Locate the required wattage of the electronic device normally located at the bottom or back.
Calculating the correct gauge
- Calculate the total wattage of all your devices.
- Divide by 110 (the standard household voltage )
- Round down to the nearest whole number
The result is the cord gauge that you need.
Example
Total wattage = 1200W / 110 = 10.9
Round down = 10 Gauge.
Most devices will do fine with 12 gauge extension cords. Power hungry devices such as lawnmowers, heavy machines, require a lower gauge such as 10AWG. Keep in mind, the lower the gauge means the thicker the cord.