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 A/C electrical extension cords hook the power cords of musical equipment to whatever A/C power source is available. The power source may be the outlets on the stage, your own "clean" power distribution system or a generator at outdoor concerts.
Nobody knows much about power cords, because they are an essential part of our lives. Most of the power cords we use on stage are too small a gauge and are orange (ugly).
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The situation
Electrical extension cords are a way of life for electronic musicians. Everything with a power cord or an outboard power supply (wall wart) needs to end up in a power strip or A/C cord.
Since many music stores do not yet sell the proper A/C cords that musicians need, the musicians buy their audio cables at the music store, then go to Home Depot to buy their orange 25', 16-gauge $4.99 economy-deal cables.
The Problems
 Our equipment on stage, especially the power amps, needs lots of current to operate properly. Guess what? Power cords are about as close to speaker cables as it gets. They have three conductors (one for ground) instead of two. They are generally offered in 16 ga., 14 ga., and 12 ga. versions in various lengths from 3 feet to 100 feet.
They have the same problems as speaker cables - resistance (power lost into the cable). Remember, the smaller the gauge, the more resistance it takes to get all the power to your equipment.
Gang, this is a no-brainer. If you want your equipment to work right, you need to give it all the power it needs to do the job. That is why so many traveling acts take along their own power distribution systems that they tie into a clean (hopefully) 220 amp source in the club or whatever the venue.
Solutions
Short of your own power distribution system, which is expensive and a luxury, here are some solutions to your power cable problems.
Buy short 16- or 14- gauge cables for equipment like mixers and processing gear. There is so little current use that gauge is insignificant. For power amps, guitar and bass amps and powered mixers, use 12 gauge cables, period. For feeds from A/C outlets on the stage, use 12 gauge cables, period. None of this guarantees you will get all the power you need to run your stage, but it will certainly help.
Pro Co sells the first A/C cables designed specifically for entertainers. They are called E-Cords(TM) brand and have four redeeming factors:
- They are built to take the rigors of the road; they are not whimpy.
- The are available in 16-, 14- and 12 gauges and several end configurations.
- They are black. No orange cables allowed.
- They are priced about the same as other manufacturers products.
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