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AJMike · 03-25-2023, 10:59 AM

I recently had a 30 amp RV outlet installed at my house so, during the summer when it is really hot, I could run the AC when we were preparing for a trip.

My current power cable (35 feet) and my current extension cord (25 feet) are long enough to reach the RV outlet, but not long enough for me to properly snake the cords around the walkway so as to make sure that no one will trip when walking to the front door. To do that I need another 15 feet or so.

My choices seem to be to buy a longer power cable (50 feet long), a longer extension cable (can't find a 40 foot extension cable so that would also be 50 feet) or buy a short extension cord to add to the two current cords (15 feet). The electrician who did the installation told me that I was just fine with the 10 AWG wiring provided I did not go much over 100 feet, so regardless of which choice I make that length should not be a problem. The outlet is about 25 feet from the breaker box and adding another 15 feet of cable gives me a total length of 25 + 35 + 25 + 15 = 100 feet.

My question is whether the cable plugs themselves (that is, the male and female connectors) cause any serious voltage drop issue. That is, if I buy a longer power cable I end up with 2 cables with one set of cable plugs (ie, connectors) between the RV and the outlet box. If I buy a 15 feet extension I end up with 3 cables with two sets of connectors between the RV and the outlet box.

My initial reaction is that I am better off with fewer plugs connecting the cables, so with 2 cables rather than 3, but I really don't know if those plugs add any extra impedance to the total cable length, and thus would end up costing me voltage when drawing enough power to run the AC when it is 110 F outside. A 3rd cable, at 15 feet, would be less expensive than a new 50 foot power cable, but my main concern is the power available, not the cost.

Any relevant suggestions would be helpful.

twinboat · 03-25-2023, 11:05 AM

Fewer connections are better.

I needed 100 ft cord so I bought 2, 10 guage extension cords from Harbor Freight and cut the 20 amp ends off and installed 30 amp twist lock connectors.
The female twist lock goes into my RV socket leaving only one connection out in the yard.

Paul_D · 03-25-2023, 11:21 AM

Fewer connections are definitely better. And its best to protect them from weather.

My 15 amp three prong to 30 amp RV adapter melted because of a small amount of corrosion on the 30 amp blades. I was only drawing 13 amps.

One factor that might impact you is the voltage drop from the extra distance. My surge guard/power monitor sometimes detects a brown-out when the AC starts.

Old-Biscuit · 03-25-2023, 11:25 AM

The more connections the more chances of connections heating up due to resistance.......go with the 2 connections

amosnandy · 03-25-2023, 12:20 PM

Of course. Anytime there is a friction type electrical connection, :ie a plug and socket, there is some resistance.

The fewer the better.

I currently am in Mexico and am plugged into two 30 am pedestal outlets. One is far enough away that I need a 25’ 30 amp extension cord.

Part of my routine maintenance is to shut all the power down, unplug everything, inspect and clean the prongs on the plugs. Even after short periods of time I find discoloration and minor corrosion on them. And once even a little starts and the resistance goes up, the connections degrade rapidly.

AJMike · 03-25-2023, 12:38 PM

Thank you all.

I had assumed that the fewer connections the better, but I thought I should ask. You have reinforced my view that it was better to spend the extra money and use fewer cables.

One of the things I thought was that I would go to HD and buy the cable, perhaps even 8 AWG, and add the connections myself, but that turned out to be much more expensive. Perhaps volume???

kenandterry · 03-25-2023, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJMike

Thank you all.

I had assumed that the fewer connections the better, but I thought I should ask. You have reinforced my view that it was better to spend the extra money and use fewer cables.

One of the things I thought was that I would go to HD and buy the cable, perhaps even 8 AWG, and add the connections myself, but that turned out to be much more expensive. Perhaps volume???

Question…..Why did you have the 30amp outlet installed so far away from where your trailer is positioned for preparing for a trip?

AJMike · 03-25-2023, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenandterry

Question…..Why did you have the 30amp outlet installed so far away from where your trailer is positioned for preparing for a trip?

It was a matter of the cost of the installation.

The breaker box is on one side of the house and the driveway, garage and RV are on the other. The cost of installing the outlet in the garage was about 3 times the cost of installing it near the front door due to the cost of running much more wire through the attic instead of running it along the outside of the house, and I already had the extension cables, So it seemed like a no-brainer. Save $800 on the install with very little extra work involved.

And, of course, I can always still have it installed in the garage at some later date since the current installation was not very expensive.

glwinger · 03-25-2023, 04:33 PM

Search for electrical cord covers. They lay flat and have a channel to put the cord though. That a a couple of small ornage cones.

Olyteddy · 03-25-2023, 05:24 PM

I do this from time to time to ensure a good connection:
https://youtu.be/si4wlR7Tw6g

twogypsies · 03-25-2023, 05:44 PM

Since you saved $800 with your connection go buy one long cord!

TandW · 03-25-2023, 07:16 PM

For my Winnebago View I cut the cord inside the bay and added a new end to it. Now when the generator is running it is plugged in with the shortest possible cord. When I plug into shore power I used the shortest possible cord of several that I have made up as the extension to the plug in the bay. So the extension connection is always inside rather than out in the weather. No more induction coils that rob current to worry about!

Persistent · 03-26-2023, 07:19 AM

Lots of good advice posted above!

What you want to power is also important.

1 A/C means any combination of 10 AWG cords is ok. (10 to 15 amps)

1 A/C plus battery charging is ok. (15 to 20 amps) Fewer would be a little better for the A/C motor.

1 A/C plus battery charging plus electric water heater is pushing it. (25 amps?) In this case one cord and set of plugs is best.

For a 100 foot run from the service entrance in the residence to the 30 amp outlet, the electrician probably would have chosen 8 gauge wire. That would have been the best long term permanent solution. More copper cost more, but works better.

AJMike · 03-26-2023, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twogypsies

Since you saved $800 with your connection go buy one long cord!

I suppose that would work if I used it only at home and kept my current 35' cord for use when traveling.

I had thought about replacing my current cord with one long one as that would solve the problem at home, but then I would end up having to use that same cord at RV parks and given that I often see lower voltages at some of those parks I did not want to take the hit from the voltage drop from such a long cord.