Installing 100 ft 20 Amp Retractable extension cord in garage for electric snow blower, car vac…etc

[Don2222]

Hello
After research I found that if the extension cord cannot handle the current that the tool draws the tool can burn up! It does happen!
Therefore installing the longest and heaviest cord is the way to go!
In my case, the new Snow Joe electric snow blower for the walkway should have a heavy duty extension cord and a 20 AMP 100 Feet retractable Reel Craft cord reel seems like the way to go?
I ordered up the ReelCraft L 70100 123 3A 12/3 AC cord reel.
It weighs 74 lbs so having an Escalara Stair Cat or any fork lift to hold it in place on the wall makes it a little easier to mark the holes for mounting.

I picked up some strong solid OAK shelving boards at Home Depot custom cut to bridge the studs in the wall for a secure mounting with 1/2” diameter Lag bolts with 3/4” hex heads and Stainless Steel flat washers and lock washers!
Also picked up a 20 Amp extension cord to reach the wall outlet. The wall outlet has a 20 Amp outlet with 12 Guage wire to the circuit panel with a 20 AMP circuit breaker!
So should work for the electric snow blower, car vac and any other electrical need?
I already have the 20 amp breaking in and the 12 Guage wire so I just got the 20 Amp outlet for the special 20 AMP plug. See horizontal slot on left side of both outlets?
Any comments? See pics below
Shopping around for price helps!
Pic 1 - First price I saw
Pic 2 & 3 - Zoro with my 20% coupon was the best price!
Pic 4 & 5 - unboxing
Pic 6-10 - bolting it into the solid AOK board mounted to the wall studs
Pic 11 - Home Depot 20 extension to 20 AMP wall outlet
Pic 12 - All Mounted
Pic 13 - 20 AMP circuit breaker
Pic 14 - 20 AMP heavy duty outlet.

The 50 ft compressor hose reel was about half the weigh 38 lbs and a little easier to hang up. https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/hanging-up-a-compressor-hose-reel.166454

 

[Don2222]

Hello
Got the NEMA 5-20R duplex outlet in the wall and all wiring to this outlet is 12 Guage. A little tougher to work with than 14 Guage. Then tried to plug the cord reel in to the extension and the extension cord into wall! Turns out the only extension cord that looked like what I wanted that Lowes and Home Depot sell is the 9 ft appliance cord made for 220 volt air conditioners that have the NEMA 6-20 plug & receptacle on it! However the flat prong on the right side above the ground pin and I need the 120 volt AC extension cord with the flat prong on the left side above the ground!! See last pic below
Does anyone know where I can buy a 20 AMP 120 volt AC 6 ft extension cord with a NEMA 5-20 plug & receptacle on it locally? I only see them on the internet?
This is what I am looking for:
https://www.cablewholesale.com/products/power-products/power-cords/product-10w3-02306.php

 

[Don2222]

Hello
Well the NEMA 5-20 P & R 6 ft extension cord is being delivered today from CableWholesale.com
Just to understand why these extensions are not so common I googled
What appliance or tool has a 120 VAC
20 amp NEMA 5-20 plug?

Which tools have a 120V, 20A plug?

Hi all, I don't own (nor do I recall ever using) any appliance or tool that had a 5-20R plug for use with 120V, 20A receptacles. I am aware of only a single type of tool that uses a 120V, 20A plug: high-end dust extractors / vacuums. I am curious what other modern workshop tools or appliances...

www.garagejournal.com

A lot of responses in this thread and yes there are quite a few but not so common.
The most common ones seem to be welders and plasma cutters but still the majority have the 220 VAC 50 amp plug for full power and for reduced power most have the 120 VAC 15 amp plug to be more universal.

 

[gthomas785]

Just make sure if you are using a high draw tool to at least mostly unroll the cord, if you leave it coiled up under heavy use it cannot dissipate heat so it will get hot and melt.

 

[Don2222]

Just make sure if you are using a high draw tool to at least mostly unroll the cord, if you leave it coiled up under heavy use it cannot dissipate heat so it will get hot and melt.

Exactly, I got this cord for the 21” Snow Joe which is rated for 120 VAC @ 15 Amps
That is why I work so hard to go with a garage outlet and extension cord that is all 12 Guage which is rated for 20 Amps.

Link to Snow Joe at Tractor Supply $199.95 !!
(broken link removed)

 

[Don2222]

Wow
Having the retractable cord makes it a lot easier!

 

[Don2222]

Here is more fuel to the fire!
Why a heavy extension cord is needed just for a shop vac!
12/3 Guage is the sweet spot for 100 ft which is what I got !! LOL

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However
The guy in this video makes a good comparison but he is most likely starting on a 14 Guage 15 amp house circuit and putting in a cheap power strip is making it worse!
Starting the testing on a cheap power strip is not a good idea! Also he is probably on a standard 14 Guage 15 amp house circuit! That is why he is getting only 18.5 volts to start with! LOL
I put in a 12 Guage 20 amp house circuit to the garage so I am getting 119.3 VAC to start and with better extension cord wire 119.1 VAC at the end of my 100 ft extension!! LOL
Comments??

Pic 1 - Results in Video
Pic 2 & 3 - My results!!

 

[bigealta]

My buddy in utah got a cordless power shovel, he loves it. Says it works great in slush!

 

[Don2222]

My buddy in utah got a cordless power shovel, he loves it. Says it works great in slush!

How heavy is the battery? It may be harder for us old buggers?

 

[bigealta]

How heavy is the battery? It may be harder for us old buggers?

i have not used it but it's not that heavy. It's made for homeowners.

He still uses the toro 824 for the driveway, but for the deck, walkways and path in yard for the dog he's using the power shovel. It's gotten a ton of use this year out in Utah.

I'm thinking about getting one for my roof.

 

[Don2222]

i have not used it but it's not that heavy. It's made for homeowners.

He still uses the toro 824 for the driveway, but for the deck, walkways and path in yard for the dog he's using the power shovel. It's gotten a ton of use this year out in Utah.

I'm thinking about getting one for my roof.

I had a power shovel years ago and it was heavy. The new ones are probably better. However the snow was thrown in the same direction as the shovel. That was something I did not like. This 21” Snow Joe throws the snow off to the side and is good for the walkways.

 

[zrock]

Personally if that was me i would have eliminated the wall plug and just hard wired that extension cord directly, 1 less area of possible failure. But if it was me i would have just eliminated the real and just purchased the cord itself and made my own extension cord. We use those reals at work and they are always more problematic then they are worth and we end up replacing several a year.. Not worth th expense for the convenience..

Hope it works well for you

 

[Rockhound007]

Something you should consider is a GFI breaker or plug, using it outside in damp conditions, i'm in Ontario and its an electrical coed to avoid getting zapped!

 

[Don2222]

Personally if that was me i would have eliminated the wall plug and just hard wired that extension cord directly, 1 less area of possible failure. But if it was me i would have just eliminated the real and just purchased the cord itself and made my own extension cord. We use those reals at work and they are always more problematic then they are worth and we end up replacing several a year.. Not worth th expense for the convenience..

Hope it works well for you

I used it a few times already and it is very heavy duty and extremely well balanced, not like the less expensive ones. Since I will not use it everyday like in a ruff work environment, I think it will last a long time. Also it is much quicker and easier than finding, pulling out and unwinding an extension cord every time I need one.

 

[zrock]

I used it a few times already and it is very heavy duty and extremely well balanced, not like the less expensive ones. Since I will not use it everyday like in a ruff work environment, I think it will last a long time. Also it is much quicker and easier than finding, pulling out and unwinding an extension cord every time I need one.

the ones we use are not cheap by any means and also high quality.. We have had them for hose, electrical, and fluids and its all the same failure the swivel fails inside causing a leak or intermittent failure and the springs fail.. I bet we have spend well over 10g in these things over the last several years and finally got to the point and said screw it..LOL

 

[Don2222]

the ones we use are not cheap by any means and also high quality.. We have had them for hose, electrical, and fluids and its all the same failure the swivel fails inside causing a leak or intermittent failure and the springs fail.. I bet we have spend well over 10g in these things over the last several years and finally got to the point and said screw it..LOL

Interesting
Did you buy the reels with the decluthing arbor that eliminates spring damage.
I do not have the money for that one!

 

[zrock]

We have tried them all over the years... You probably wont be to bad since it only will be used occasionally.

 

[Don2222]

We have tried them all over the years... You probably wont be to bad since it only will be used occasionally.

I used it this morning. We had 1.5 - 2.0 inches of very wet heavy snow. The 15 AMP Snow Joey had plenty of current with the heavy 12 Guage wire plugged into a 20 AMP outlet and 12 Guage wire in the wall to the 20 AMP circuit breaker. The 100 ft cord still had some on the reel at the end of the driveway and also could reach around the workshop to the shed. So it did work as planned. However for the big storms the tractor will still be needed for the heavy stuff near the street.