Electric Cord Question?

[Scorn]

My camper electric cord is 25ft but won't reach my wall in the garage. I have the adapter but it still won't reach can I hook the end with the adaper into an orange (extension cord) to reach the wall?

Thanks

[hankpage]

The color of the cord has nothing to do with its capacity. Depending on what you plan to use while plugged in this way and what outlet is available on your garage use a cord as short as possible with 12 gauge wire. This should be good for everything but A/C or water heater. Extension cords are available for 30amp and 50 amp also if you have the outlet available.

[Roller4Tan]

It'd be okay to just keep your battery charged, fridge cool and a few lites.

[JRTJH]

Scorn,

You didn't say whether the garage outlet is a 30Amp outlet that you had put in for the RV or if it is a standard 20 or 15 Amp outlet. If it's a 30 Amp outlet, you can get a 30 Amp extension cord and use your RV as if you were in a campground. But, if the outlet you're trying to plug into is a conventional "house outlet" then you'll need at least a 12 guage extension cord and an adapter to convert from the "dryer type" fitting to the "conventional" fitting. If you do plug into a conventional outlet, then the advice you've received above is correct. Turning on your A/C, water heater, microwave or other "heavy use" appliance (like a small electric heater) will draw down your voltage and can damage or destroy your appliances that are in use.

[Scorn]

It'd be okay to just keep your battery charged, fridge cool and a few lites.

Thanks for your answer. I just want to keep the battery charged an also open the slide.

Will this be alright?

Thanks

[labs4life]

Thanks for your answer. I just want to keep the battery charged an also open the slide.

Will this be alright?

Thanks

Yes sir. No problem

[gepaine]

Here is a very good reference for choosing and using extension cords.:

http://home.mchsi.com/~gweidner/extension-cords.pdf

The table on the last page is especially useful because it includes the expected voltage drop for a given length of a given wire gauge with a given current flow. The author recommends that you limit the voltage drop to 5% which in the case of a 120-volt feed amounts to 6 volts. I think as long as you observe this limitation, you shouldn't have to worry about damaging electric and electronic equipment in your RV.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out you can use a somewhat long extension cord and still be within the 5% limit. For example, you can be using a 75-foot, 12 gauge extension cord drawing 20 amps and the voltage drop will be about 4.8%.

One other thing to keep in mind is the construction of the extension cord. I find that all 12 gauge pre-built extension cords at Home Depot are only rated to carry 15 amps instead of 20 or 25. According to the sales guy, this is because of the coatings and coverings that enclose the 12 gauge wire. I think you might have to go to an electrical supply house or online to find a pre-built extension cord that is rated for 20 amps.

[hankpage]

They are rated for 15 amps because they have 15 amp plugs on them. A 20 amp plug is a different configuration than most of the outlets in your home.

15 amp receptacle (http://www.grainger.com/genericZoomMobile.html?asset=Grainger%2F16W274_AS0 1&contentRoot=%2F%2Fimageserver.grainger.com%2Fskins %2F&serverUrl=%2F%2Fimageserver.grainger.com%2Fis%2Fim age%2F&sku=16W274&sku_name=Receptacle%2C%205-15R%20NEMA%2C%2015%20Amp&ref_page=idp) ......... 20 amp plug (http://www.grainger.com/genericZoomMobile.html?asset=Grainger%2F4A255_AS01&contentRoot=%2F%2Fimageserver.grainger.com%2Fskins %2F&serverUrl=%2F%2Fimageserver.grainger.com%2Fis%2Fim age%2F&sku=4A255&sku_name=Plug%2C%205-20%20NEMA%2C%2020%20A&ref_page=idp) ... As mentioned before, use the shortest 12 gauge cord that will reach to avoid voltage drop.

[gepaine]

HankPage,

Didn't know that.

Serves me right for believing a Home Depot clerk!

Thanks for the info.