We get asked every year, at least a dozen times if we sell double male extension cords.
The unequivocal answer is, “No.” And no one else should either. They are extremely dangerous. The answer used to be that there wasn’t such a thing, but someone did finally make one.
You can find them on Amazon and at Walmart, but we implore you, please don’t use one.
We’ll say it again: they are extremely dangerous.
DOUBLE MALE EXTENTION CORDS ARE NOT A COMPLETE CIRCUIT
They are not a complete circuit and as such, both ends are live (that is of course why people want them) and they can arc electricity causing electrocution and fire.
Just let that one sink in a little. Causing electrocution and fire. The consumer product safety commission warns consumers to stop using double male extension cords for just these reasons.
There are really only two uses for a double male extension cord – you’re trying to run your house off a generator during a power outage or you’ve strung your holiday lights on your tree backwards and you’ve got a female end closest to your wall outlet – which is also female. Both of these are terrible ideas and very dangerous, life threatening even.
So please, keep your family, your pets, your kids, your grandparents, your friends and your neighbors safe this year and just say no to the double male extension cord. There are other ways to run your house off a generator and restringing isn’t the end of the world.
HOW TO AVOID RESTRINGING YOUR LIGHTS
We get it, and we’ve got the answer for you, but it’s the one you don’t want to hear: restring your lights. It seems like a herculean task (we’re not exaggerating here) and the last thing you want to do when you’re already in a rush cleaning and planning and hosting and corralling dogs and kids and in-laws is to re-string the dang tree lights. I’m sure stronger language is generally used here, but we try to keep it PG.
But, we assure you, we don’t – and won’t ever – sell a male to male extension cord and we really don’t want you to use one either. When there are children and pets and lots of chaos and extra people around, the last thing you want in your home is a live electrical fire hazard, that someone will inevitably touch. They are called widowmakers or suicide cords for a reason. We’re not kidding here.
NEVER STRING YOUR LIGHTS BACKWARDS AGAIN
Find the female ends of every single strand of lights you have and paint them red. Seriously, you can use nail polish or a spray can, we don’t care. But now you’ll never string them the wrong way again. Next, lay those crazy-making lights out before you start winding them around your tree. Find the female ends and line them all up in the same direction. Take one red-painted end and put it at the top of your tree and start stringing.
IF YOU’VE ALREADY STRUNG THEM BACKWARDS
1. Restring. We know, we know. But just do it.
2. Get a regular extension cord – just one – and make sure it’s long enough to reach from the top of your tree all the way down to the floor and over to your wall plug. We recommend one in green or black. Find that male end of your string lights (which is likely at the very top of your tree) and nestle it into the branches at the back so it’s hard to see, or if your tree is in the middle of the room, find the least-viewable side. Plug the female end of your extension cord into the male end of your lights way at the top of your tree and then tuck it in between the branches, as close up against the trunk as you can get it. String it all the way down to the bottom of the tree, run it under the tree skirt and then plug it into the wall. Voilà!
YOU’RE THINKING THAT GENERATOR IDEA ISN’T HALF BAD
Plugging your generator in to power your house is very, very dangerous. Without the proper disconnect switch from the grid, you could be putting power back into the power lines, and into the hands of the men and women out trying to restore power to your neighborhood. Additionally, most small generators won’t produce enough power to run a whole home, putting your electronics at serious risk of damage, destruction and even fire. Lastly, and the most technical one, homes run on two phases of power, and plugging your generator in will only power one of the two phases, causing those same risks of fire, damage and destruction. Bottom line, never plug a generator into a wall outlet. If you really need to power a device, use the appropriate extension cord to get power to the appliance that you need to keep running.
WE’RE HERE TO HELP
Need help choosing lights, finding extension cords or other holiday accessories? We’re here to help in any way we can. Call, text or come on in and we’ll get you set up.
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