A cord with 50-amp plugs on each end is not automatically a 50-amp assembly — that gap between what the cable says and what the finished cord is rated for is where most of the trouble starts. Reading a 6/4 SOOW cord data sheet takes two minutes once you know what the letters stand for, and it separates a safe temporary feed from one that runs hot.
What Do The Numbers And Letters Mean?
The 6 is the conductor gauge and the 4 is the conductor count, so a 6/4 cable holds four 6-AWG conductors, while SOOW adds oil resistance to both the insulation and the jacket plus a weather-rated outer layer. Each letter carries one meaning:
- S: hard-service flexible cord, generally rated 600 volts.
- O: oil-resistant outer jacket.
- OO: oil-resistant insulation as well as an oil-resistant jacket.
- W: weather- and water-resistant construction, suitable outdoors when the specific product is listed for it.
Six-gauge copper shows up where a 30-amp cordset is too small and a hardwired conduit run isn’t practical.
6/4 SOOW Cord Specs And Where It Gets Used
AWC’s 6/4 SOOW cord specifications carry the full sheet, and every number there describes the cable alone: the finished cord inherits the lowest rating among cable, plugs, receptacle, and breaker.
| Specification | Listed Value |
|---|---|
| Conductors | Four 6-AWG stranded copper |
| Voltage rating | 600 V |
| Temperature range | −40°C to +90°C |
| Ampacity | 45 A |
| Oil resistance | Oil-resistant insulation and jacket; 60°C oil rating on one listing |
| Nominal outside diameter | 0.845 in |
| Insulation thickness | 0.050–0.060 in |
| Standards | UL 62 and CSA approval; verify marks per product |
Portable tools, small motors, generators, welding equipment, battery chargers, temporary power, and construction-site lighting all appear on the application lists. Ambient temperature, bundling, and terminations pull usable current below that 45-amp figure, which is why the applicable code tables — not the cable print — set the breaker size.
Those are observed prices, not fixed market rates. Comparing finished cords rather than raw cable gets easier with a tested 6/4 SOOW cord roundup, where connectors and amp ratings sit side by side.
SOOW Vs SO Cord: What The Second O Adds
SOOW carries oil-resistant insulation and an oil-resistant jacket; SO carries the oil-resistant jacket without the same insulation designation, so the second O is the whole difference. One catalog lists SO as superseded by SOOW, though older SO stock and markings still turn up for sale.
Where conductors meet oil, outdoor moisture, abrasion, or constant flexing, SOOW is the sturdier choice. It isn’t a blanket substitute — chemical compatibility, submersion approval, flame rating, sunlight exposure, and flex duty all need confirming on the exact data sheet, and a weather-resistant tag alone does not authorize permanent burial.
Check The Lowest Rating Before You Connect Anything
A 600-volt insulation rating does not make the plugs on the end 600-volt parts. Larson Electronics’ 100-foot assembly is rated 125/250 V at 50 amps with CS6365C and CS6364C cord caps — an assembly rating, not a contradiction of the cable’s jacket rating. Never exceed the lowest rating on the cable, connectors, overcurrent protection, or equipment. Confirm conductor functions and color code from the product marking before termination, since four conductors do not automatically mean neutral plus ground.
Inspect the cord before each use and pull damaged ones from service; cuts, crushing, tight bends, heat, and incompatible chemicals are what finish flexible cord early. Match the cord to the job in this order: amp rating first, then oil and weather exposure, then length and connector type. Installations answer to NEC/NFPA 70, OSHA where it applies, and local electrical rules, and a large-gauge cord is worth terminating professionally.
FAQs
Is A 6/4 SOOW Cord Rated For 50 Amps?
Not by itself. The standard cable listing gives 45 amps of ampacity at 600 volts, and 45 is what the cable contributes to the assembly. Cords marked for 50 amps are built and listed as complete assemblies, with connectors and overcurrent protection matched to that figure. Read the assembly label, not just the print on the jacket.
Can This Cord Be Buried Or Left Out In The Rain?
Rain and outdoor exposure are fine when the specific product is listed for wet locations, since the W in SOOW means weather and water resistance. Burial is a separate question. Direct-burial and continuous-submersion ratings come from the manufacturer’s data sheet and local code rather than from the letters, so confirm both before the cord goes in the ground.
How Do I Know Which Conductor Is Which?
Read the product marking, the wiring diagram, and the plug configuration before terminating anything. Four conductors do not automatically mean three hots plus a ground, and color codes shift between manufacturers and applications. If the jacket print, the plug, and the equipment instructions disagree, stop and confirm with the manufacturer rather than guessing.
References & Sources
- AWC. “6/4 SOOW Cord.” Supplies conductor stranding, insulation and jacket materials, temperature range, ampacity, and outside diameter.
- Larson Electronics. “EXC-100-6.4-50A-CS63 Spec Sheet.” Documents a 100-foot 125/250 V, 50 A assembly with CS6365C and CS6364C cord caps.