Best Extension Cord? Flexzilla, US Wire, Yellow Jacket, Southwire, Husky, Woods, Bergen Industries
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- Опубликовано: 30 июл 2022
- 15 extension cords: Project Source, Vanguard, Woods, Yellow Jacket, Southwire, Husky, Utilitech, Snow joe, Flexzilla Pro, Bergen Industries, GoGreeen, US Wire, and US Wire Extreme. Extension cords tested for voltage drop, cold temperature flexibility, extension cord end performance, cord tensile strength, extension cord end separation strength, jacket abrasion resistance, and jacket puncture resistance. The comparison is for 14 gauge extension cords. A 10, 12 and 16 gauge cord is also used to demonstrate the impact wire gauge has on extension cord performance. Please let me know if you'd like a 12 gauge extension cord comparison. I purchased all of the extension cords and supplies used to test the cords. So, thank you for supporting the channel.
➡ Thank you for supporting the channel through memberships:
/ @projectfarm
➡ Thank you very much for supporting the channel through Patreon: / projectfarm
➡ An easy way to find past videos along with products tested: bit.ly/2FCrBpk A big thanks to Jim for putting this together.
➡ Merch: project-farm.com
➡ Click here if you'd like to subscribe: / @projectfarm
➡ As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
➡ Products Tested In This Video (in no particular order):
US Wire Extreme: amzn.to/3vqa9f4
Woods: amzn.to/3OJ8cBc
Yellow Jacket 14 gauge: amzn.to/3Sbjl0o
Yellow Jacket 10 gauge: amzn.to/3SbKDE7
Southwire 14 gauge: amzn.to/3zmsT0e
Southwire 12 gauge: amzn.to/3cPyAMg
Husky: amzn.to/3oFZid7
Snow Joe: amzn.to/3beIQxa (no longer available)
Flexzilla Pro: amzn.to/3cOXewt
Bergen Industries: Available at Lowes
GoGreen: Available at Lowes
US Wire: Available at Home Depot
Utilitech: Available at Lowes
Vanguard: Available at Harbor Freight
Energy Use Analyzer/Meter: amzn.to/3PNQVrQ
Extension cord reel: amzn.to/3PIjsPD
Videography Equipment:
Sony DSC-RX10 III Cyber-shot Digital Still Camera: amzn.to/2YdXvPw
Canon 70D Camera: amzn.to/31b5Gy0
Azden Microphone: amzn.to/34d3DLE
Go Pro Bundle: amzn.to/3Ca0ZVN
This video is only for entertainment purposes. If you rely on the information portrayed in this video, you assume the responsibility for the results. Project Farm LLC 
Хобби
Pro tip, if you ever want to prevent your good extension cords from growing legs and walking off when you take them somewhere like camping, wrap electrical tape around the cord in a couple spots, it'll make people think it's a bad cord and they'll leave it alone
A few pieces of poorly wrapped duct tape works great for that too!
LOVE IT 😂
lol. Great tip!!
My dad did the same thing... only he chopped them up a bit first with the electric lawn mower...
@@campbellpaul 😄
I can only imagine what kind of impact you've made on not only consumers choosing the best product for their budget, but also encouraging manufacturers to up their game compared to their competitors. Excellent work!
I wish manufacturers tried to make the best product. Anymore it looks like a race to the bottom and the big brand name just means they charge more.
@@31dknight Yes it seems that engineers and designers go to school to learn not how to make the best product for a human to use, but how to make the cheapest facsimile of a product, so that appears to be the product, but is just junk masquerading.
@@31dknight that's true of big box stores. Thankfully we can buy stuff from anywhere online these days. The Japanese don't seem to have an issue with making low quality stuff; they and the Germans take pride in the stuff they produce
It's called planned obsolescence. It is junk so you have to buy more and do it more often.
I bought several things, from pliers to oil based on his testing
I love how even when he spends hours coming up with and doing these tests, not to mention the money, he also does more tests off camera and just gives us the data. That's just going the extra mile for the viewer, the puncture test was a nice addition which definitely wasn't necessary, but extremely appreciated
Thanks!
He has almost 3M subscribers for a reason. 🙂
The tests he came up with are really creative.
As a contractor that has bought scores of cords, my most important criteria are wire gauge (Skil-saws draw up to 15 amps.) and coil ability (as at the end of the day they need to be put away). We use twist lock cords to prevent disconnection or tie a knot where the tool and cord meet.
I love these tests and often use them to direct my tool purchases! Thank you so much Project Farm for all the hard work and inventive testing protocols!
Thanks and you are welcome!
do contractors ever really sign contracts tho
So what would be your go to cord? The 10 gauge?
You can have a 4/0 entrance cable with a sorry connection its no different than a #16 gauge cord .
It never ceases to amaze me just how well these videos are put together. This man is a national treasure and must be protected at all costs!
Thank you! This means a lot to me!
We could send him to area 51 where he will be very protected and could upload some amazing videos testing alien ships and devices. 🛸
Ask will Smith for clearance, he's been there twice lol.
Nicholas Cage has entered the room.
well said, agreed
National ??? World Treasure you mean, his the best and very great dedication on every video, just pure data.
Now more then ever consumers truly need the kind of high quality and unbiased tests PF performs, especially because the majority of tests are viewer suggested increasing their relevance to us. Keep up the great work, cause they just keep getting better & better!
Thank you!
It's pretty clear that there are a lot of fake product reviews on Amazon and any of the major big box websites. But PF is always reliable for me!
@@GunWillTravel I couldn't agree more!
I totally agree!
The only issue with this channel is that I usually am not able to find ANY of those products being available in the other side of the globe :(
Except for a few very well known international brands (Makita, DeWalt)
I've been happy with my 100 foot long, 12 gauge Yellow Jacket cable. The lighted end indicating current is a wonderful feature, and the 12 gauge delivers power well for the 100 foot length. Used mostly for an electric lawnmower, the cable lays flat on the lawn and has some weight so it's not easily sucked into the mower blade (this was tested on more than one occasion 😄).
Thanks for sharing.
Corded mower?
@@jesseshasteen8158 probably a electric reel mower maybe
@@swirlyboi8484 Maybe, but what I use and what I mostly see for corded electric are just your basic horizontal blade mower, just like a typical gasoline mower except with an electric motor (and usually a bit smaller, 18-20" instead of 20+", good for smaller lawns). I like them because they are quite, cool, lightweight, nearly maintenance-free, and I never have to mess with gasoline or oil.
Mine is a Black-n-Decker model MM675, it's about 24 years old now and probably has over 1000 hours on it. Back when it was new cordless electrics were not really available because rechargeable batteries were pretty crappy (NiCad mostly, I don't recall even NiMh being commonly available yet), so if you wanted electric, corded was the only realistic option. If I ever need to replace mine I might consider a cordless now that lithium batteries are available, but it's hard to beat the low cost and infinite run time of a cord.
😂😂😂@@jesseshasteen8158
Thank you for continuing to present logical, well edited videos and tests that have good content. I appreciate the hours it takes to get the product, build the fixtures, develop the tests, and produce such content.
Thanks and you are welcome!
When it comes to tools and thing that guys actually use PF is the absolute best at letting us know what's out there. I've made a bunch of purchases from the recommendation from PF videos and I couldn't be happier ☺️
Me too. I look here first before buying now
Thank you!!
Me too. I only buy what he says is good!
Ditto .
When I pitched this idea, I never imagined there were so many ways to test it! Thanks so much Todd, your dedication to your work is inspiring.
Thank you for recommending this one!! I'll put together a round 2 on 12 AWG brands if there's enough interest and will include a couple of more tests.
@@ProjectFarm please include Rigid as it is my goto brand for extension cords in 12 AWG, I do like cords that light up to know it's plugged in as well as having 3 receptacle ends because splitters get lost.
@@ProjectFarm Ha! I guess by the time I suggested it last month, you already had it in the pipeline. :) Nice job on the testing!
@@ProjectFarm sounds great!! Test 10AWG ones too!!
@@ProjectFarm Yes, 12 gauge would be a good follow up. Please add a jacket melting test of some sort.
I'm amazed at your creativity for inventing those tests after you decided what characteristics to test. These tests are just getting better and better! Thank you so much!
Thanks and you are welcome!
Looking at the extension cords in my garage (average homeowner), the problems I see are abrasions or tears in the outside jacket and the ends pulling away, so abrasion resistance, puncture resistance, and end failure are most important. The Husky comes out on top for my criteria. Great review as always.
Thanks so much!
Thank you for your comment. It's bizarre to read such a straightforward and helpful comment that isn't plagued with desperate attempts to be cute.
I step on my extension cords too often, and I've found that the ones that feature stronger plug blades also tend to snap when straightened back out. The folded blade type are easier to bend, yes, but they always straighten back out without ruining the plug.
Thank you for the feedback!
I've had the same experiences.
I try to plug the extension cord back into itself when I am not using it. Helps avoid bending the blades, but not always possible to do that.
They can only bend so many times before they fatigue and snap. Had to replace a plug on a shop vac a month or 2 ago for that reason
It is better to damage the extension cord than an outlet, I think that flexibility in the plug is an engineered safety.
I use the US Wire Extreme to plug my truck in over the winters here in Fairbanks, AK and was not surprised to see how well it did on the -40 test. It's the only cord I have found that stays flexible when the temperatures drop and its interesting to see how it stayed as the only cord to receive a "1" rating.
Impressive! You've seen temperatures at -40F and colder many times for sure!!
I frequently hit -40 in northern MN also. I usually just give up with trying to bend extension cords when it gets really low...
Rigid makes a nice ext. Cord for the cold we dont even take the husky out the truck after fall... we don't get quite that cold here in Michigan tho
@@sminthian Whats that’s crazy I live in East Central Wisconsin and we get -15° at worst in the winter usually like -5° and that plenty cold enough can’t imagine -40°. 🥶🥶
@@sminthian I got a friend who was hauling pipe for one of the pipe lines. Minus 47. Most of the guys were gelling. He somehow was fueling with jet fuel and had no issues. Never heard of that till him.
Excellent video and test methods. Being an electrical contractor and a sound guy, I use extension cords a lot. Most seem to hold up pretty well. I have had good luck with Yellow Jacket cords from 14-10 gage. They aren't cheap but are flexible and pretty durable. I particularly like the light up plugs. Have used Husky, Woods, Dewalt and other than the Woods they all were satisfactory. I would never use a 16 gage extension for anything. Those cheap white or green cords that are sold around Christmas are junk and could burn your house down. I mostly use 12 gage wires for current flow and durability. Keep up the good job!!
Thanks, will do!
I love how completely unbiased your videos. You tell us at the end which one you think is the best value, but with all the tests you come up with, we can really prioritize what features or areas of performance that are most important to us.
Great work, keep it up 👍
Thanks, will do!
Two ideas spurred from this test:
1) Replacement ends for damaged extension cords. Would love to know which ones are worth buying.
2) Retractible cord reels. So many garbage ones out there.
Thanks!
1) Hubbell is pricey but extremely good. HBL5266C plug, HBL5269C receptacle. Pass & Seymour/Legrand makes a passable substitute, but it's not as good.
@@PaulSteMarie Would be nice to see something like that with a strain relief built in. I used something similar a few years ago but the cable took a beating at the junction.
@@WordupG Have you seen the strain relief on a Hubbell plug? It's pretty massive. The cable will snap before you can pull it out.
as far as replacement cord ends. Proper installation is a big factor. If money isn't a concern, the Hubbells and P&S Legrands are Beef. I also find the black rubber/plastic Levitons are good too. Handles up to 12awg SJOOW and takes punishment well. Also you can buy in bulk on amazon for like $4 ea. Fun Fact, Hubbell industrial cord ends are compatible with Hubbell cord grips/strain reliefs. The function like chinese fingers and attach to the 2 screws used for the stock cord relief. Not a fan of the Hubbell hinged caps. The Harbor freight ends are junk, and anything built like it too.
Retracting air hose reels and water hose reels too!
With Project Farm, I can always click on the "Like" button before the video even starts... I am confident that the testing will be consistent, fair, and well engineered. It doesn't hurt matters any that Todd is pleasant, well-spoken, and has a sense of humor to boot! This channel is a boon to RUclips!
Thanks so much!
Agreed 👍!
Check out "BOLTR" or "AVE" on YT Different guy different tests different stuff & he has a hell of a lot of knowledge. His language may be harsh(I call normal) so he also does not have sponsors nor does he flucking care. You never see him as he is not promoting him. He checks out new electrical equipment.
@@bunzeebear2973 you aint right
Lmao I do that as well. This man is worth his weight in gold!
Hi Todd!
Just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to read through the results at the end of the video. I know it is as time consuming just as planning and executing the whole video. In some videos you do not do it, and though it is not hard for us going back and forth, analyzing the results (for what is important to each of us) and coming back to the end again, it is very helpful to have you also sum everything up with your own words. I really appreciate it. Thank you!
Thanks and you are welcome!
Thank you for reviewing an item so universally owned and employed! Whether you use it every day or only rarely, no other tool is more taken for granted when you have the exact one(s) that you need - or, more longed for when you don't - than the ubiquitous extension cord ♾
Thank you for sharing!
I bought a 75 dollar 12 gauge extension last year, and have never regretted it. I know this isn't what most people look for, but here in the south, how cords take the heat is more important than how they do in cold temperatures. I have had a plug melt on me when running under my carport, in the shade.
Thanks for sharing.
Sure, but which one and how did you decide it would perform better?
I wish Project farm guy did a maximum current test under hot conditions like 95f. How much current can go through before the insulation melts.
For me, in Canada, cold weather numbers is more important than heat. I wait till all the snow is gone when I wrap up the 14 GA wire I use for my vehicle (We have to plug in a block heater, if parking on the street over night, or may not be able to turn over in the morning!), as trying to wrap it up when very cold is hard.
I'm glad I don't have to deal with the plugs melting...
I'm having to put together a replacement power cord for a small dairy pasteurizer. The original cord plug _roasts_. The rest of the cord is cool as can be.
Outstanding tests as always. Great close ups and testing methods! Thank you! A++
Thank you very much!! I always enjoy your videos too! Great repair video you published today!
As I watched your video I kept thinking surely he has done enough tests, but you kept coming up with creative tests. Seriously, as always the best channel on RUclips for tool comparison. Great job, your videos are so helpful.
I am always amazed at how you quantify which item is best. That is a very difficult thing to do but your tests are very real world. Excellent job as always!
I really appreciate the final breakdown where you explain different scenarios where a particular cord might excel over the others. I find that most helpful when I'm actually going to buy an item and just need a quick reference. Your videos are greatly appreciated.
Glad it was helpful!
When I lived in Alaska, I had a US Wire Extreme to plug in my engine block heater. When not in use, I kept it in a bucket in my extended cab and none of my orange covered ones would go in the bucket after use. Like you found, it was very easy to work with in the cold and had no problem getting it to coil up into the bucket.
That orange jacket is really cheap PVC. It's pretty stiff in cold temps.
@@1pcfred
UK bloke here.
I've got an extension cord on a reel made by B&Q, a DIY outlet over here. Said cord is bright orange, it's over 18 years old, the insulation (jacket?) Is still in excellent fettle and it's super flexible even in very cold conditions (like lying in snow for a couple of days). It also refuses to get any significant damage inflicted on its self in use, it gets used A LOT to this day. The cord on a Flymo hover mower is also seemingly the same type of cord and doing just as well at the same age.
A case of 'they don't make 'em like the used to'?!
@@skylined5534 I'm sure they can make orange insulation that's decent. There's a common kind that's pretty bad though. It's a bright orange and usually has fine ribs.
I love how you just blast out solid information. There isn't 1 second where I feel I can leave the video, even if I wanted to!
Thanks!
The details in your reviews are outstanding. I'm an engineer and I really appreciate having so many facts.
Thanks!
Right on time for another video from the most valuable consumer channel on RUclips!
Thank you!
You tested the cords more thoroughly than anyone I know, including myself. Kudos for the great review. Much appreciate the hard work and not accepting sponsorship. 👍
Some ideas for future videos: coolants, caulking, electrical tape, LED headlights, leather cleaner/conditioner, stain remover, etc
Thank you for the video idea!
@@ProjectFarm Coolant would be good.
the headlamps please
I would like to see condoms tested.... Because having a failure here is life changing.
I dont think that is gonna happen...
I have a Consumer Reports subscription but I still check your channel first. Thank you for always providing great reviews and testing. Your channel is such a blessing.
I appreciate that! Thanks!
I have the Flexzilla brand in service and besides the neon-green color fading rather quickly, it's been a very good cord.
Thanks, as always, for the effort! We are just as grateful to you, as you are to us, and I imagine a side-benefit is the possibility test-failing companies will take note.
You are welcome! Thanks for sharing.
As a construction worker that uses extension cords daily, the softer cords are usually preferred. The harder jackets are stuff and a huge pain to roll up. When winter rolls around the hard jacket cords retain the shape of however they were rolled and are hard to work with. I feel like that's why the more expensive cords are the softer polymer jacketed ones.
Thanks for the feedback
For the very same reason that I use rubber or rubber blend air hoses. I had some sort of blue hard plastic air hose that even in warm weather was an absolute nightmare to handle. However it was a lot cheaper. It is only used as the first leg of an air hose extension if I need to go longer distances.
The "tripping hazard demonstration" got me!
I'm always amazed with the experiments and tests you come up with to test products! All are very thorough and well thought out in terms of real world use.
I hope Cousin Eddie is ok and doesn’t decide to sue!
I just want you know that everyone that I have talked to loves your channel as much as I do you have the best comprehensive reviews on general use products
Thanks so much!
Thank you very much for your videos! Glad I found you! You’re my go to when I get on RUclips. Always watching your videos first! 🤙🏽
You are welcome!
I have been waiting a long time for your testing on extension cords! Thank you for doing this, Todd!
Thank you very much!
The fact you have 2.5M subs and yet you still respond to a vast majority of comments is incredible. Channels with way less subs don’t take the time to respond at all so huge props to you man we all love you and appreciate your hard work 🤙🏻❤️
Thanks so much!
First video I’ve seen of yours. Love all of the detail you give. Keep up the good work.
Thank you, will do!
I think it's amazing that he can reply to all comments, that shows he cares about the viewers
Thanks!
Holy cow! This is a BRILLIANT idea for something to test! I'm excited for this one!!
Thank you!
For the tensile strength tests, it would likely be better to have a milli-ohm meter measuring the extension's roundtrip resistance to find out the point at which the conductors got compromised (either rising resistance from breaking strands or falling resistance from conductors getting crushed together and shorting through the insulation) which could be quite a while before total mechanical cord failure for fiber-reinforced cords.
Exactly what I was thinking
His voltage drop test is an even more effective way to measure the exact same thing... wire resistance... only in a live test. The higher the resistance, the higher the voltage drop.
@@n2omike Ripping a live cable sounds like a completely unnecessary burn, fire and electrical shock hazard. Another problem with the two kill-a-watt approach is you need to check calibration between the two or all your measurements will be off by the mismatched offsets and slopes.
@@teardowndan5364 A milli-ohm measurement isn't taken under a load or voltage.
@@stevebrennan9860 How does a four wires milli-ohm meter work? It applies a known test current and measures the voltage across the non-current-carrying wires. There is a test current and voltage. If you absolutely insist on doing a test at 10A, you can simply get a bench power supply with 10A constant-current capacity and a separate multi-meter to measure voltage on the test cable to calculate the resistance. There is no need to use live AC there.
I love your videos. What a great way to decompress and forget about the world falling apart around us. Very informative and always giving great guidance/reviews on products that I go and purchase. Thanks for doing what you do
Thanks!
I am always duly impressed with how you make these tests so competitive, using the scale with negative weight is so DIY and just beyond genius!
Thank you!
Channel Suggestion: I know it would be difficult but Todd could you possibly test tarps? I'm so tired of replacing tarps because of sun and wind tearing them up. Many people use tarps to cover RVs,Boats,Wood,Tractors... it would be nice to get one that lasts a couple of years at least
Thanks for the suggestion.
Good idea, I second that
Amen AMEN!
I’ve owned the US Wire Extreme extension cord for about eight years and I would not hesitate to purchase additional units if needed. It’s superb in cold weather!
Great feedback and a great extension cord! Thank you
Ditto. If you live in a place that gets cold, and/or use a wire retractor, this is a great cord. Also, US made and I had no trouble with a warranty replacement some years ago.
Not only do I love the channel, but I also love the exciting comments people make on your channel.
Thanks!
I admire your dedication and thoroughness. Very helpful!
Thanks!
Great test! Additionally I would have loved to see how many Amps they can take before showing melting or burning.
If they promise a certain amount of Watt they can take, would have been nice to see how hot they become at this load and how much more they're able to take.
I can share my experience with amazon basics 25ft orange 12 gauge extension cord and cryptocurrency mining ethereum running 24/7 at 80% of 15 amps (1440 watts) it has been running strong for a year. They do have some black near the prong end and the female end more black. I just changed to the other 2 female ends and no problems, won't be using these any longer though
Another great video, thanks for your work! I would love to see a showdown for some 10'x10' pop-up canopies! I think your skillful approach to testing structural integrity would be very well suited.
Thank you for the video idea!
Subscribed to you in 2018, when you had about 130k subscribers and I have been watching ever since, thank you for creating these awesome videos!
You are welcome!
I really just want to sit down for an afternoon, have a few beers, pick your brain about your methods of how and why , and walk past the remnants of comparisons done to just learn from you. You scratch an itch for me. I spend way to much time researching stuff, weeding through bs reviews and watching how it's used videos. Seriously, I've looked for days for benign stuff. You are my number 1 spot to start researching for items I use on the daily.
Thanks!
Good day everyone!!!!
Hello!
your videos are making this world a better place, thanks for all the work you put into these high quality tests
Thank you very much! This means a lot to me!
Your videos are some of the most useful on youtube. It relaxes me very well now that I am at home with health problems.
Thanks! Glad the videos help you!
By far the best review channel on RUclips! Once again great job. It’s surprising how well Harbor Freight has increased their quality in the recent years. Not the best but they have a lot of great products for the average homeowner.
Thank you very much!
I've been a fan of Yellow Jacket for years. I love the indicator light that shows it has power. I use their 10 gauge though. I hope it holds up!
Great choice! Thank you
I picked one up to be able to run my welder, and other thirsty tools, it's worked great! I also picked up a 25' flexzilla for when I don't really need 100' 🤣
Been using them for years great cord.
@@WayneWerner Yeah, it really is unwieldy but once I got it put on a cord reel, it's been just fine. I honestly never thought of some of the things that were tested. I picked the Yellow Jacket because of the indicator light, hi-vis yellow color and it's apparent heavy-duty construction.
I wish it had placed higher in the testing, but it didn't place low enough for me to buy a new one.
Great way to start off a Sunday morning 🙌🏼
Thank you!
Wow I have to say you make something I thought I really didn't think I would be interested in seeing very interesting. I watch pretty much all your videos and never been let down. Another great video with great information. Thanks again for all your videos.
Thanks and you are welcome!
every new vid is great info on stuff i use regularly always honest and well organized tests to give real use perspective
Thanks!
This is one area where I go completely old school and make my own cords. In the last 12 years of being in business for myself, I've made three cords - two 25-ft 14 AWG and one 50-ft 12 AWG. The only reason I needed to make a second 14 AWG cord was because I ran out of SJ cable on a job and stole it from my cord. I use SO cable from the electrical supply house (600V rated vs SJ 300V rated) and the rubber insulation does fantastic when it comes to the cable keeping it's shape over time (none of that funky spiraling you see on store bought cables) as well as much improved performance in cold weather - PVC just can't compete. The two additional tests I would have included would be a table saw or large miter saw test where you try starting the motor on the extension cord which will find voltage drop issues, and a space heater continuous load test to check the cord ends with a IR thermometer or IR camera to see whether there's acceptable resistance in those connections. Thanks for another great video!
Great feedback! Thank you
For the love of all things Project Farm, please create a sticky roller/lint/pet hair roller comparison video!
Thanks for the suggestion.
Fantastic idea
Truly amazing tests and very informative. Thanks for taking the time, explaining, and going thru in detail with each tests.
Thanks and you are welcome!
I never knew you existed, This is the kind of content I dig with reviews for products. Great Job.
Thanks!
Another incredible video comparison. This one does apply to me, as I do use extension cords on occasion. I'm using an old, orange 'industrial' grade cord, and based on your presentation, it falls in the middle of the pack for handling but near the top for durability. I've had and used this cord for nearly a decade now, and never had trouble with it, although it doesn't lay flat, especially after it has been coiled for a while.
I don't know the brand of the top of my head, nor do I recall where it was purchased.
As always, your presentations are superb, top notch and extremely informative. The fact that you won't accept 'free' products, nor sponsorships makes your results far more reliable than most, and you are one of a very few creators I'll stop another video for when you pop up on my feed.
Thank you so much for all you do for us. A wise person using almost any tool will watch your reviews before spending any money on gear, as we can depend on your results.
12/10 stars, would watch again. And again. And again.
Remember that "holiday" 16 (14) gauge light (medium / heavy) duty extension cords are usually 50%-70% off after Christmas.
If you don't mind the candy cane or holiday green jacket, picking up a 25' or 50' cord for $3 - $5 is pretty cool. (oh how I miss the Walgreens post Christmas clearance deals.) :(
I absolutely LOVE your channel. GREAT job.
Thanks and you are welcome!
I really enjoy your videos and have never been disappointed with the purchase of a product that ranked high is your videos.
Thanks!
Interesting test! Appreciated the voltage drop test. Tradesmen have long suspected some imports cheat on wire gauge. The consistency is reassuring. I wonder of viewers would be interested in a comparison of insulation specifications, SJT, SJTW, SJO, SO, etc. For hard use in the powerhouses, we often used SO. Thanks for all you do!
Thanks and you are welcome!
That's a good point. Lots of variation from SJT to SJ to S type insulation. It's funny how some letters (O & W) are extra features and others (J & T) indicate lower performance cable.
@@PaulSteMarie it would be good to get the short course, learn how to make good choices. When we made our own cords in the powerhouses, we always used 600v insulation of types that could take a lot of physical abuse. Sometimes a bit bulkier cord is worth it, if you worry less about running over it or dropping tool on it.
@@lanedexter6303 My thoughts exactly. I stick to SOOW for shop use because I want something resistant to metal chips and abrasion. Thicker jacket, better insulation, and more internal support.
Also,I think both the SJ and S cable tend to be more flexible than the SJT.
Absolutely! LU 756👍
Recently purchased the yellow jacket and happy with it but it is a little stiff which turned out to be the case in your testing as well haha. Thanks so much for the amazing testing.
You are welcome!
Awesome, Thank you for the hard work. These tests are super helpful
Thanks and you are welcome!
Thanks for making these videos ! I appreciate your time and effort it goes into making these.
You are welcome!
Thank you for these videos Todd, you can rest easy at night knowing you’ve helped just about every one of your subscribers pick the best tool for the money and to be sure to have a fair test on every tool so we can see the results of an “every day use” situation.
Thank you very much!
I've been a long time fan and absolutely love the thoroughness of your testings! Keep up the amazing work!
Thank you!
Your commentary of these videos is what keeps me coming back
Thanks!
What a great test!!!! You ARE the BEST!!!! Thank you for your tests!!
Thanks and you are welcome!
It's interesting how throughout these tests it seems to be a trend that the box store brands (namely kobalt and husky) actually turn out some very good products for their price and personally I've been pretty consistently impressed with both brands performance throughout a range of their tools
I agree, Husky is never really top tier, but rarely ever bottom tier either. Not bad for the price.
Thanks for sharing.
Well, I think Project Source is a Lowes brand, and it was not ranked too high.
I’ve also had really good luck with Kobalt stuff. Often the least expensive, but very adequate for anything but daily professional use.
@@stevebabiak6997 Yes, Project Source is one of Lowe's private label brands, and it's positioned very much as their "value" brand. Utilitech, another Lowe's brand, seems to be used for anything electrical in nature regardless of value proposition and is kind of just a catch-all for electrical stuff, so evaluate on a per-item basis. Kobalt is their "we actually care about the brand image" tool brand, so I would imagine they would try to avoid branding anything thats blatantly junk as Kobalt, but you never know, there's probably a few things here and there where some interns have managed to squeeze out some turds with the Kobalt logo pasted on the packaging before their managers caught a whiff of it. lol
This man and his work are a gift to society.
Thanks for the positive feedback!
Thanks for the consistently great content and tests
You are welcome!
As always you do good work. You have saved my locksmith business a lot of money! So thank you..
I’ve been using Yellow Jacket ($34) for about 20 years and is the best cord I’ve ever owned or used in construction. One of my pet peeves is how well does the cord roll up and unroll, I like to grab the prong end and toss the cord where I need it. This cord does it without twisting every time and is the 25’ length. No cuts, punctures yet.
Great feedback on the Yellow Jacket!
I have 2 yellow jackets that are every bit of 20yrs old and they are still in great shape (home shop use, not daily/commercial)
Yep agreed and I got mine at Costco.
I'd rather have my own leads made & tested/tagged over buying them off the shelf. The end result is so much better.
Currently the main ones I use in the shed are 3G2.5mm² high temp silicone rubber (SIF) 300/500V, -60C/+180C with tinned annealed copper wires
Plug & socket are easily replaceable if damaged, the silicone cable is incredibly flexible, absolutely beautiful to wrap and I don't have to be as concerned about melt through when carrying out hot works.
For more ruggedised cables I use some made from 3G2.5 & 3G6 RV-K (XLPE) which is thin & light for its CSA and has -40C/+90C ratings which is still better than PVCs - 15C/+75C
I really like using RV-K because it wraps well, has a good memory and whilst it might not quite be as tough as Titanex it's significantly cheaper, thinner & lighter which makes a massive difference.
Both cable types have their benefits, and save cost are so much nicer to use than PVC.
In my past job, it was nothing to wrap well over a kilometre (3280' or 0.62 miles) of cables in a day so believe me when I say that this stuff is nice in the hands.
I've been using one for 10+ years for my car's block heater and power tools and it still looks brand new!
It's been my experience that buying shop cords that multiple people will use, over sizing the wire size and heavier tougher jacket for strength and durability is the way to go. We all know how people like to stand at one end and yank the plug out of the wall socket, drive over them and pull them into knots trying to make it reach without untangling it. I have noticed they rarely do that when they pay for the cords.
Thanks for the feedback.
The bishop has spoken.
I'm from the uk and I can't imagine anybody pulling the cord in order to unplug it. It wouldn't work in this country anyway but is sounds like a terribly dangerous thing to do.
Sir you've helped me quite a bit with your testing. I sincerely appreciate your channel and every effort you make.
Thank you very much!
@@ProjectFarm your very welcome. You're the hero we always needed.
Great video! Always above and beyond with testing out products keep up the great work!
Thanks and you are welcome!
Been waiting for this one. But now I'm probably going to upgrade from all my Walmart brand cords.
Thank you!
Really good video. Your tests are very thorough and informative, and I greatly respect the amount of time and effort you put into your content. I would like to suggest testing air compressor hoses
Thank you for the video idea and thank you for the positive comment!
YOU DO SUCH AN AWESOME AND THOROUGH JOB ON YOUR TESTING! GREAT CHANNEL! THANKS FOR THE SACRIFICE!
Extremely important tests. Thank you!
You are welcome!
I own one of the Utilitech 50 foot cords featured in this video, and would like to add a comment. Generally speaking, it seems to be a decent power cord for the money. However, it quickly became discolored from sun exposure. After a few months of intermittent exposure, the red outer jacket has turned pink. And in some spots, the plastic is getting chalky.
Thanks for sharing.
mine too. though for the price im pretty happy with it.
So basically a test for UV resistance would be good too
That is common with "red". On red painted cars, red goes to hell sooner cuz of the sun. Merc. trucks were always red, which soon became chalky red and faded red over the years. The UV additive to the paint still does not help on red, it has something to do with the light ray spectrum from the sun. Science stuff. Painters know some schit.
My lime green extension cord from Harbor Freight has faded a lot from sun exposure in just one season being outside. Its shocking how quickly it turned colors.
One of my coworkers has a 12ga 50’ yellow jacket brand cord. It’s been through hell and still works great. The only issue I have with it is the exterior insulation has become rather stiff over the years. This is probably do to all the aggressive cleaners, solvents, and lubricants it’s seen. In my personal experience what usually fails on an extension cord for me is the female end. After so many hundreds or so uses it gets loose and becomes an issue. Great video as always!
Most plastics contain 'plasticizers' - i.e. additives that make them flexible and give them a 'feel', but over time they tend to leach out. By the way, when using an extension hose for a portable propane gas heater, the propane may leach the plasticizers out of the hose and they can contaminate the heater with an oily residue (no fun to clean out). There are two ways to deal with this: 1) close the tank valve and let the heater slowly burn off the remaining gas, or ) buy a hose formulated for conducting propane gas. However, it's always best to shut off the tank valve.
Have the same cord, both ends have been replaced (due to abuse) would buy again.
@@BobBlarneystone I had that experience with a name brand Mr heater propane extension (and using the filter).
Got the heater fixed up and I think all the plasticiser has leaked out by now. It was good for last winter.
Most female holes get loose after hundreds of insertions. Lol
Ends are easy to replace and let you upgrade to better materials.
I hit like before I even watch these videos, already know the content is solid. This one did not disappoint!!!
Thanks!
Love your videos. Keep up the excellent work!
Thanks, will do!
Never disappointed with your content. Thank YOU for taking the time and energy to do these tests for us. I look forward to new videos every week.
May I suggest testing plumbing pipes? Copper, CPVC, ABS, SCH40, PEX A, PEX B, Galvanized, ect.. Interesting to see how they behave in cold weather and puncture resistance for example.
Thanks again PF! Keep up the great work. We appreciate you
Thanks so much! Thanks for the suggestion.
I love the testing that you do, it's very useful and quite scientific in nature .
Thank you very much!
Man !! Absolutely Great Videos, Content, + Information !
I Wish I found your channel along time ago.
Almost every single purchase I make I compare price, specs, + reviews, with as much info I can get.
You not only do that, and more,...but you do it for everyone to get tons of info, in one spot, And you do it for tons of various products.
I scanned your channel videos + there are tons of products that I have and will buy, so ALL of your work is Greatly Appreciated, and will be put to good use.
I Love the amount of info, detail, variety of products, the amount of products in each comparison, the non biased results + opinions, and the products in each comparison seem to be the products that everyone would be looking to buy, and wondering about.
Great Videos !
Great Dedication !
Great Information !
Great Job !
And,....A Big Thank You !
Thanks and you are welcome!
Great video! I love all your content. Keep up the good work
Thanks! Thanks, will do!
Re: flexibility. I've seen a lot of brands claiming they're flexible, and they're not. Even in warm weather(Though whether they degrade more quickly with temperature or not, I'm not sure). The blue "extreme" cables(Regardless of brand I think) are usually the most flexible 14AWG cable.
Ridgid has some 14AWG and 12AWG extension cords, both claiming they're flexible. Spoiler? The 12AWG 50FT is far softer and more flexible, go feel them in-store. Too bad they didn't end up in your test. Definitely do a 12 gauge comparison, and bring both Ridgid cables in, 14AWG and 12AWG.
I'll do a 12 AWG comparison if there's enough interest and will include Ridgid too.
Extension cords will have lower resistance and less power loss, as well as greater safe power handling capability, under extremely cold weather, which means that for some applications you can probably get away with the thinner, lighter more flexible 14 gauge cord simply because you're always using it at 0ﾟ or thereabouts.
@@ProjectFarm A lot of larger industrial job sites will confiscate any cord smaller than 12AWG, regardless of length. They will also take any with repairs. The yellow jackets and rigids have been the best 12 AWG for us so far.
@CORNER MARKET PLACE I know in the U.S. a lot of the federal contractors will specify blue cords for outdoor freezing conditions. A lot of the better known brands will make their low temp cords blue.
@@goodun2974 Good luck getting the safety prudes to sign off on that.
Great video. I still use a 20 year old, 100' 12 gauge cable of unknown brand. Has been outside, for years I used it to tie a trampoline down which before this had a tendency to take off in high wind, and for the last few years I have used to charge my electric lawn tractor. Never seen this cable again since buying it, but I wish they still made them.
I got 1 of those it's finally failing though, the contacts wore out
Wow great video. So much information 😊🙏🏽 thank you for time and sharing with us
Thanks and you are welcome!
I was thinking about it your a very smart man. This channel allows you not only to make money off of views but allows you to buy all the tools and toys you want for any particular thing and right them off as a business expense. And like with these tests at the end you get some cheap repair ends and you end up with several hundred feet of extension cord in 40 ft sections. Brilliant.