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Extension poles are used for a variety of tasks, including construction and gardening. They are essentially pieces of metal with short ends joined together to form a long pole. Most of them are telescopic, which means they can be extended up to ten times their original length. These poles are available at any hardware shop and come in a variety of lengths, diameters and materials depending on your use and requirements.
There are two types of poles on the market: telescopic and non-telescopic. Both poles are used for similar purposes, however, they differ in form and use.
Telescopic poles, for example, are usually intended for easy storage and transport. They can also be extended and folded as required to suit the length required for the job. Non-telescopic extensions, meanwhile, are permanent and non-removable extensions. As they come in a one-piece form, they can be used without having to be stretched or retracted.
Non-telescopic poles provide support, stability and security when working near large structures or taller trees. Telescopic ones, on the other hand, can offer convenience and ease of use.
Extension poles are used to extend the range to different areas of your house. Many types of extension poles are available to suit a variety of needs. Again, there are several things you should consider before purchasing an extension pole. These include, but are not limited to, length, height, material etc.
Generally speaking, the size of an extension pole should be determined by the height of the area you are trying to reach. Extension poles should be a few feet in length for indoor use and over 15 feet for outdoor use. Make sure you purchase the right size for your needs; for example, getting a light bulb indoors only requires a few feet, while getting a kite down from a tree requires at least a 10-foot pole.
You will need to choose the right material for you and your needs. Metal poles are a popular choice because they can withstand a lot of wear and tear. This makes aluminium extension poles an excellent choice for cheap, durable and easy access.
The weight of the rod is also important, as bulky rods can be difficult to manoeuvre. A precise and firm grip is particularly important in technical operations such as changing light bulbs. Look for something sturdy and lightweight to ensure you do your chores efficiently.
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A non-slip pad or surface is another must-have feature. Whatever the task, this prevents the lever from slipping out of your hand, while also making it safer and helping to avoid accidents.
To get the most out of your pole, look for a pole that can be fitted with a variety of tool heads. Instead of buying a bunch of large tools, you can simply buy a specific attachment and attach it.
Are you interested in learning more about extension poles and how they can benefit you? Get in touch with us today to secure an expert consultation!
The extension cords youll find for sale online are better quality and cost less than the ones generally stocked at brick-and-mortar hardware stores. If you can wait a day or two for shipping, buying online is the way to go. But thats not particularly helpful advice if youre in the middle of a project and need an extension cord right now. If youre going to have only one cord, focus on indoor/outdoor extension cordsgenerally the ones in bright colorsand follow the tips laid out here to snag the best cord among the limited options in the store. If youre looking for an indoor cord just to extend your charger or plug in a lamp, the guidelines are a little different.
When youre guessing how long of an extension cord you need, leave yourself extra room for error and buy the next longest cord. Not only is a longer cord more convenientits annoying to just barely reach your work area-but its safer too. Thats because youre not supposed to daisy-chain extension cords, connecting one to another. The extra length of multiple cords plugged in to each other (without thicker wires to make up for the distance) adds electrical resistance between the outlet and the thing youre trying to power. Added resistance can in turn cause voltage drops that will make equipment like drills, saws, and vacuums run at lower power. The extra resistance of daisy-chaining cords can also cause additional heat to build up along the way, increasing the risk of one of the cords melting or even starting a fire.
Even if youd normally ignore the safety risks and grab the cheaper, shorter cord, theres another practical reason to get a longer cord: A long cord means youre less likely to need to buy another extension cord for your next project.
Aside from length, the thickness of the wires inside an extension cord dictate how much power it can safely carry. Thicker wires can carry more power over longer distances. Any cord at a big-box store should meet the minimum requirements to run low-power gear like lights, battery chargers, or a stereo (see chart below). But the minimum wont do if you want to run power tools like drills, saws, or wet/dry vacs safely and at peak power.
Cord thickness in the US is generally listed in terms of gauge, or AWG. Larger numbers mean smaller wires, which in turn means it can carry less power. A cord measuring 14 AWG is the thinnest we recommendand at lengths of only 25 feet or shorterand the much thicker 10 AWG is likely the thickest gauge youll find in an extension cord. Look for the numbers in the table above when youre trying to decide which cord is right for you.
If youre confused by the relationship between length and cord thickness, at least look for the amperage rating on the packaging. We recommend skipping indoor/outdoor extension cords rated for 10 A or 13 A. Instead, get one rated for at least 15 A. (If the cord doesnt list a maximum amperage, you should skip it entirely.) That way you can plug in any household tool or equipment, and 15 A breakers or fusesthe kind youll find in most residential electrical panelswill cut off the power before the cord is pushed beyond its limits.
For household use, you dont need to worry about voltage ratings. Most cords will be marked for 125 V or 130 V to coincide with residential voltage in the US. Contractor cords meant for job sites may be rated for up to 300 V to meet workplace safety requirements. Though these cords might be a little more robust, theres no reason to spend extra money on them if youre not a professional.
In our guide to the best extension cords, we found that some cords are much more flexible than others, especially at lower temperatures. Flexible cords are easier to stretch out across your workspace, easier to coil and store properly, and less frustrating to use in tight spaces. When cords are tightly wrapped in their packaging on a shelf, its hard to tell which ones will be easier to work with. Without unspooling all of them in the aisle, the only way to ensure you get a more flexible cord is to find one made for lower temperatures. Not all cords packaging lists the cords ideal temperature ranges, but weve found the ones listing temperatures below freezing are generally more flexible at every temperature.
It can be tempting to pick up an extension cord with a few extra outlets at the end, often called a banana tap. But if youre looking for a durable cord to run tools, equipment, work lights, or other power hogs, we dont recommend them because theyre easier to overload. For example, a 15 A cord can easily handle a circular saw, but if you add a couple of bright work lights, every time you fire up your saw youll be overloading the cord. If youve got a 15 A breaker on that circuit, itll trip instantly when you try to run the saw and will make working impossible, or if you have a less common 20 A or higher breaker, you risk a surge of current and that will overheat your cord. For anything requiring serious power, and for general-purpose cords you hope to have on hand for years to come, stick to one outlet per cord and per piece of equipment. Indoor cords, meant to power less-demanding items like chargers and lamps, have slightly different rules.
If your cord is destined for your living room or bedside table, you probably arent looking for the thick, heavy, bright orange or yellow cords we talk about aboveyou probably want something like the cord we recommend for indoor use in our guide to extension cords. For low-power gear like chargers, lamps, or maybe a wireless speaker, the less robust indoor cords are fine as long as youre aware of the limits. A small fan is fine, but a window air conditioner is not. A digital photo frame isnt a problem, but powering a home theater with one is a bad idea.
The most important thing to note with indoor cords is that UL, and even modern building codes, dont allow extension cords to be used in a permanent installation. That definitely means dont use them in place of real electrical cable to wire an outlet, but experts have also told us that indoor cords are commonly used as a long-term solution and run around couches, beds, and other furniture. All those corners and snags can stress a cord, wear out the jacket, and become a major fire hazard in your home. If you own your home, save up and have an electrician come put an outlet in where you need one.
If you rent, or have no other option, take extra care when shopping for or using an indoor cord. Just like with outdoor cords, buy something longer than you need. Having a bit of slack in the cord is even more important in indoor cords so that you dont stress the jacket as you pull the cord around corners. Outdoor cords have standard plugs, but on indoor cords you should look for flat plugs that are less likely to be bumped or tugged from the wall outlet, exposing the connection.
And though indoor cords generally have thinner insulation, if you opt for a round cord youll probably get more protection. Round cords will likely have two layers of insulation and be more durable than the single-layer cords where you can see the divot between the insulation on two wires. And just like with outdoor cords, indoor cords will have amperage ratings to tell you how much power is safe to plug in. The amperage on indoor cords is generally suitable for digital devices that dont use much power, but dont plan to use it a year later to run your power tools outside when no other cord is around. Indoor cords arent weather resistant either, which means theyre more likely to break down if left in sunny or damp locations for a long period of time.