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joseph beck · Feb 23, 2010, 06:02 PM

I have a 12 amp electric lawn mower, I have used a 25' 14ga extension cord which worked well. My question is can I plug two 25' 14ga extension cords together to equal 50'? Or would it be better to use 12ga. Extension cords. Can I mix gauges, say a 25' 14 ga. Plugged into a 12ga 50' cord to obtain 75', or is it a no-no to mix gauges? Thanks for your help, j. beck

cdad · Feb 23, 2010, 06:17 PM

What is the farthest you want to go? Its best to stick with just 1 extension and for high amps the 12ga is fine.

joseph beck · Feb 23, 2010, 06:24 PM

Hello, thank you for your response. I would like to have at least 100' if that's possible, j.beck

cdad · Feb 23, 2010, 06:25 PM

You should be able to find it in that length.

ceilingfanrepair · Feb 23, 2010, 10:53 PM

Someone will yell at me, but I've never been picky about gauge of extension cord, or connecting them together. I just use what's handy. After all, they're only temporary.

KISS · Feb 24, 2010, 02:17 AM

#14 at 50' is a good number. It gives you a 3.2% voltage drop. One cord or two, it doesn't matter. You should be shooting for 3% or less.

#12 at 50' would give you a 2% drop or 2.4 volts.
#14 at 25' would give you a 1.6% or 1.9 volts
Combined would give you (2.4+1.9)/120 would be ~3.6% which isn't too bad.
#12 at 25' would give you 1% or 1.2V

So, lets look at: #12 at 50' + #12 at 25' + #14 at 25'
(2.4+1.2+1.9)/120 = 4.5% not great

#10 at 50; is 1.3% or 1.5 V
So, let's look at:

50' of #10 + 25' of #12 and 25' of #14
(1.5+1.2+1.9)/120 = ~3.8%. Much better.

Use any combination and you can keep the smallest diameter (#14) wire at the mower. 50' of #10, you might have to make and not buy.

I have 100' of #12 flat style from Woods and it's heavy. Take a look at Woods Wire and cable products manufacture | Coleman Cable, Inc..

I think this Amazon.com: Woods 2991 Yellow Jacket 50-Feet 10/3 SJTW Yellow Power Cord with T-Blade Plug 20-Amp/125-Volt Rated with PowerLite Plug: Home Improvement which is #10 at 50' would be an excellent choice for the 50' segment and it would do better in the voltage drop calcs.

So use the 25' #14 for a while and

then 25' of #14 and 25' of #12 to get to 50'

Then 50' of the #10 and 25' of #14 to get to 75'

and then 50' of #10, 25' of #12 and 25' of #14 to get to 100'

Only glitch is that the #10 at 50' would requite a 20A outlet to plug into. The female end accepts bot 15 and 20 Amp plugs.