RV 50 am power cord reel

[Ranger]

Checking to see if any of the forward thinkers have added an 50 am power cord reel(manual or electric) to their RV? I have a 2018 Monty 3121 RL and I would like to add one to the rear under the RV, possibly on the receiver hitch frame. Any thoughts?:

[chuckster57]

Welcome to the forum.

I have added shore cord reels to motorhomes, they can be big and take a lot of precious space. If your going to mount it outside anywhere I would advise against it, especially if it’s underneath at the rear. It could be subjected to lots of damage from road debris, water, and what ever else is on the road. I wouldn’t do it.

[CaptnJohn]

The 3761FL has more storage in the rear than most can use so I mounted 2 manual reels, 1 for 50 amp cord other for water hose. Sadly I bought mine long before CW had them 50% off black Friday,.

[Ranger]

thank you and I have been viewing these tonight

[jamtracy]

Originally Posted by CaptnJohn

The 3761FL has more storage in the rear than most can use so I mounted 2 manual reels, 1 for 50 amp cord other for water hose. Sadly I bought mine long before CW had them 50% off black Friday,.

I mounted one in the front storage box for the power cord. I like the idea of adding one for the water hose. I keep it in a large plastic tub now witch takes up way more space then the reel itself.

[captcolour]

I just coil mine in a plastic tub so it is easy to carry. Doesn't take up much room. Same with water hoses.

[Big1]

Originally Posted by captcolour

I just coil mine in a plastic tub so it is easy to carry. Doesn't take up much room. Same with water hoses.

Same as I do also.

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by CaptnJohn

The 3761FL has more storage in the rear than most can use so I mounted 2 manual reels, 1 for 50 amp cord other for water hose. Sadly I bought mine long before CW had them 50% off black Friday,.

Captn, that 50 am cord looks like it is the size of a baby's arm! Looks to be about 25' that is crazy thick insulation.

Originally Posted by captcolour

I just coil mine in a plastic tub so it is easy to carry. Doesn't take up much room. Same with water hoses.

I built my own with SOOW 6/4 cable, and store 40' in a three gallon bucket.

[LV_Tom]

CaptnJohn says: "The 3761FL has more storage in the rear than most can use...

Good Joke. The Old Army axiom states: "the amount if items to be stored is directly proportional to the amount of storage space available" applies to all RV's

[chuckster57]

Good to know there is “inside” space, I wouldn’t put one outside.

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by chuckster57

Good to know there is “inside” space, I wouldn’t put one outside.

Put 1 on the ODS in the passthrough of my last Montana for the power cord. The 3761 FL has so much storage even my wife cannot fill it. I put 2 in the rear storage. I'd not want the cord stored outside either. The reels keep the cord in a smaller space and make it easier to clean. Same with the primary water hose.
Had an electric reel on a class A. Always wondered about a problem as the connection was buried inside. If the cord or reel failed or power to it lost, what then?

[notanlines]

"If the cord or reel failed or power to it lost, what then?"
We had a little 20 amp fuse problem earlier this year (failed fuse housing) and it is not a problem. The electric reel will easily give way to a little pulling pressure.

[creyer]

I purchased a manual reel for our 3120 it works great for us and stored in the basement.

[Whitewolf]

Bought one of these
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

to hold one of these
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Only wish I had done it sooner.

[bsmith0404]

My Alpine came with this one in the basement storage. Absolutely love it. Even on cold days when the cord is stiff and almost impossible to roll by hand it just winds right up almost effortlessly. I would definitely add this to any future trailer. Here’s a pic of it in my basement. I have the storage cover on it, but it’s on the right side next to the utility docking station

https://www.rvupgradestore.com/Mor-R...yABEgL6SfD_BwE

[CampNBrew2]

Something I have not seen mentioned yet, (but may have missed) is that cords need air around them for cooling. I have seen more than one cord melted into a gooey mess from still being rolled up while under load.
I think all the reels shown above would require removing the cord from the reel anyway to get to the plug end, but just thought I would mention it.

[notanlines]

Chris, your comment "one cord melted into a gooey mess" bears some discussion. I believe if that were literally true that the power load would be well-exceeding the amp/voltage rating for the cord. We have had 30 amp and a number of 50 amp RV's, but have never had a power cord heat up, much less overheat even on 100 degree days with both AC's cooking. Power cords on 5th-wheels and others are simply pulled out the required distance and no more thought given to it. We have camped absolutely adjacent to power poles where the cord is only pulled four feet, and no heat build up.
The situations of which you speak need some investigation.

[flybouy]

Agree with Jim on this. If a properly sized (correct wire size), properly protected (fused/circuit breaker) "melts" then there is a serious defect. A properly sized cable, with the proper insulation rating, should never create that much heat while running at the rated voltage and amperage.

[Frank G]

Do a quick search on how heat affects the current carrying capacity of conductors., Be prepared to put on your electrical engineering hat and NEC training. In short... All conductors under load produce heat and they must be able to dissipate this heat to there surrounding's, a coil in a tight enclosure might not be good.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by Frank G

Do a quick search on how heat affects the current carrying capacity of conductors., Be prepared to put on your electrical engineering hat and NEC training. In short... All conductors under load produce heat and they must be able to dissipate this heat to there surrounding's, a coil in a tight enclosure might not be good.

I'm not going to get into a engineering debate on thermodynamics. All cables have a temp rating. Most SOOW cable is rated above 90 deg c or 194 f. Many are rated up to 150 c or 302 f. So if you are going to make a generalized statement about cords melting how about some clarifications? Not theory, not "could be" but what kind of cable, what was the conditions, what exactly happened.

I've spent many years around all kinds of equipment connected via cable and quick disconnects from electric forklifts to overhead cranes, to large welders, to marinas where every boat on the dock is connected to shore power. I have never seen one "melt down" from being coiled or ambient heat.

I regards to coils I'm guessing your talking about "inductive" voltages. You would be hard pressed to wind up a multi conductor cable with 600v or even 300v (in the "junior" insulating class of SOOWJ) into a tight enough coil to get that effect.

Most cable meltdowns are from the improper sized, and improperly protected circuit. Example: Joe homeowner plugs his 1500 watt space heater into a lamp chord extension. The 15 Amp breaker may not trip before the lamp cord overheats. In an RV setting this potential exists if a 30 Amp camper is plugged into ab50 Amp service via a "dog bone". The main breaker in the camper should trip if the over amperage condition exist downstream of the breaker. However; if corroded connections or other fault in between the 30a breaker and the 50 a breaker that causes heat (usually in the plugs) then you can get heat damage from arcing. Melting cable from ambient heat alone? Sorry, but I don't believe it.