take the wattage on the equipment and divide by 120V to get the current requirement in amps. Generally 18ga is 10A, 14ga is 15A, 12ga is 20A and 10ga is 30A. That said it does matter how long the cord is since the voltage will be reduced by resistance and the equipment wants to produce the same power, it will "try" to draw more current.
Peace,
Clarke

KeepItSimpleStupid
Oct 28, 2009, 06:01 PM
2 prong plugs can be poloraized as well. The neutral is wider. Look closer.