I recently purchased a new portable electric Kobalt "inflator" (i.e., air compressor). Its power cord for 120-volt household current has a 2-prong plug with one prong thicker than the other, as is common/required nowadays. However, in order to use this inflator in our parking garage, I have to use a 25-foot, 12-gauge outdoor extension cord, even though I will be using the inflator indoors in the garage.
By David N.
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If the compressor came as a two wire unit (not a three with the ground pin cut off) then yes you are good to go.
You should verfiy your garage is GFCI protected as is required by code.
The purpose of the ground pin is to ground the metal parts of the case of what you plug into it. If your compressor is plastic, there is no metal to ground.
Why would you want to ground the metal case? If the hot wire inside your device touches the metal case and you touch it, you get shocked or electrocuted. If the case is grounded and the hot wire touches it, the breaker trips.
Many tools are double insulated (shown as a square within a square). These tools require no ground pin.
The way electricity works , if the metal case is touching the hot wire and it's grounded, it now has a really easy path to ground, so it will not want to travel through your body. This will also cause a spike in current and trip your breaker right away. If the metal case is ungrounded, the case will be sitting at that "hot" voltage waiting for you to touch it so it can travel to ground through your body.
hello. I came across this thread after having purchased the exact same device. It is an automobile tire inflator branded Kobalt and sold at Lowes. The documentation makes it sound as though the device would be damaged if you plug it's two prong polarized cord into a three prong extension cord. Can anyone out there with knowledge of electrical devices verify that device is unlikely to become damaged, safety issues aside.
Many thanks!
Ps. this is a cool little unit. Runs off both 120 V AC and 12 V car auto battery. never put quarters into that gas station air pump thing again!
Yep, is the short answer.. (and the long answer too). Yes, yes and yes.
Appreciate your Question. I'm purchasing an exterior extension cord on Amazon and they all appear to be 3-prong. I merely wand to plug 1 light into it "7 watt" bit it has a 2-prong plug. Wouldn't it be wise if they noted approved for Christmas Light's 2-prong plugs.
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