What’s the difference between a heavy duty (12 gauge) extension cord and the 12ga wiring inside the walls of a typical north American home? Why can’t you just chop the ends off and use it to wire up an outlet?

Question

What’s the difference between a heavy duty (12 gauge) extension cord and the 12ga wiring inside the walls of a typical north American home? Why can’t you just chop the ends off and use it to wire up an outlet?

In: 250

Answer 1

Extension cords need to be flexible, so the wire they use is made up of many different thin strands of wire twisted together. In-wall home wiring is solid copper. The solid conductor can handle much more current than stranded wire at the same guage.