How many conductors are in a 100A Bates extension?

• A. 2
• B. 3
• C. 4
• D. 5

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that a standard Bates extension cord includes three separate conductors: one hot, one neutral, and one equipment grounding conductor. The 100 A rating relates to how much current the cord can safely carry, which depends on conductor size and insulation, not on adding more wires. The hot and neutral carry the load current, while the grounding conductor provides a safety path in case of a fault. So, even for a high-current extension, you’d still have three conductors in the cord.