I used to have a HARD time making the right decision between choosing these two products.
I wished there were blogs related to this that answered any of my electrical questions. That’s part of why I’m sharing some of what I learned to help you pick between an extension cord vs. Romex.
What’s a Romex anyway? (Pros vs. Cons)
It is a brand name that describes a specific type of electric conductor that is not covered by any metal. They are wires that can be used in many indoor settings. They are located inside your home and within the walls. These cables are used to power up the lights in a room.
| Advantages (Pros) | Disadvantages (Cons) |
| *Indoor Wiring
*Used for internal wiring to power up lights. |
*Not intended for outdoor use *Requires permanent installation |
However, they won’t survive outside. Since they are not covered with enough insulation and the outer shell isn’t made of durable materials.
Romex wires are made not to be moved. A perpetual wiring setup is done to prevent wires from being bent.
Outdoor wires like UF-type cables are recommended if you plan to set up any permanent wiring that is exposed to the weather. Outdoor wires are not always made of metal, as UF cables can be buried beneath the ground to avoid other people’s feet.
Related Article: Extension cord vs. stinger (7 Surpising Facts)
Which is better: Extension cord or Romex?
An extension cord is better, no doubt about it. It is versatile to be used for indoor & outdoor use. But if you prefer a permanent wire setup for indoor use, then Romex is selected.
Image 1.1 Romex wire
Romex is susceptible to bending and breaking over time when it’s not safely tucked in within walls. Proper protection is needed to prevent wires from moving out of their permanent position.
Can you convert Romex to be an extension cord?
No. Because of Romex’s structure, it won’t’ stand the typical bendiness that an extension cord requires. You also can’t freely move Romex around from one socket to another. This limits it from beating the extension cord in a battle.
They must be protected with an electrical conduit to prevent scratches along the wire. It must also be fastened for every 4.5 feet to ensure that the cables are straight and that there will be no disruption to the electrical flow. This is why Romex can’t be converted as an extension cord.
Can extension cords become permanent wiring?
Yes, extension cords would stand for a semi-permanent wiring setup.
Image 1.2 Leftover wiring from an outlet.
However, the International Fire Code doesn’t advise us to do it.
This includes placing extension cords within walls and ceilings.
It’s not recommended to place their wires under doors as, despite being a fire hazard, you could accidentally trip onto them. You should also not place extension cords under carpets or any floor covering (common sense) as the wires can come into contact with combustible materials.
Will an extension cord waste more electricity?
No. Most extensions are designed to be like a bridge.
It must first connect to two different land areas to fulfill its purpose. Similarly, the extension cord needs to connect first by plugging in the socket (land area #1), and any appliance such as your phone should be charged into the extension cord (land area #2)
Image 1.3 Bridge Metaphor, connecting two dark land areas.
Going back to our metaphor, the bridge will only be valid if cars cross it. But if there are none, the bridge would remain the same. It would not suddenly ask drivers to pay a toll fee even when not used.
Similarly, the extension cord would act as a bridge. It won’t consume any electricity as long as nothing is plugged into it. If you leave them in the socket, it won’t hurt your electrical bill.
But we generally won’t advise you to leave them plugged in when you don’t use them because of the fire risk.
So if you plug the extension cord in the socket, it WON’T consume any electricity.
The extension cord is not the only appliance that doesn’t consume electricity when you leave it in the socket. Other appliances like coffee makers, printers, and television are just in powered-off mode. Once you press the ” on ” button, electricity will only be consumed.
Safer Alternative: How to leave extension cord plugged in forever
If you want to plug your extension cord forever, one method is looking for a feature that includes an on-off switch button. Turning it off would eliminate any electric flow from the socket.
Even if we explained earlier how extension cords would cost $0 in your electric bill, this gives other people peace of mind.
Then again, no matter what type of new features are added to an extension cord, we always advise you to prioritize overall safety first. Leaving them in the socket can reveal them to external factors such as moisture build-up and outdoor hot weather. The mix of this climate can cause your extension to degrade and, at worst cause a fire slowly.
What are the different types of extension cords?
| Symbol | Meaning |
| S | General Indoor use. |
| W | Outdoor use. |
| J | 300-volt insulation |
| P | Parallel wire type |
| T | Vinyl Thermoplastic quality |
| E | TPE quality |
| O | Oil-resistant cord |
Above is the table stating the different types of extension cords used from symbols such as S, W, J, etc. It’s essential to determine what the character means to verify what type of extension cords will best fit your use.
Why 3-Prong Extension Cords could save your life
| Extension Cord Type | Meaning |
| 1 | Hot |
| 2 | Neutral |
| 3 | Safety |
The difference of a third-prong is that, unlike the earlier 2-prongs, it will further lessen any possible electrical hazard. It’s an alternative route for your electricity to go on in cases of problems.
It means the “safety-prong” to describe it would bring us back to science class in 5th grade, but we’ll explain it in easy-to-understand terms. The ground wire is your nervous system. If it senses any dangers, such as if you’re touching a burning pan, it would immediately jerky your hand away from danger.
The 3-prong has the same functionality; if it senses any harm, it will immediately halt electric flow and ground it. Doing this makes it safe for the next person to use the 3-prong extension cord.
What to Avoid: Don’t do this with extension cords
Each extension cord has a limit, the “amp,” more commonly known as the ampere. If you don’t match the amp of your device (e.g., phone) and the amp of the extension cord, it may overheat and cause electrical overload.
You want to check this to avoid starting any untoward fires. You can check the wattage indication in many devices to verify if it complements each other.
Extension Cords vs. Surge Protector
The extension would not protect your appliance in case there are any spikes in electricity.
Image 1.4 Surge Protector
They are not the same as surge protectors. Unlike extension cords, surge protectors block any excess electrical current and funnel only the required amount to your gadget.
They are being widely used as any surge, no matter how small, could have permanently damaging effects on the one that is transferring the energy.
Can you place an extension cord inside a wall?
No. In the first half of this article, we shared how you should do your best to avoid using the extension cord as a permanent setup.
Even if they are durable and could last longer than your average Romex wire, extension cords are not simply built for the job. Plus, you would want to avoid any electrical hazards risk.
Bottom Line:
To summarize, we have shared the difference between the extension cord and Romex. You already know why Romex is generally used indoors and why they can never replace the functionality of the extension cord.
If you have any questions or suggestions for improvement, we’re all ears and open to feedback.
Until then, thank you for taking the time to read this. We hope that you learn even just 1% more about extension cords.
