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georgetown350 · 12-19-2008, 12:23 PM

50 amp chord hard wired at the motorhome end. This chord is so hard to bend and store in compartment in the winter.

Any ideas???????????????????????????????

georgetown350 · 12-19-2008, 12:23 PM

50 amp chord hard wired at the motorhome end. This chord is so hard to bend and store in compartment in the winter.

Any ideas???????????????????????????????

Glen41 · 12-19-2008, 12:44 PM

Pour hot water on it? Of course after unplugging

Replace hard wire with twist-off connector so whole thing could be disconnected and loosely coiled and stored in a bay?

Meandering Retiree · 12-19-2008, 12:55 PM

Plug in a hair dryer and use it to warm the cord just as it enters the coach.

georgetown350 · 12-19-2008, 01:20 PM

All great ideas thanks!!!!!

We just had a major snow storm and its expected to be very cold overnight so I unplugged and wrestled the chord which was like fighting a king cobra and managed to get it into the compartment. I couldnt bend it to plug into the generator but thats ok because we are leaving to go south in the morning and wont need the gen until its much warmer.

Thanks for the tips.

jfb · 12-19-2008, 06:41 PM

I coiled my 50amp this morning when the temp. was 25 degrees. Thought it was little different than when the temp. was higher. Aren't those cables woven rather than solid?

Now the water hose was a different matter!!!

Ding-a-ling · 12-20-2008, 04:51 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Aren't those cables woven rather than solid? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
In the last decade technology has allowed heavy duty power cables to use braided rather than solid stranded conductors. It sure makes them easier to handle.

Route 66 · 12-20-2008, 04:55 AM

There are different grades of cable and flexibility increases as the price increases.

Gary RVRoamer · 12-20-2008, 05:06 AM

The 50A cable on my 04 Tradition is much more flexible than the one on the previous 02 Dolphin. Simply a better quality cable. That said, it can still be a nuisance in cold weather.

The cables used on the motorized cord reels are more flexible and a lot easier to use (the motor does the work. Its a pricey solution, but maybe worthwhile if you do a lot of cold weather camping.

An alternative solution is to drive south until the cord coils more easily.

CoastieSCPO · 12-20-2008, 09:55 AM

RV Roamer has the answer...go south! I see by your post, that you are heading that way. Have a safe trip. We have lots of family arriving for Christmas over the next day or so and will spend the holidays here. The forecast for Sunday night...9 degrees. Brrrrr! Leaving for Florida a few days after New years...Can't wait!

Bob

cannon man · 12-20-2008, 12:01 PM

build your own out of welding cable. the price is right.

stubeje · 12-20-2008, 01:58 PM

It's not the cable that is stiff in cold weather as it is the covering. The wire itself is stranded (not solid copper)but the covering(insulation) is vinyl which is stiff when cold. The better 50a cables have rubber covering...most often called super-service.

dveasey · 12-22-2008, 11:12 AM

Has anyone thought to "Insulate" that portion that's left exposed to the freezing weather? I would think that the black foam slip-on pipe wrap would work. It comes in a commercial grade closed-cell version in varying diameters. Thinking you could slip it on & remove it before stowing the cord. Alternatively, you could wrap an electric pipe heat strip around the exposed portion.

Rocky Larson · 12-23-2008, 12:14 AM

I keep the 50amp cord stored unless absolutely neccessary this time of year. I found it easier to just use a 30amp cord if I need to connect/disconnect frequently during cold weather. Most likely we can get along on 30amps for overnight stays anyway.