SmartCord senses danger, and acts on it

Las Vegas -- Carrollton, Georgia-based Southwire Company is bringing enhanced safety to the electrical aisle with the rollout of the new Woods SmartCord, an intelligent "heat-sensing" extension cord.

The cord is designed to monitor excessive heat caused by overloading, poor connections and improper use of outlets and plugs. When excessive heat is detected, an alarm sounds and a light shines to alert the homeowner to a possible issue before it becomes dangerous.

The Woods brand cites statistics from the Consumer Product Safety Council that shows more than 3,300 fires every year are directly attributed to improperly used extension cords.

The company recommends the product be merchandised alongside safety items, such as smoke detectors and infant household safety items.

The product carries a higher price point than a regular extension cord, but the company believes the case for the higher price is easy to make: "Simply put, a SmartCord safety cord detects and alerts a homeowner to potentially serious electrical issues," the company said. "That alert helps prevent potential fires and helps protect against loss of possessions, pets and even lives."

A 6-ft.-long SmartCord retails for about $10.