Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > iRV2.com COMMUNITY FORUMS > iRV2.com General Discussion
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 02-27-2015, 07:23 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 52
Extension cords

I'm new to the RV world and was wondering what might be the best extension cord to run to my camper while it is home. It's about 50 feet from an outlet to where I have to park it. Any suggestions? Thanks
Briansi52 is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 02-27-2015, 07:41 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
vsheetz's Avatar


 
Fleetwood Owners Club
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,749
Most any outdoor rated extension order, of a heavy gauge, will do fine. I like extension cords with a light in the end so you can tell at a glance it's got power. Orange color is good to help with trip hazard. Green is good if you want it to be unobtrusive across a grass area. Home Depot, Lowes, or other big box store will likely have a selection to choose from.
__________________
Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
vsheetz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-27-2015, 07:55 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
wildtoad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,309
If you only plugging in to charge batteries from a 15 amp plug, a good extension cord is all you need. if you want to run the AC or other high draw appliance then look into one that matches your regular RV plug.
__________________
Tom

2016 Newmar Bay Star Sport 3004
2021 Jeep Gladiator Sport Willys
wildtoad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-27-2015, 08:05 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
bluepill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Pensacola, FL
Posts: 2,457
If your camper has a 30 amp. service, you will need an adaptor to "down convert" to match a "standard" home 15 or 20 amp. outlet. Amazon or Walmart are good sources for this item.
__________________
2008 Itasca 37H
2011 & 2012 Len & Pat's "One lap of America"
27K miles & 41 states in 13 months
Yellowstone Lake 6-1-2012
bluepill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-27-2015, 08:20 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Elf111's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Ft wayne Indiana
Posts: 479
Shouldn't be a problem as long as you don't try to run too many heavy draw appliances. If your plugging into an outdoor outlet that is gfci protected you may have issues with popping the gfci, your coach has a gfci circuit so plugging into another puts them in series and will cause them to trip.
Elf111 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-27-2015, 11:15 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Ray,IN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 30,593
Use this electricians calculator to determine the correct wire size extension cord.
NECMichigan National Electrical Code Update 2005 2008 2011
__________________
2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG 11B5MX,Infantry retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA." My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
Ray,IN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-27-2015, 11:31 PM   #7
Registered User
 
mel s's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 8,777
Quote:
Originally Posted by wildtoad View Post
If you only plugging in to charge batteries from a 15 amp plug, a good extension cord is all you need. if you want to run the AC or other high draw appliance then look into one that matches your regular RV plug.

For 14 years I've used a 50' 12/3 from Harbor Freight, plugged into a 15 amp outlet, to keep my batteries up, for as long as 4-7 months each winter and whenever my coach sits unused at my stick house.
50 Ft. Extension Cord - 12 Gauge Outdoor Extension Cord
Mel
'96 Safari, mine since '01
mel s is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-27-2015, 11:39 PM   #8
Registered User
 
Damon Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2008
Location: N. Palm Springs CA (in winter)
Posts: 2,420
I recommend using the same as your RV. Get another 30 amp cord.
I have two rolls of 30 amp cords to add onto the end of my RVs 50 amp cord.
Doggy Daddy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-28-2015, 04:45 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
wa8yxm's Avatar
 
Damon Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
Depends on how much of the RV you want to run.

Reddy Kilowatt's rules are as follows:

First: Big Ticket Stuff
Air Conditioenrs (the biggest) Water heaters, Space heaters, Microwaves and in some cases when the batteries are low.. The converter/charger.

Fridge at around 350-450 watts is a medium ticket

TV, Sat Receiver, Radio (usually) and converter/charger when batteries are full,, Small ticket items.

The Rules:
Small items (TV) do not count.
On 15 amp you can run ONE big ticket item, and if the batteries are full the converter and TV.
On 20 amps, One big ticket, and converter & tv as above, plus the fridge

On 30 amps 2 big ticket items (BUT NOT two Air Conditioners)

On 50 amps, all you can eat.

For 15/20 amp use a 12ga extension cord (K-mart or Sears with the push button on the outlet) and an adapter

For 30 amps use a proper 30 amp RV extension cord see note below

For 50, Same as 30, use a proper RV extension cord.

NOTE:
IF you have an electrician install an outlet for RV use have him put in a 50 (And i your RV is a 30 use a dog bone also called pigtail adapter).

Reason: Electricans tend to look at the TT-30 outlet and make an assumption, this assumption is not correct so they wire the outlet wrong and do hundreds of dollars of damage to your RV.

30 amps is 120 volt. Single breaker,

50 amp is 120/240 volt, Dual breaker.. That one they get right

Reason #2: If you ever upgrade, upgrading the outlet to 50 amps will cost $0.00 if you put a 50 in to start with.
__________________
Home is where I park it!
wa8yxm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-28-2015, 07:44 AM   #10
Moderator Emeritus
 
Gary RVRoamer's Avatar


 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,519
"Heavy gauge" needs some elaboration, especially for a 50 ft distance. Those orange cords sold in most stores for "heavy duty" probably have decent outdoor insulation but are rarely "heavy gauge". Typically they have 16 gauge wire and that is adequate for only 6-8 amps at 50 feet. To use as much as 15 amps form a house/garage outlet, you need at least 14 gauge wire and I would suggest 12 gauge for a 50 foot run. You can find outdoor extension cords with that rating at Lowes, Depot and Harbor Freight. HF has 25 foot, 12 gauge cords at a good price - I own a couple of them.

If you have a 120v, 30A outlet to plug to, you need 10 gauge wire wit an appropriate plug on the end. Make sure that outlet is 120v and not 220 - they look identical.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
Gary RVRoamer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-28-2015, 09:13 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
vsheetz's Avatar


 
Fleetwood Owners Club
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,749
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer View Post
"Heavy gauge" needs some elaboration, especially for a 50 ft distance. Those orange cords sold in most stores for "heavy duty" probably have decent outdoor insulation but are rarely "heavy gauge". Typically they have 16 gauge wire and that is adequate for only 6-8 amps at 50 feet. To use as much as 15 amps form a house/garage outlet, you need at least 14 gauge wire and I would suggest 12 gauge for a 50 foot run. You can find outdoor extension cords with that rating at Lowes, Depot and Harbor Freight. HF has 25 foot, 12 gauge cords at a good price - I own a couple of them.

If you have a 120v, 30A outlet to plug to, you need 10 gauge wire wit an appropriate plug on the end. Make sure that outlet is 120v and not 220 - they look identical.
By heavy gauge, yes, agree 12 gauge.
Such as: http://www.amazon.com/US-Wire-99050-...xtension+cords
__________________
Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
vsheetz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-02-2015, 11:19 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Huntsville, AL/Helen, GA
Posts: 1,553
I buy my extension cords at Big Lots, but they're not used in my RV's.

With my new fifth wheel, I'll be comparing prices at Home Depot/Lowes and Harbor Freight--for the 12/3 cords.

I do recognize they have their limitations, especially with the converter, fridge and other electrical drawing items.
Bamaman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-02-2015, 02:02 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
wa8yxm's Avatar
 
Damon Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
Actually, you can get some downright good Junque at big lots.. Though I have never gotten an HD extension cord there.. There is another store, I think it's called Ollie's bargaines or something like that and they actually had a 12ga (Confirmed) cord.. I split it into two cords and use one or two thirds of it (I split at the 1/3 point) for my bedroom A/C in 30 amp parks,, sometimes (rare) I use all 3/3 of it.
__________________
Home is where I park it!
wa8yxm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-02-2015, 07:32 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 161
Smile Extension cord

Guess my only thought would to go heavy enough. !2 ga. minimum and when your out, sometimes being able to connect just to 120 when on a visit to a relation, maybe having 100' wouldn't be so bad. Think Harbor Freight has a 100' 10ga. for a reasonable price. You can always make it shorter. Not longer. lol What I did for home, purchased 1" pvc electrical conduit and 10 ga. outdoor wire and buried to to the parking site. Wasn't much work and now it's below ground. Just had a stand pipe supporting the outlet with a weather tight box. Only other thought, maybe you would want to put in a dedicated circuit to run it. I went to a dedicated 20 amp. If not comfortable doing it, ask around. You probably have a neighbor or friend that would gladly do it for you for a beer and some chat time. (nothing to it) lol
SDCOToyhaul is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Cleaning female contacts on power cords EMD_Driver RV Systems & Appliances 17 01-19-2015 10:11 AM
Extension cord from Outside to Inside, option... MisterT Palazzo Motorhomes 5 01-12-2015 07:46 AM
50 amp coach to 30 amp extension to 50 amp house? abarkl RV Systems & Appliances 10 01-02-2015 08:55 PM
No power on extension Zachee RV Systems & Appliances 5 07-01-2014 08:51 AM
Need SHORT hitch extension for bike rack Statgeek MH-General Discussions & Problems 13 04-28-2014 04:42 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:58 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.