Someone hands you an extension cord which clearly has a new receptacle installed, what do you do?
First, recognize that your safety is paramount. Consider the things gone wrong that caused a fatality in this ECM article involving a borrowed extension cord.
First thing to do is to inspect the cord for any signs of damage. Minute slices in the insulation are the most difficult to detect–that is until water finds it. Ive been zapped once or twice from tiny amounts of moisture finding these nearly invisible slices.
Next, remove the new receptacle housing and inspect the connections. Do the colors correspond with manufacturer notes typically stamped unto the plastic? Are they secure? Are there any frays that could short across the screw terminals? Look for the obvious…
After replacing the receptacle housing, conduct continuity checks between the receptacles. Mating terminals should be very close to 0 Ohms while non-mating terminals should be infnite “OL”.
These continuity checks will not only verify correct wiring but diagnose internal damage that causes shorts and opens.
