15/30 Amps,,, Huh ?

[Randy_K]

I know some of you are going to find this newbie question entertaining :o

We are starting to buy a few things we think we will need.

We have been booking campsites for when our new trailer arrives. The trailer will have a microwave , TV and Air Conditioning. The camp sites with Electric all say " 15/30 amps " The one i just booked is 24 meters or 79 feet to the hook up. What type or size cord do i need to buy ?

(tx)Randy

[Ayotte]

If I were you I would buy a 30 amp heavy duty 10/3 Fifty foot extension cord . You can buy them at RV dealers-they are quite pricy! I did manage to find one on sale a couple of years ago at princess auto.

[SteveC7010]

Here's what I've learned to carry after 40 years of RV'ing.

First, my Cougar is set up for 50 amp service so I carry the 25' 50 amp monster that came with the trailer. I've never used it, but that could change if we start staying in full hookup parks.

Second, I have a 30 amp to 50 amp adapter (called a dog bone). http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/50-amp-to-30-amp-adapter-cordsets-1-adapter/56845 It plugs into the trailer's 50 amp shoreline connector and lets me use regular 30 amp 25' or 50' extensions. http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/heavy-duty-30-amp-103-stw-cord-50-with-handle/57721

I have one 25' 30 amp extension at the moment. http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/heavy-duty-30-amp-103-stw-cord-25-with-handle/57720 Haven't found the need for more length yet.

Third, I have a 30 amp to 15 amp adapter that fits on the dog bone. http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/15-amp-male-to-30-amp-female-adapter/57719 This lets me use my 100' heavy duty contractor's extension cord or a shorter one if desired. It's particularly handy for dry camping when I want to chain the generator to a tree well away from the trailer and other campsites.

[twstdpear]

I've been to a lot of campgrounds up and down the east coast, but mostly in and around VA - both state parks and private campgrounds. I have yet to find one where my stock 25' cable hasn't worked. If it looks close, I'll check that first thing before doing any other setup. I think I've had to adjust once by a few feet.

Not to say they aren't out there, but they're more the exception than the norm in our area. I do have another 25' that I bring with me, but it's still unused.

In your case, it really depends on where they're measuring from and where your power cord is located on your trailer. If they're measuring straight back from the road, 79 feet is likely pretty good. I.e., my truck is something like 24 feet, and trailer is 32 feet and I rarely have the truck right at the road (maybe 10' back), so that would put my power cord within about 15 feet from the pole. If they're measuring from the pad straight out to the side, you're definitely going to need something. Usually a call, drive-by, or a visit to something like http://campsitephotos.com are usually the only ways to resolve it positively.

During cooler/colder weather, you really don't *need* 30amps unless you have a heat pump or need to use an electric heater. If you have a regular LP furnace and don't use high draw items like the A/C (or heat pump), the microwave, electric heaters or hair driers, you can get by quite well with 15 amps. I always carry a 30A->15A adapter and about 100' of 12ga 15A extension cords just for that reason.

[crash]

All we carry is the stock 25ft 50amp monster cord and 50 to 30 and 30 to 15 adaptors it has always worked great for us.JM2C

[pjhansman]

You'll find that the Ontario provincial parks have big sites, but you can be a long way from the plug.

50 ft is a minimum, but I've been in sites where it's more than 75 feet. Fortunately I carry 50 ft of 30 amp cable along with my 50 ft of 50 amp cable.

[35mastr]

I would get the 30 amp extension. Its just cheap insurance to have it then to be stuck and having to pay big when you get to a park for it. Dont know if you have Walmarts in the area or close by. But the cords are alot cheaper there than the RV stores. They also have alot of RV products as well.