I recommend writing down the electrical requirements for the microwave oven, or taking a picture of the label showing them, and then going to a hardware store for an extension cord with maximum amperage and wattage that meets or exceeds what the oven needs. Here, for instance, is one from Ace Hardware that’s rated for 15 amps and 1875 watts. It’s also only three feet long. You might want to ask a store clerk for advice.
An extension cord with 14 AWG should not be rated for 15 amps. A 15 amp cord should be 20 AWG.
Dangerously inadequate according to this page:
I am not an electrician, but you are wrong. 14-gauge wire is normally used to wire a 15-amp circuit. 12-gauge wire is normally used for a 20-amp circuit.
20-gauge wire is used for thermostats and doorbells. And crafts.
ETA: @DPRK posted the definitive chart.
How about instead of advising someone buy whatever gauge of extension cord, just to buy one rated for the appropriate voltage and amperage?
good catch. a 15 amp cord should be 12 gage not 20 just a brain fart.
14 gage wire is good for 15 amps and 12 gage wire is good for 20 amps. This rating is for single wires not SJ or SJO cords. there 14 should not be used if the load is 15 amps and 12 gage is good for only 15 amps. In an extensiopn cord the wires are bundled tight and can not dissipate heat as well as a single wire in conduit or romex cable.
I’m no expert but I’ve used (and am currently using one) 1875 watt extension cords of varying length up to 25 ft. for “modern” electric space heaters that have a maximum wattage of 1500. Typically they were/are UL listed 14 gauge,15 amps, grounded with vinyl insulation.
I looked through a number of websites/articles that featured advice from electricians and other “experts” before actually doing this. Some gave a standard “we don’t recommend this but…” disclaimer before explaining what’s safe and what is not.
Do any of these cords have the ground prong at the end? I just looked at several dozen on Amazon, none of which did. The reason I ask is that I have a socket that is behind a bookcase and I would like to insert an extension in it that comes up behind the bookcase and sits on top. A heavy cord that goes straight down would fit awkwardly in it. A few of the cords on Amazon came out sort of sideways downward and they are better than nothing but a 4’ cord pointing straight up would be ideal.
I assume what you’re asking is whether there are extension cords designed to go straight up from the outlet rather than down. I haven’t seen any but I did have a similar problem with an outlet behind a bookcase. In this case the problem was compounded by the fact that there was almost no clearance behind the bookcase, plus I needed the cord to go upwards to power some lights that I had installed on the bookcases. The problem was solved by an ingenious extension cord that seemed purpose-built for this situation. The plug end was very flat, and it rotated so you could position it any way you wanted.
It was only a light-duty cord, but that was all I needed. Unfortunately I don’t remember where I got it. Pretty sure it was a local hardware store and not Amazon. Amazon has tons of flat-end extension cords, but none seem to be adjustable WRT angle. If it’s really important, I suppose a fairly simple alternative is to re-install the outlet upside down (taking care to turn off the breaker first!).
We have them in Canada, to plug in our block heaters.
Canadian Tire has them in varying length, starting at 6’ 7":
I would think you could find similar cords from stores in North Dakota, Minnesota and the UP?
But that’s only 13A (probably #16 wire), so only about 1400-1500 watts. Possibly not big enough for OP’s hi-power microwave.
For Hari_Seldon.
This is probably the best suggestion and warrants being called out separately. Use a downward oriented flat-plug cord on an upside down outlet to obtain an upward oriented flat-plug cord.