Keep in mind, the NFPA (National Fire Prevention Association) does not recommend using an extension cord for any appliance. If you plan to use the extension cord “temporarily,” buying the right extension cord can make things work. Keep in mind; you should minimize the load on the circuit by removing as many items from it as possible. With that warning in mind …
Here are our recommendations for the 4 best extension cords for garage freezers on the market:
POWTECH Heavy duty 25 FT Air Conditioner and Major Appliance Extension Cord
This is a UL listed 14-gauge extension cord rated at 15 amps, 125V, 1875 watts. At 25 feet long, it’s the longest of our selections but should let you place your freezer in a convenient location in your garage. The cord features a three-prong plug that ensures your freezer remains grounded to reduce the risk of electrical shock.
The 90-degree plug (see full specs) helps keep the cord flush against the wall, which is really handy as the cord doesn’t stick out from the wall. UL listing ensures it meets with stringent safety standards. The single socket on the end ensures nothing else can be plugged in by accident overloading the cord or circuit.
Coleman Cable 3535 14/3 General-Use Appliance Extension Cord
This extension cable from Coleman features a flat three-core design covered in heavy-duty vinyl. Along with a 90-degree plug, the design makes it much easier to route around the baseboard of your garage from the outlet to the freezer. The right-angle plug also helps to prevent accidental disconnection.
Not only is this extension cord UL listed (see full specs), but it is rated by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) for outdoor use. These ratings make the 3535 the perfect choice for use in the garage. It measures 12 feet long and consists of 14/3-gauge wire rated for 15 amps.
Prime, Gray, EC680506L Air Conditioner and Major Appliance Extension Cord
If you must use an extension cord to plug your freezer, the best extension cord for garage freezers is one that is only as long as needed to bridge the gap from the wall outlet to your freezer’s cord. Six feet is an optimum choice, one that this cord from Prime Gray meets this need by providing six feet of 3-conductor 3SPT wire rated at 15 amps/1875 watts.
This Prime Gray extension cord is both UL (Underwriter’s Laboratories) and CSA (Canadian Standards Association) rated for safety when used appropriately. Both plug and receptacle are covered in molded-on vinyl for durability.
Certified Appliance Accessories 15-0306 15-Amp Appliance Extension Cord
This single outlet appliance extension cord is our most affordable best extension cord for a garage freezer. Yet it still offers a 90-degree plug to help keep the cord close to the wall and avoid it being accidentally unplugged or causing someone to trip and fall. This extension cord is rated at 15A, 125V, and 1875W, which is exactly what you need to keep the power flowing to your freezer.
Along with being UL rated, this cord comes with a five-year limited warranty. This is a great warranty, it simply states that if your extension cord isn’t still working perfectly for these five years, the manufacturer will replace it free of charge.
When Buying the Best Extension Cord for Garage Freezers
The last thing you should do is run out to the nearest hardware or department store and grab the first “heavy-duty” extension cord you see. Keep in mind that running an extension cord to your freezer is not recommended and can pose certain risks. In order to avoid this, you need to be sure the you are getting the best extension cord for a garage freezer for the money you have to spend.
How Far is the Garage Freezer from the Outlet?
Start by determining how far from the outlet you plan to place your freezer. While you don’t want a cord that barely reaches and leaves both it and the cord from your freezer stretched, you also don’t want extra feet of cord lying all over your floor. While you might not be able to find one that is the exact length you need, you should have no problem finding one that is long enough without being too long. For maximum efficiency, you should try to install your freezer no more than six feet from the outlet.
If you’ve ever wondered why the power lines outside your house carry thousands of volts, yet your home runs on only 110V, the answer is voltage drop. The longer a wire runs, the more the voltage at the terminating end will drop. Your freezer is designed to run at maximum efficiency within a narrow voltage range. This is typically from 110 to 125V. If your cord is too long and the power coming into your home is at the lower end of this range, the voltage drop may cause damage to your freezer.
Extension Cord Wire Gauge
The term “wire gauge” refers to the diameter of a single wire or one made from smaller wires that have been put together to create a larger wire. Unlike most things where the higher number would mean larger, with wire gauges, it’s the opposite. The smaller the number, the thicker the wire and the more electrical energy it’s capable of handling safely. If you choose an extension cord whose gauge is too small, you run the risk of overheating and fire.
Your freezers should show you the voltage required, and the amperage rating of the entire freezer, including any lights, icemakers, or automatic defrost systems. If you know these numbers, it’s easy to calculate the wattage because volts x amps = watts. But what if you have the voltage and wattage? That’s just as easy, watts/volts = amps. Armed with these numbers, you have a much better chance of finding the best extension cord for garage freezers.
Extension Cord Wire Type
Didn’t we already discuss this? Well, yes and no both in the same breath. We talked about length, gauge, and how to calculate the necessary information. But what we didn’t cover was the “type” of wire to buy. To start with, any extension cord you buy must have three wires, a three-prong plug, and corresponding outlet. All extension cords sold in the U.S. and UL rated contain individual copper wires. These provide a positive, neutral, and ground wire.
The plug should also have all three prongs, the positive, neutral, and most importantly of all, the ground. NEVER be tempted to cut the ground pin from the plug. If your garage has two-prong outlets, have an electrician install one with a functional ground circuit. The extension cord’s outlet must also have space for the ground pin on your freezer’s plug.
Extension Cord Price
While price should never be the deciding factor when looking for the best extension cord for garage freezers, it’s still something you probably need to keep in mind depending on your budget. Each of the extension cords above is more than up to the task of providing the freezer in your garage the power it needs to keep your steaks frozen solid. Hopefully, this information will help make it much easier for you to find the right extension cord to fit your needs, no matter what they happen to be. Good luck!
