Stop buying those dollar store extension cords, seriously

I see people grabbing those super cheap extension cords at the discount bin all the time and it makes me nervous every time. A buddy of mine picked up a 6-foot one for like $2.50 last month and the casing was already cracking near the plug after 3 uses. I'm not saying spend $30 on a cord, but at least go to a hardware store's clearance rack instead where they're still UL listed. The gauge wire in those bargain bin cords is too thin for anything bigger than a phone charger. Has anyone else had one get hot to the touch or am I being too paranoid?

2 comments

Log in to join the discussion

Log In

2 Comments

amymason3mo ago

Yeah those things are basically fire hazards with plugs.

6

spencer_thomas43mo ago

@amymason you're not wrong honestly. I had one of those cheap space heaters and it literally melted the extension cord I had it plugged into. Like the plastic just started dripping down the side of the plug. Scared the crap out of me. Ngl I'm surprised more apartments don't go up in smoke from people running those things on old wiring at 3am.

3