Can a wire gauge be too large?

dibbons said

I burned up a cheap electric leaf blower the first time I used it with a long, small gauge extension cord. At first I thought it was poor workmanship, now I wonder if the current was too weak to run it efficiently (something they should have taught us kids along the way).

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It's a compound problem...too SMALL a wire guage will not carry the rated current and overheat the cord or connection (plug). Too LONG of a cord will cause voltage drop...(as voltage goes down-current (Amp) draw goes up)...if it's connected to a motor that causes the motor to over heat from the excess amp draw...if it's not thermally protected then it fries:oops:

If it's too long and too small a guage...well...you get a quicker meltdown.