Why Male-to-Male Extension Cords Are Rare and Dangerous

Every year, hardware stores get requests for male-to-male electrical cords, mostly from people who have strung their Christmas lights backwards, leaving the female end of the cord near the electrical receptacle instead of the male end. Intuitively, male-to-male electrical cords are an easy solution to this dilemma, but they aren’t a safe one.

HVAC technician WG Hickman explains: “A male-to-male cord has exposed prongs on both ends, meaning one end would always be “live” when plugged in, posing serious shock and fire risks.” In other words, such a cord is a serious fire and electrocution risk.

Here’s why electricians call this type of extension cord a “suicide cord.”

Are Male-to-Male Electrical Cords Made?

Unfortunately, they are. You can buy one on Amazon (I checked) and at other online retail sites. You’re not as likely to find one at a brick-and-mortar hardware store, but it’s possible.

A better question is whether they should be available, and Hickman’s answer is that they shouldn’t: “A male-to-male cord has exposed prongs on both ends, meaning one end would always be ‘live’ when plugged in, posing serious shock and fire risks. These cords create a high chance of accidental electrocution and can overload circuits, as there’s no grounding or control over the power flow.”

This isn’t controversial. According to Hassett Hardware’s website, when customers ask if they stock male-to-male extension cords, the answer is a resounding “No” and that no one else should either. Even though they might be available online, “we implore you, please don’t use one,” the website states.

Are Male-to-Male Cords Dangerous?

FAMILY HANDYMAN

If you’ve read this far, you already know the answer. Still, just to reiterate, Hickman says: “This ‘suicide cord’ method is illegal and dangerous, risking damage to home circuits, injury to utility workers, and even fires.” There’s no danger if both ends are securely plugged in, but what happens if someone trips on a cord, pulling out the live male end? Or someone forgets to plug that end in? It wouldn’t be the first case of human error causing a fire or injury, but in this case, the danger is preventable by not using the cord in the first place.

If you use such a cord outdoors, you wouldn’t even have to touch the live prongs to get shocked. If it’s raining, water on the ground or wet leaves can conduct electricity and shock someone far from the cord. Not to mention that animals and children could touch the prongs, not knowing what they are, and suffer shock or possible electrocution.

Are There Alternatives to Male-to-Male Electrical Cords?

Yes. Portable power stations can offer a safe and flexible way to get power without complex wiring or dangerous cords, says Hickman. They’re ideal for temporary setups, especially in areas without permanent outlets. If you’re looking for a way to get power to your Christmas lights and don’t have a power station, you’re better off restringing the lights to get the male end of the string closer to the receptacle than using an illegal cord.

A common reason for using a male-to-male cord is to provide emergency power from a generator. You plug one end into the generator and the other end into a wall outlet. This can provide power to the whole house, but it isn’t a safe or legal way to do it because, besides using a dangerous cord, you’re back-feeding power to the grid, which could injure a linesman working to restore power.

The safe way and legal way to power your house from a standby generator is to install a transfer switch. “It will route power to essential circuits without creating hazardous connections,” advises Hickman. “It will prevent back feeding into the grid, which can be deadly to utility workers and others.”

About the Expert

• WG Hickman founded Mississippi-based Tri-County Air Service in 2005 and currently owns and operates the business.

Sources

• Hassett Hardware: Can You Buy Double Male Extension Cords? And Why You Should Never Use Them; 2024.