Community Forums

JSPERRELLA · 12-15-2011, 12:55 PM

Is there a way to use a 50 amp welding extension cord as a morohome's 50 amp extension cord?

Dave78Chief · 12-15-2011, 01:40 PM

Are you asking if a 50Amp/250Volt 8 Gauge/ 3 Wire welder extension cord can be used for 50 AMP RV cable service? If the answer to that question is yes, then the answer is Not legally. A RV cord is 4 wire (L1, L2, Neutral, Gnd) not 3 wire (L1, L2, with shared Neutral/Gnd).

Neutral and Ground are only suposed to be connected at the main dwelling Power Panel (powerline transformer input point).

Dave

JSPERRELLA · 12-15-2011, 02:14 PM

I was afraid so.

Know anyone wanting to purchase a 30 foot 50Amp/250Volt 8 Gauge/ 3 Wire welder extension cord cheap??

Steve N Sal · 12-15-2011, 02:15 PM

Plain and siple NO! I would assume the conductors for the welder would be number 6 as well as it would be a 50A service but the difference is that the welder would be a 3 conductor and the rv cord would be a 4 conductor. Pin configuration for the male and female cord ends would be a Nema 14-50. Hope this helps.

jml255 · 05-17-2013, 05:35 PM

I know this is an old thread but I have a question. I have a 30 Amp RV. I hook up to a standard 30 amp plug on both ends. I came across a 50 amp welder extension cord for free. would there be any reason that I couldn't use this cord to make the connection between my rv and the existing plug (not a welder 220v plug). Would the best way be to cut the ends off of the cord and put regular 30 amp plugs on it?

BFlinn181 · 05-17-2013, 05:43 PM

Yes, it could work for a 30 amp cord. Be sure to change both ends of the welder's cord. Is it rated for exterior use? Make sure the male and female plugs are wired properly, you don't want to mix up hot, neutral or ground!

jml255 · 05-17-2013, 05:53 PM

Thanks, now I just have to chase down the proper plug ends.

GregOk80 · 05-18-2013, 06:36 PM

To chime in a little someone correct me. A 50 amp service for RV can not and I repeat CAN NOT use a common ground. They have to have two hot , one neutral, and ground because if you mix ground and neutral and touch side of coach while plugged in you could get a shock. Same with 30 amp , one hot, one neutral and one ground. 20 amp same. Never mix. I hope this helps.

jml255 · 05-19-2013, 09:34 AM

Yes I agree.

BarryD0706 · 05-19-2013, 01:01 PM

I believe a "50-amp" welder is referring to the current at the welding "probes", not the input current to the welder. I think that wire is likely too small even for a 30-amp RV. You need to look at the wire size to know. A 50-amp RV cord will be #6 gage (3 wires plus ground).

BFlinn181 · 05-19-2013, 01:09 PM

Campco 30 amp extension cord is 10 gauge. Most welder's 50 amp extension cords I've seen are 8 gauge. I believe it would do fine as a 30 amp extension cord. Since welder's cord is only 3 conductor, it WON'T work for 50 amp which must be 4 conductor.

tedgard01 · 05-19-2013, 01:14 PM

I just went to Camping World and picked up a 50 amp extension cord.

Winepress · 05-19-2013, 01:19 PM

I am trying to understand the wiring. I got that you have a neutral and a ground. But are they not actually winding up at the same point? In the breaker box, isn't the neutral bonded to the ground of the box? I've always wondered about that. I'm not trying to stir something up, I'm just trying to understand why. I'm thinking it might be that the neutral carries a load (so it's really not that neutral) but the ground does not. So it is just for safety in case the neutral goes bad?

BarryD0706 · 05-19-2013, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winepress

I am trying to understand the wiring. I got that you have a neutral and a ground. But are they not actually winding up at the same point? In the breaker box, isn't the neutral bonded to the ground of the box? I've always wondered about that. I'm not trying to stir something up, I'm just trying to understand why. I'm thinking it might be that the neutral carries a load (so it's really not that neutral) but the ground does not. So it is just for safety in case the neutral goes bad?

Your understanding is correct. But it's important that the place they are tied together is in the box and not in the RV.