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07-29-2013, 07:16 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Smith Mountain Lake, VA
Posts: 31
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Extension cord-how long can it be?
We store our RV at our house. It sits about 250 feet from a 15 amp outlet in our tool shed. I would like to run power from this outlet up to the RV to power the Batteryminder Model 12248. Any suggestions on how to do this? Multiple cords, what gauge cord, etc? Thank you in advance for advice!
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2012 Newmar Ventana LE 3862
2011 Ford Edge Sport, Air Force-1, Blue Ox
Smith Mountain Lake, VA
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07-29-2013, 08:00 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 381
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I use a 100' long 10 gauge extension cord to attach to my shore cord to power my converter and fridge. Using a small volt meter, I see less than 2 volts difference between the source receptacle and an onboard coach receptacle. I have been doing this with various trailers and rv's since 1987.
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07-29-2013, 08:15 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Anacortes, WA (Stick & Brick)
Posts: 2,643
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It depends on what gauge the conductors are and how much current you're pulling. I have a 150' cord that is 4 gauge, inherited from our last rig. I use it at the S&B because it's convenient, even though the MH is only about 25' from the socket.
Note that it's the total length of the cord that you need to consider, not how far it's actually stretched out.
When the rig is parked at home, it's just the parasitic loads that are being supplied - Radio control panel, wall clock, battery charger. Before a trip, we add the fridge on a.c. to the load for a couple of days, but it's never been an issue for the 15A breaker.
I do have a 20A breaker in the house panel that just supplies a socket in what the builder assumed would be the computer room. We use it as a guest bedroom. I plan to replace the breaker with a 30A unit, then wire it to an external TT-30R receptacle on the outside wall of the garage, disconnecting the wiring to the socket in the house.
Although we normally don't come close to using even the 15A available from the house circuit, it could be useful, when we have visitors that use the RV rather than sleeping in the house, to have enough juice to run hair drier, coffee pot, computers. etc. In our climate, having to run the rig's a/c while at home is very unusual. For example, today's high was 73 with 30% humidity. Unless the visitors are from the frozen North someplace, air conditioning is not needed.
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Frank Damp -Anacortes, WA,(DW- Eileen)
ex-pat Brits (1968) and ex-RVers.
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07-29-2013, 08:52 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 30,592
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This wire size calculator removes all doubt when choosing wiring size and length.
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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
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07-29-2013, 09:22 PM
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#5
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RV Mutant #14
Winnebago Owners Club Texas Boomers Club Freightliner Owners Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 17,184
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AWG-4 for the entire run, however, the tool shed 15A circuit and wire would not be capable of handling it. You need a run from your main box to where the RV is parked. If you are going to do that you may as well hire an electrician to do the job safely and give you a 50 amp supply.
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Wayne MSGT USMC (Ret) & Earlene (CinCHouse) RVM14 (ARS: KE5QG)
Lexi - Goldendoodle
2015 Winnebago Tour 42QD - 2020 Lincoln Nautilus Reserve
It is what it is, and then it is what you make of it.
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07-30-2013, 08:48 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: somewhere in the west
Posts: 1,168
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When figuring wire size, the distance is actually the distance times two! You must measure the distance coming and going.
Ed
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07-30-2013, 04:38 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Lake OZ,MO summer-RiverBend Motorcoach Resort,FL winter
Posts: 715
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ed-Sommers
When figuring wire size, the distance is actually the distance times two! You must measure the distance coming and going.
Ed
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With all due respect, this applies to DC current, not AC as the OP inquired.
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♫ Happy Trails... to You ♪....., Until We Meet Again ♪..... ♫
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07-30-2013, 04:49 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,618
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray,IN
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Good Post Ray
Useful info there.
Dick
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1999 Tradewinds 7372 Cat 3126
Albuquerque, NM
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07-30-2013, 05:33 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Phx, Arid~zona
Posts: 11,106
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pburke
We store our RV at our house. It sits about 250 feet from a 15 amp outlet in our tool shed. I would like to run power from this outlet up to the RV to power the Batteryminder Model 12248. Any suggestions on how to do this? Multiple cords, what gauge cord, etc? Thank you in advance for advice!
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Input Current consumption at 120Vac input, output 13V 8A Loading (UL1236) ~2Aac.
So... under full load, a little more than 2 100w light bulbs.
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07-31-2013, 02:56 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 175
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The larger the AWG the better. No matter what gage you decide on, make sure you check the cord to see how hot it's getting. I almost melted a 100' 10 AWG cord before the breaker gave way. Just feel it with your hand if you can't hold it unplug it in a hurry.
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07-31-2013, 03:23 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Phx, Arid~zona
Posts: 11,106
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This BatteryMinder only draws 2A AC max. Anybody ever seen a 2A glass fuse? The filament is about the size of a hair.
Good posts, but some of you are over thinking this.
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08-01-2013, 09:15 AM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Smith Mountain Lake, VA
Posts: 31
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Thanks for all the great information. It sounds like I should be ok stringing a couple of outdoor extension cords together to reach the RV. And I will only be powering the Battery Minder which as Dunner says only draws 2 amps maximum. I will keep an eye on it just to be sure it is working as planned.
__________________
2012 Newmar Ventana LE 3862
2011 Ford Edge Sport, Air Force-1, Blue Ox
Smith Mountain Lake, VA
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