If you’re debating whether to use an electric chainsaw or a gas-powered one, you might be wondering how many amps your electric chainsaw uses.
Electric chainsaws are significantly lighter and quieter than gas-powered ones, but they may not have the same power or longevity (depending on what type of battery is used). They also require less maintenance and don’t produce any harmful emissions.
To find out how many amps your electric chainsaw uses, continue reading.
Chainsaws are useful tools for many homeowners as they can be used for different tasks including chopping wood of various types and even trimming bushes and hedges. There are three major types which are corded chainsaws, cordless chainsaws and petrol chainsaws.
Electric chainsaws are the cheapest type of chainsaws in the market, and many homeowners prefer them as they perfectly combine power, efficiency, and price. These tools come in different capacities and so, they are of different amperages and will deliver different outputs. Some are heavy-duty and can cut very tough wood while others are not as powerful.
The amperage of electric chainsaws ranges from 8 – 15 amps.
The type of chainsaw that you should get depends on the kind of work for which you are going to be using the tool. For instance, if you just want to trim your hedges or the bushes surrounding your house, a small chainsaw would be perfect for this task.
On the other hand, if you were to fell a tree with a wide girth, you’d need to use a chainsaw of higher capacity.
There are two varieties of electric chainsaws which are heavy-duty electric chainsaws and light-duty electric chainsaws. The light-duty ones are less powerful than the heavy-duty ones and so, they are best used for small cutting works.
Heavy-Duty Electric Chainsaws
These tools are designed for cutting jobs that require a lot of power. Therefore, they require a higher power output and would use up to 14-15 amps of power.
Such chainsaws are typically used for cutting trees with a large diameter or for cutting that requires lots of energy. They are not ideal for light work such as trimming grasses or carving wood. A Heavy-duty 15-amp machine can quickly cut a thick branch and will enable you to cut down a big tree with relative ease.
However, you should use these chainsaws with caution and should only fell on large trees if you have a suitable model for the job and the expertise to do so.
Light duty electric chainsaws
Light-duty electric chainsaws do not have as much power as heavy-duty ones. They have an amperage of at most 12 amps. However, there are low-end models of 8 amps.
These low-end models are designed to cut only light materials and cannot easily cut materials that are bigger than 6 inches. Therefore, light-duty chainsaws are best used for pruning and light yard works.
Advantages of electric chainsaws
- They are easy to use: These tools are easy to start and use, and so people who are new to using chainsaws will find them suitable for their use.
- They environmentally friendly: Electric chainsaws do not emit fumes and are more eco-friendly than petrol chainsaws. They also do not produce a lot of noise.
- They are more affordable than other models: Electric chainsaws are the most affordable chainsaws among the three types and are perfect for those who are looking for something that is not too expensive.
- They are lightweight: If you are using a heavy tool, you will easily get tired. Electric chainsaws are lightweight enough for you to use them without tiring easily.
- They require only little maintenance: you do not need to purchase petrol to run your electric chainsaw. However, you will need to oil it regularly, as is the case with other chainsaws.
Disadvantages of electric chainsaws
- Since they require electricity to work, you will not be able to work with them away from an electricity source.
- You will need to take extra precautions when using them so that you do not trip over their cords.
- They do not pack as much power as petrol chainsaws and so most professionals cannot use them.
Extension cords for electric chainsaws
Extension cords come in various sizes and the one you should get depends on the motor and power output of your chainsaw. When getting an extension cord for your chainsaw, you must check to ensure that it matches your chainsaw’s amperage.
The extension cord must match your tool perfectly if it is going to work fine and you are to get the best out of it. Apart from not getting maximum efficiency, using the wrong extension cord can damage your device as the cord would keep getting hot until it burns your chainsaw’s motor.
If you have a heavy-duty chainsaw, you should make sure that besides checking if the extension cord matches it, the cord should also be both water and flame-resistant. You should get a cord that has a power indicator so that you can know when power is running through it. Powerful electric chainsaws should make use of about 100 feet cords with 10 gauges.
Less powerful ones should make use of 50 to 100 feet cords with 12 to 14 gauges. Like the cords for the powerful chainsaws, these should also be water-resistant and have a power indicator. Refer to your chainsaws manual if you do not know its amperage before buying an extension cord for it.
As with any electrical device, you should be cautious when using electric chainsaws, or any chainsaw for that matter. Whether you are handling a heavy-duty or light-duty chainsaw, you should be very careful as chainsaws can be dangerous materials and can cause serious accidents. If you are new to using these tools, then you should make use of light-duty ones and do not carry out serious cutting jobs until you get enough experience.
Also, it is better that you consider the cutting work that you want to use the saw for and your requirements before purchasing it. It would not serve your purpose is to purchase a heavy-duty saw for light jobs like clipping the grasses in your garden. In fact, it can be dangerous for you to use such a chainsaw for that purpose.
Final Thoughts
Electric chainsaws come as heavy-duty and light-duty saws. The light-duty ones will usually have a lower amperage than the heavy-duty ones.
Once you know the amperage of your electric chainsaw, and you use an extension cord that is compatible with it, then you should have a smooth and easy cutting experience. Always remember to take extra caution with chainsaws so that you can avoid accidents.
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
