Microwave cable goes (from MW cabinet) through the hole in the MW cabinet wall to the receptacle in the adjacent cabinet. No receptacle in MW cabinet. A straight plug sticking out in my cupboard, not even a flat plug, - how stupid is that? I'm tidying things up and thinking to put a short 2ft extension cord that has a low profile plug and a cable exiting at 4 o'clock. They don't come in 14 AWG, only 16 AWG. V-drop @14A will be 0.22V. Correct me if I'm wrong, this is a heater with 0.22*14=2.8W. Seems like nothing to worry?

If having company makes you feel any better, my setup is just the same with a straight plug in the cabinet. The power to my microwave is probably pretty typical: 25 foot shore cord, romex to the breaker box, romex to the slideout area, connector transition to flexible cable, transition connector back to romex in the slide, another connector where the romex comes out of the slideout wall, finally romex to the outlet the microwave is plugged into. Sometimes I'm surprised the darn thing works at all! It's all 12 gauge. I'd feel a bit uneasy using even a 14 gauge run. You could always cut the plug off the existing cord and replace it with an angle plug. They're not as slim as the one in your picture, but a lot better than the straight plug.

Unless you're running it for an hour, I wouldn't be concerned.

My gut feeling is: You will be trading one "eyesore" for another one and the coiled up extra cord will end up being more problematic than the plug sticking out from the wall a bit.I would NOT use an extension cord that is lighter gauge than the one the manufacturer has attached......on anything. Simply putting a different style plug on the end of the existing cord might be a better solution.

What in the world is the big deal about the plug on the end of the cord??Are you going to be able to put one more coffee cup in there ?There are a few things in my MH that are a lot stupid'er than that.Otherwise move the receptical into the microwave cabinet, only to find out the MV won't fit! Now that mite make it on my list of stupid stuff :)))

I have the same basic arrangement in my S&B house: the microwave/hood plugs into an outlet in the cupboard above, and takes up a good bit of otherwise useful space. I've thought about building a little shelf or something to make it less obnoxious, but have not gotten around to it yet.16 gauge would probably be OK, but marginal. Most extension cords will have labeling on them or their packaging regarding their maximum current ratings, although sometimes disguised slightly as "up to xxxx watts". I think the Home Depot web site (where you were looking at this) usually has that information listed.

Heat resulting from voltage drop? | Good Sam Community

RJsfishin
Explorer
Dec 27, 2015
What does all this have to do w/ coffee ??
westend
Explorer
Dec 27, 2015
No worries with the proposed extension cord.

Lately, I've started replacing certain existing OEM cords with an IEC receptacle. I can purchase used or new IEC cords for peanuts and they seem to make a better connection.
Golden_HVAC
Explorer
Dec 27, 2015
Over the length of a 2' long cord, I don't think you could measure the voltage drop with a 12 amp load running through it.

Once I was parked in the pits at the Bowling Green Raceway, and had a #14 extension cord 50' long plugged into a 15 amp receptacle, with no fuses in sight. To that I plugged in a #12 25' cord, then a adapter to my 30 amp 25' extension cord, then my voltage booster, then the RV 25' long cord. From there, some 15' of #15 wire leads to the circuit breaker box, and another 25' leads to and from the inverter/charger with transfer switch.

Anyway while under load of the air conditioner on a 90F day, the voltage dropped to only 108 volts while being boosted by 12 volts! So I double boosted it back up to 115 volts! I can only guess how many amps where going through the #14 cord to the booster, then about 15 amps out of the booster. Voltage into the booster must have been around 92-95 volts?

Anyway the short small cord can work. The microwave will be fine. . .

Fred.
Ozlander
Explorer
Dec 26, 2015
I cord on the microwave is probably 16 gauge.
I would not worry about using the extension.
NinerBikes
Explorer
Dec 26, 2015
Coffee? Where? I'm ready!
RoyB
Explorer II
Dec 26, 2015
2OLDMAN - I thought he was wanting to add a receptacle near the kitchen...

The only large wattage draw would be the coffee pot...

Oh well haha... back to my corner... Momabear has run me off already this morning as well...

If it wasn't misty rain I would head for the firepit at the edge of the woods and hang out...

Sorry bout that chief.... Me done for the day...

Roy Ken
RJsfishin
Explorer
Dec 26, 2015
2oldman wrote:
How did we get on coffee?

Because some here need some bad !!:)
pianotuna
Nomad III
Dec 26, 2015
The folks who designed mine put the female plug on the ceiling. So far it has not vibrated out--but what a STUPID design.

You could make your own #12 cord.

You could daisy chain an outlet in the microwave part of the cabinet using surface mount wiring.
2oldman
Explorer II
Dec 26, 2015
How did we get on coffee?
RoyB
Explorer II
Dec 26, 2015
The best kind of coffee pot is one that only brews for less than five minutes then pours up into a thermo carafe... Then all AC power demand is turned off (No long term heating-up of power cord)...

Mine keeps the coffee hot all day long in the thermos carafe...

Roy Ken