I’ve read several stories on why people choose to purchase and/or make these male to male power cords, but for some reason, they’re referred to as “suicide cables.”
Why? See, power cords have two ends: the male and the female end. The male end is the plug and the female end is the receptacle. When you plug the male end into a wall outlet, the female end or connector is ready to be plugged into a device or equipment, which will allow the electricity to flow through. That is a safe connection. BUT, if you plug the male end into an outlet and have a male plug on the other end, this leaves an exposed conductor (which is the biggest NO-NO).
Look at it like this:
When you’re planning on hanging up lights (say, for Christmas) you need to make sure you’re starting in the right direction. Often people put their lights up but when it’s time to make the house shine, they realize the plug… just won’t connect. That’s because you have two female ends in your hands. So, you think, “okay well I can just buy a male to male cord. That way, everything can connect into the correct plug.”
If you decide a male to male power cord is what will do the trick, you are wrong. Using male to male cords can be fatally dangerous. Even ACE Hardware thinks it’s “possible immoral.”
So, if you take the tim
e to put your lights together you will find out exactly where you need to start and the specific outlet.
Here you are. You’ve purchase or DIY a self-made male to male cord. Well, now that you have that cord, it just means we’ve got a live current somewhere around here. Which means there’s a live connector (probably in a bush around the outside of the house) with high electricity. And if your grandchild is playing in the bush, not noticing the exposed conductors, this could lead to him/her receiving an electric shock. Or worse, all that time spent putting those lights up is now wasted because the exposed conductors (that have been hanging around) started a spark and can burn your house down… to pieces.
Therefore, DO NOT even consider buying those “suicide cables.”
Be patient when decorating your homes. Take the time to know where to start and how to be cautious. Your grandchild will thank you in the long run!!!