How To Choose An Extension Cord For A Lawn Mower

Country notes What extension cord is needed for an electric mower or trimmer in the country. Calculation of the required cord length and power, cable marking. Reliable domestic and imported

Plug connection elements

Gardening equipment usually requires a single-phase power supply, respectively, to connect to the mains, a European plug with a 5 mm diameter pins is used (for the Russian 4 mm). There must be a corresponding socket.

Only three contacts are used: phase and neutral with output to pins, as well as ground in the form of plates on the sides of the plug and socket. The earth contact must be connected to the earthing line of the household power supply, otherwise, during the operation of even such a low-power tool as a trimmer, there will be a potential equal to half the voltage of the power supply between its body and the soil. That is, 220/2 = 110 volts (V). It will be felt especially strongly after the rain in leather shoes, not fatal, but the sensations are very unpleasant.

The plug and socket of the extension cord must be molded rubberized, protection class at least IP44. They are available with rated currents of 10, 16 and 25 amperes (A). The conductive cord of the extension cord must end with a single outlet, as the multi-socket unit is too bulky.

Country notes Useful notes

Like any electrical equipment, extension cords are afraid of moisture. Working with them or leaving them in the rain is strongly discouraged. But if this has already happened, then the sockets and plugs should be well blown, then dried in a hot dry room for at least a day. It is only possible to work on dew if the plug connection is guaranteed not to touch wet grass. Failure to comply with this rule leads to its complete failure or even to fire the extension cord.

If you need to supply electricity at a distance of more than 30 meters, then it is better to choose a thicker cable, since on a thin one, with high consumer power, the voltage can drop significantly. But outside the city, it is often below the nominal value, so it may happen that the power tool cannot develop sufficient power or will completely refuse to work. The problem with low rural voltage can be solved by installing a 36 kW single-phase stabilizer in the house, for example, ENERGY Classic 5000 or RIDER RDR 5000. These inexpensive devices are able to maintain a constant output voltage level of 220 V with an input from 120 to 280 V.

When unwinding the cable, in no case throw it off the coil, otherwise it will begin to twist and it will be very difficult to bring it back to its initial state.

Product design

The plug is connected to the mains, and the mower plug is inserted into the socket at the end of the wire

Cheap extension cords are made coiled into a coil or on a frame reel, but it is convenient to use them only with a length of no more than 810 m. Both types are equally inconvenient because they begin to twist when unwinding and reeling, and this leads to their tangling. Much more convenient extension cords for lawn mowers on a reel. When unwinding and winding them, the reel itself rotates, and not the cable around the reel, so twisting is excluded.

As a rule, the coils are made of plastic, less often steel. There is no difference, the main thing is that they rotate freely on the axis. The structure is assembled on a metal or plastic frame, which is installed near the home power outlet, where the extension cord for lawn mowers will be connected. On the reel, in addition to the input plug, there is a handle for easy winding, sometimes an overload protection button. Unwind it by simply pulling on the end of the extension cord where the output socket is attached.

You can connect several electrical appliances to such an extension cord, but an additional extension cord is required to connect the mower.

There are also other design extensions for reel mowers. Their cord is unwound from the side of the input plug, and the coil itself is located close to the place where the work is done. It usually contains several outlets, a built-in switch, an overload protection button, and a voltage indication light.

The multi-position socket is convenient when you need power for more than one consumer at once. But in order to connect to it an electric tool with a short mains wire, you will need an additional extension cord, 510 meters long, however, no longer a reel.

How to choose a lawn mower extension cord: recommendations and tips

Gasoline technology, of course, is good for giving, but the exhaust gases do not harmonize with the green riot of the surrounding nature. Electric cars, quiet and easy to operate, are just what is best for suburban estates. But on the site you cannot attach an outlet to each tree. A special extension cord is already required here. A lawn mower, trimmer, and any other gardening equipment requires an electrical supply that can provide the most powerful tool that is supposed to be used in a particular area.

Electric wire marking

Several types of wire are used for domestic electrical extension cords, but only 3 types are suitable for outdoor use:

• PVS two- or three-core, for outdoor use, UV-resistant, service life over 6 years. Insulation: polyvinyl chloride (PVC) inner and PVC outer sheath. In the cold it hardens, it can crack. Coloring is arbitrary. Decoding: P wire, B PVC insulation, C connecting.
• KG and KG-HL two- or three-core, for outdoor use, service life is more than 4 years. Insulation by layers: polyethylene terephthalate (PET), rubber, PET, rubber. Increased resistance to mechanical stress, compression, bending. The color is black, it remains soft in the cold, especially the cold-resistant version of the CHL (up to 60 C). It is advisable to protect from sunlight. Decoding: KG cable is flexible.

KG-HL cable structure

If the extension cord is grounded, then its cord is three-core, and its marking should have the number 3. Example PVA 3×1.5 designation of a 3-core wire.

Which one to choose depends on the expected operating conditions. In theory, it is better if the orange-colored cord is clearly visible in the grass. But, practice shows that the frequency of damage to it by a lawn mower or trimmer does not depend much on whether it is black or orange. A person concentrating on work does not notice him, even if he is bright. Therefore, the choice of color is rather an aesthetic issue. However, the cable of the KG brand is more reliable, but it is produced only in black.

What to look for when choosing an extension cord

• Section, length and type of cable
• Design of plugs and sockets, their number
• The presence of a power filter and a shutdown button
• Which is better for different conditions

The presence of a power filter and a shutdown button

An important feature of using an extension cord for powering electronics is the presence of a power filter and a button for disconnecting from the network. A surge protector is a device for suppressing electromagnetic interference generated by your equipment on the mains supply. Their occurrence is due to the principle of operation of pulse converters and will not be considered within the framework of this article.

In addition to the filter, a varistor is installed in such devices, which protects the connected electronics from high-voltage surges and voltage surges, as well as a fuse and a button to turn off the power. It is convenient to use it by turning off the power to the equipment when you are not using it. This way you further reduce the risk of damage from power surges if you choose an extension cord with extra protection.

Design of plugs and sockets, their number

The design of the plug and socket can be selected with or without grounding. At the same time, it will be difficult or impossible to insert the plugs of Soviet electrical appliances into the version with grounding contacts and deep sockets. To connect not too powerful household appliances (up to 1 kW), the version with shallow sockets will be universal.

Structurally, forks can be cast and collapsible.

Cast forks will last longer, and dismountable ones will be replaced faster. When choosing an extension cord, take into account the fact that specimens with collapsible plugs can often turn out to be counterfeit products, that is, the so-called samopal.

It is also important to choose the right degree of dust and moisture protection. For outdoor use, for example in a summer cottage for connecting a lawn mower or in a building for a welding machine, it is necessary to take into account the possible ingress of water droplets. In this case, you need to choose an extension cord with the highest possible degree of protection, it is marked as IPxx, where xx are digits and the more they are, the more protected the device. Below you can see an example of a model with lockable sockets.

Sockets can be from 1 to 4. Less common are models with 5 or more sockets for connecting a plug. Do not buy a carrier with 4 outlets if you know for sure that you need it for a specific device and you will not connect anything else. In this way, it will last longer and be safer.

Section, length and type of cable

The main thing to check when choosing what power or current the electrical extension cord can withstand. This information should be indicated on the packaging or determined by the product itself, now we will tell you more.

Sometimes people mistakenly believe that if an amperage of 16A is written on the outlet or plug, then the entire extension cord will withstand this current, not a fact! To select the appropriate amperage, some electricians use rules such as:

10 A per 1 sq. Mm of conductor cross-section

And this works in most cases, albeit with slight deviations. That is, an electrical extension with a cross-sectional area of ​​the cores:

• 0.75 sq. Mm suitable for 6 A;
• 1 sq. Mm 10 A;
• 1.5 sq. Mm 16 A;

Extenders of great length (from 25 or 50 meters, including those that are made in the form of a coil) are made with a wire with a cross-section of TPZH of 2.5 sq. Mm. Firstly, to reduce losses, and secondly, to make the product more durable.

But for everyday tasks, such as connecting a washing machine or for a heater, it is enough to choose an extension cord 5-7 meters long with a cross-section of conductive conductors of 1.5 square meters. Mm.

An electric wire of the PVA brand is excellent for an extension cord. It has thick insulation, a circular cross-section, and a dielectric-filled gap between the conductors, which improves performance and resistance to damage. It bends well, but such a structure is quite dense and an electrical extension cord with 2.5 sq. Mm turns out to be quite heavy and voluminous.

Such a wire is great for assembling an extension cord with your own hands. Electricians often use a flat cord of the SHVVP brand. It does not have too thick insulation, in comparison with the previous example, however, it is quite suitable for laying and permanent work, while at a construction site it will quickly become unusable.

And for work in difficult conditions, it is better to choose an electric extension cord, which is made of KG cable.

The thicker the wire, the easier it will transfer mechanical stress. But its thickness does not guarantee the same thick veins. Cheap products do not have markings on the wire at all, beware of them.

So, first of all, the choice of an extension cord occurs according to the power of the equipment that you will connect to it, and the distance from its installation to the nearest outlet.

Which is better for different conditions

Let’s consider several typical cases when you need an extension cord and which one is better to choose.

Workplace connection. Usually in this case there is a set of equipment for which you need to provide outlets:

• For computer system unit and monitor or laptop.
• For speakers and printer.
• For a modem or router.

In total, you need 3 to 5 connectors. The power consumption of this set rarely exceeds 1, and even less often 2 kW (if there is a laser printer). Then you definitely need to use a surge protector, similar to the one in the picture below, but which one to choose?

The best manufacturers of extension cords for your computer:

• Pilot filters are sometimes called by this word, because this company has been well established on the market for a long time.
• SVEN is a brand under which a range of additional equipment for PCs of good quality is produced.
• APC is also known for its uninterruptible power supplies.
• Defender is a Russian brand, good products are sold under it.
• Xiaomi needs no comments.

For a drill, it is best to choose a power extension with a single outlet, because it will last longer, it is easier to pull it up on the wire when you are drilling the ceiling or holes for the cornices, and it is less likely that debris will be poured into unoccupied connectors and something will short-circuit.

For the garage, a power extension cord on a coil with a length of 25 meters and a thick wire will be useful. It is suitable for connecting a small machine or a welding inverter.

The same option would be an excellent solution for a summer cottage if you need to connect an electric trimmer or lawn mower. But keep in mind that you cannot overload the extension cords on the coil, because in such a design, the wire cannot be fully cooled when it is wound and its insulation can float.

For home, for example, for a TV and similar equipment, any model of suitable length and with the right number of connectors is suitable, because modern appliances consume little electricity. Whereas for a hair dryer, it is better to choose an extension cord with 1.5 sq. Mm.

For an electric stove, it is generally undesirable to use an extension cord and connect it directly to a circuit breaker and an RCD. But if we are talking about a small portable stove with one or two burners with a total power of 2-3 kW, choose an extension cord with grounding and a cross-section of at least 1.5 sq. Mm.

Finally, we recommend looking at useful ones on the topic:

Now you know how to choose an extension cord and which one is best for connecting household appliances, electronics and garden tools. We hope the provided tips helped you find the best option for your own conditions!

Principle of operation

The principle of operation of an extension cord for a lawn mower for the end user is not much different from the mechanism of action of an ordinary network carrying: the device is plugged into an outlet, transferred to the required distance (unwound to the desired length), where the device is connected to it, in this case the lawn mower.

In its turn, extension cords per spool are also classified into 2 groups. Representatives of the first category look like a coiled extension cable, one end of which is equipped with a molded socket. Directly the coil and plug are located at the other end, located at the point of connection to a fixed outlet.

This design is very convenient to use, the user does not need to carry the coil itself, it is enough to simply unwind the wire. Thanks to the features of the casing, unwinding and reeling of the cable is quick and effortless.

The second type of reel extension is noticeably different from the model discussed above: here the coil is equipped with multiple sockets, allowing more than one device to be connected at the same time.

For use in combination with electric lawn mowers AL-KO, Gardena, Stig, Bosch Rotak 32, Stihl, Makita, Champion, reel extension cords of the first group are best suited, because for safety reasons, it is strongly discouraged to move the coil away from a fixed outlet.

Along with this, models are available for sale, made in a waterproof case, if possible, use just such an extension cord for a lawn mower on a reel.

How to choose an extension cord

When choosing an extension cord designed for use in conjunction with an electric lawn mower for grass, you need to pay attention to a number of significant parameters and characteristics.

Firstly, choose the optimal extension length. At this point, focus on the size of your site. Additionally add a couple of meters in reserve.

You can use the following diagram to find the approximate length of the extension cord.

Given: rectangular section 20×30, i.E. Standard 6 ares.

Find the square of the diagonal of the plot by summing the squares of its sides. Next, you need to root out the resulting value to get the length of the diagonal. In the case of this section, it will be 36.06 m.

Nearest standard extension length 40 m. We buy such a product. The stock will be used to compensate for turns, bends, etc. It is possible to round the estimated length downward only if the stationary sockets are installed in different corners of the structure located on the site.

In the case of trimmers, the recommended cable sizes are as follows:

• For a device with a power not exceeding 1.5 kW 0.75 mm;
• 1.5-2 kW 1 mm;
• 2 kW and more than 1.5 mm.

The cross-section of the extension cable for use with a lawn mower with a power of more than 2.5 kW must be at least 1.5 mm.

Thirdly, you need to resolve issues with the features of the grounding of the extension cord. If grounding is necessary (and its presence is strongly recommended), buy a product marked with the number 3. As an example, consider the KG 3×1.5 mm extension cord model from the popular Atlas brand.

Features of the extension cord on.

Fourth, you need to select the appropriate extension cord design. As noted, such products can be made on a reel or in a coil. The first option is the most preferable. The second is used mainly on an industrial scale and allows you to connect more powerful equipment.

Fifth, it is necessary to take into account a number of general recommendations for choosing an extension cord for a lawn mower:

• The extension cord must be equipped with one rubberized socket. The presence of two or more sockets will create difficulties when connecting an electric lawn mower and will cause inconvenience in the process.
• For use in combination with lawn mowers, extension cords, the cord of which is colored orange, are best suited. These colors are simply more visible on the ground, thereby minimizing the chances of accidental cable damage and related problems.
• Due to the fact that lawn care works are carried out mainly in the warm season, it is preferable to choose an extension cord with a PVA wire for use in conjunction with an electric lawn mower.
• If the extension cord will be used not only in conjunction with a lawn mower, but also for various work in the cold season, give preference to models with KG wires.

Extension cord: which one to choose for carrying, self-winding for a lawn mower, which one is needed for a trimmer, what does a garden one consist of?

Electric lawn mowers are good for everyone: they are lightweight, mobile, relatively inexpensive, productive and environmentally friendly.

The only big drawback of such devices is the dependence on the electrical network, which causes a lot of inconvenience if it is necessary to process a spacious lawn in the absence of a sufficient number of connection points (sockets).

You can solve the problem with an extension cord. After reading the information below, you will learn how the lawn mower extension cord works, and you will receive recommendations for choosing the right device and its subsequent operation.

User’s manual

If desired, you can permanently fix the extension cord before use for this purpose, the coil design is equipped with two mounting holes.

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With the help of the cultivator, it is possible to plant various crops in the ground with ease and high speed, as well as carry out various other procedures. Here you can see the Patriot cultivator.

Position the spool in a suitable location, mark the future location of the fasteners through the holes, drill the indentations, and secure the extension drum with bolts or other suitable fasteners.

To roll up the cable after use, pull it securely into position, then slowly roll up the wire.

Automatic reels are characterized by high traction. Do not allow the cable to be rolled up uncontrollably. Hold the end of it and slowly guide it along the movement of the auto coil.

The reels of modern garden extension cords are equipped with mechanisms that provide protection against overheating during operation. As a rule, the color indication is the same in different models. So, if the LED glows red, this indicates that the overheating protection is on.

Lawn Mower Reel Extensions do not require specialized maintenance. It is enough just to clean them periodically. The auto coil must not be energized during cleaning. To do this, remove the extension cord from the stationary outlet.

The outside of the extension cord is cleaned with an ordinary dry and clean cloth. Make sure that moisture does not get into the structure of the extension cord.

When using an extension cord, follow the basic safety regulations and precautions:

• Do not disassemble the extension cord;
• Do not use the product in rainy weather;
• Do not use an extension cord in places with excessive humidity;
• Do not allow moisture to enter the structure of the extension cord;
• Do not use the extension cord in places with excessive dust, vibration, etc.
• Do not short-circuit the socket terminals;
• Do not let children use an extension cord;
• Do not plug appliances into the extension cord the total power of which exceeds the maximum allowable for this device.

Now you know what a lawn mower extension cord is, how to choose it and use it correctly. Follow the recommendations you receive and everything will go best.