What’s the Difference Between SOOW, SEOOW, and STOW Portable Cord?

What’s the Difference Between SOOW, SEOOW, and STOW Portable Cord?

And what does the J in SJOOW, SJEOOW and SJTOW mean?

 

Buying flexible portable cord can be a confusing process—the existence of several different types of SO cord makes it hard to choose the right one. To help anyone going through this process, we’ve compiled a quick cheat sheet to explain the differences between them.

First, let’s take note of the similarities: each of these multi-conductor power cables can be used in a variety of applications that require wiring with superior flexibility and durability such as portable tools and equipment, portable appliances, small motors, and associated machinery.

Types of SO Portable Cord & Their Unique Properties

SOOW & SJOOW

The most popular SO cord, these portable cords have a flexible thermoset rubber jacket, making them known for their abrasion resistance and heat resistance, while maintaining cost effectiveness.

SEOOW & SJEOOW

The thermoplastic elastomer jacket is what sets this SEOOW family apart from the SOOW & SJOOW portable cords. This thermoplastic contains chemical resistance characteristics of PVC & flexible properties of rubber.

In more general terms the SEOOW is a high-quality flexible cord engineered with plastic characteristics and rubber jacketed material while the SOOW counterpart is only made up of a rubber jacket. The SEOOW is also more resistant to water than SOOW and can be used at lower temperatures—the SEOOW temperature range is –50ºC to 105ºC.

STOW & SJTOW

These cords have similar resistant properties as the SOOW and the SEOOW, thought not to the same extent. The STOW and SJTOW also have a thermoplastic jacket, making them the least flexible of the SO portable cords. However, they work great for consumer applications, portable lights and power extensions.

The across-the-board durability and versatility of the SO cord is what make it the most popular electrical cord on the market for consumers. Depending on your specific portable cord needs—flexibility, temperature resistance, affordability—there is an SO cord that will do the job.