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Why the cord and plug get hot?

Updated: 5/27/2024
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Wiki User

15y ago

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A perfect wire would have no resistance, but we don't live in a perfect world, so they do. Anything that creates electrical resistance ends up turning some of that resistance into heat. The plug of a cord tends to have more metal (hence more resistance) than the rest of the wire, so it gets relatively hotter.

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11y ago
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AnswerBot

1mo ago

Cords and plugs can get hot if there is resistance in the electrical connection, causing energy to be lost as heat. This can happen due to overloading the circuit, loose connections, or using a plug that is not rated for the appliance's power consumption. Over time, this heat buildup can lead to potential fire hazards, so it's important to address the issue promptly.

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11y ago

Because there is electrical current running through the wires and connectors, each of which have resistance, thus dissipating some amount of power as heat.

Under ordinary use, no appliance plug should get overly hot. If something is too hot to touch with your bare hands, something is wrong and it should be switched off and disconnected until the problem can be found.

North American plugs tend to get much hotter in use, compared to European plugs, because European plugs -particularly British plugs- use pins with significantly-large cross-sectional areas.

In my experience, a British plug doesn't even get moderately warm -even when supplying a 3-kW load, whereas I have had Canadian plugs that are quite warm even when supplying an electric drill load!

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15y ago

Elecricity vibrates the cord so faintly we can't feel it. Vibration causes friction. Friction causes heat. my thire was better!

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It is normal for the plug and cord of a roaster oven to get warm during use, but they should not become excessively hot. If you notice that the plug and cord are getting extremely hot, you should unplug the appliance immediately and contact the manufacturer for further guidance. This could indicate a safety issue that needs to be addressed.


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In a standard extension cord, the wire that is hot is typically the black wire. The green wire is usually the ground wire, while the second black wire may be neutral. It's always best to use a voltage tester to confirm which wire is hot before handling the wires.

Related questions

Should the plug and cord get hot on my roaster oven when it is in use?

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