The power that an extension cord will deliver is determined by a couple major factors -- the guage of the wire and the length of the cord. The heavier the wire, the more amperage it is able to safely conduct. Therefore, a regular-duty extension cord of 16-guage wire can be used for a table lamp while a circular saw will require a heavy duty 12-gauge cord. The ability of any cord to carry electricity decreases as its length increases. So, in situations where you might otherwise be able to use a medium-duty cord, you might need to upgrade to a heavy-duty one when making a longer run. Remember to fully uncoil an extension cord before using it. A coiled cord builds up heat and in extreme cases the jacket can melt, creating a fire or shock hazard. And that's The On The House tip for today.