Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-05-2016, 09:16 AM   #1
Junior Member
 
TheHolders5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 28
Extension cord

It it ok to run about 100 foot of cord to plug in to a 110 outlet so I can run fridge?


2015 Cherokee 284bf limited
TheHolders5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 09:29 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 10,907
Yes.
__________________
1988 Coleman Sequoia - popup (1987-2009) - outlasted 3 Dodge Grand Caravans!
2012 Roo19 - hybrid (2012-2015)

2016 Mini Lite 2503S - tt (2015 - ???)
2011 Traverse LT, 3.6L, FWD
2009 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab, 5.3L, 4x4, 3.73
2016 Silverado 2500HD Dbl Cab, 6.0L 4x4, 4.10
rockfordroo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 10:44 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
DaveSchwartz's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Waterloo Region
Posts: 729
You don't say what wire guage of cord you are using, but just the fridge (and the converter, which doesn't use much if its just maintaining the battery) connected should be OK.

Power loss is proportional to the square of the current. RV absorption fridge boiler elements draw about 3 amps so the power loss, and thus the voltage drop, will not be too great. Just don't use anything else.
__________________
2015 Rockwood Signature UltraLite 8282WS Platinum, GY Marathon LRD, TST 507RV TPMS
2005 GMC 2500HD CCSB D/A, Curt E16, Prodigy P2, Garmin RV760LMT w/BC-20 b/u cam

Self restraint is for the young. I'm old and want it NOW!
DaveSchwartz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 11:22 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Restcure's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 967
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveSchwartz View Post
Power loss is proportional to the square of the current. RV absorption fridge boiler elements draw about 3 amps so the power loss, and thus the voltage drop, will not be too great. Just don't use anything else.
Dave, where is the power lost? Is it related to the length and gauge of the cord? Trying to understand the above but I guess I need a little more detail.
__________________
2012 Rockwood Ultra-Lite 2701SS, Goodyear Endurance LRD, ProPride 3P 1400 hitch
2013 F-150 FX4 7700# GVWR SuperCrew 3.5L EcoBoost 157" WB Max Tow 3.73:1
John, Dawn and Emily... and Bella the camping kitty

visit our website at www.restcure.ca
Restcure is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 11:38 AM   #5
Junior Member
 
TheHolders5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 28
It your everyday orange cord, just trying to cool fridge down before we leave. I have to run propane on shore power for fridge?


2015 Cherokee 284bf limited
TheHolders5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 12:23 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
waiter21's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 627
Should be OK. I leave mine plugged in while in storage with the same cord (just to keep the batteries charged)
__________________
2001 Coachmen Mirada (Ford F53 6.8L V10) - Toad 2003 Saturn Vue
It won't do MACH 2, but I can get a sandwich and take a pee.
waiter21 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 05:05 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 10,907
Quote:
Originally Posted by JD and Beastlet View Post
Dave, where is the power lost? Is it related to the length and gauge of the cord? Trying to understand the above but I guess I need a little more detail.
The power is lost in resistance heating of the cord wiring. That's why the cord gets hot. Shorter cords and heavier wiring reduces the heating losses.

This is really all the fridge heater element is, but it's a wire that is designed to get hotter, just like the heater wire in a space heater.

This also results in lower voltages at the end of the cord. So don't add any more load unless you get a shorter cord with heavier wire.
__________________
1988 Coleman Sequoia - popup (1987-2009) - outlasted 3 Dodge Grand Caravans!
2012 Roo19 - hybrid (2012-2015)

2016 Mini Lite 2503S - tt (2015 - ???)
2011 Traverse LT, 3.6L, FWD
2009 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab, 5.3L, 4x4, 3.73
2016 Silverado 2500HD Dbl Cab, 6.0L 4x4, 4.10
rockfordroo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 05:12 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
ilmor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 904
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheHolders5 View Post
It it ok to run about 100 foot of cord to plug in to a 110 outlet so I can run fridge?


2015 Cherokee 284bf limited
I've done this for 12 years without any issues.
__________________
former 2017 Forest River Sunseeker 2250SLE owner - replaced by a Pleasure-Way Tofino and then an Ontour 2.0

ilmor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 05:18 PM   #9
Sky&Scuba
 
kendive's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 120
I would never own an extension cord at 100 feet less than 12 gauge. Better to go with 10 but the cost and weight start going up fast.

Yes Voltage Drop is the issue and the lower the voltage the more amps and more heat is created.

Just running the Fridge probably is not going to cause an issue.

Voltage Drop Calculator



.
__________________
2015 F150 3.5 EcoBoost Lariat FX4 502A 3.55 Gears Max Tow KO2 Tires
2017 Grand Design Imagine 2150 RB / Traded in Catalina 253RKS
kendive is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 06:13 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Restcure's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 967
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveSchwartz View Post
Power loss is proportional to the square of the current. RV absorption fridge boiler elements draw about 3 amps so the power loss, and thus the voltage drop, will not be too great. Just don't use anything else.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JD and Beastlet View Post
Dave, where is the power lost? Is it related to the length and gauge of the cord? Trying to understand the above but I guess I need a little more detail.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rockfordroo View Post
The power is lost in resistance heating of the cord wiring. That's why the cord gets hot. Shorter cords and heavier wiring reduces the heating losses.

This is really all the fridge heater element is, but it's a wire that is designed to get hotter, just like the heater wire in a space heater.

This also results in lower voltages at the end of the cord. So don't add any more load unless you get a shorter cord with heavier wire.
Yes, I understand that. But saying "Power loss is proportional to the square of the current" sounds like a formula, and any such formula would have to take into account the length and gauge of the extension cord, would it not?
__________________
2012 Rockwood Ultra-Lite 2701SS, Goodyear Endurance LRD, ProPride 3P 1400 hitch
2013 F-150 FX4 7700# GVWR SuperCrew 3.5L EcoBoost 157" WB Max Tow 3.73:1
John, Dawn and Emily... and Bella the camping kitty

visit our website at www.restcure.ca
Restcure is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 06:22 PM   #11
Sky&Scuba
 
kendive's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 120
Quote:
Originally Posted by JD and Beastlet View Post
Yes, I understand that. But saying "Power loss is proportional to the square of the current" sounds like a formula, and any such formula would have to take into account the length and gauge of the extension cord, would it not?
Yes you are correct see my voltage drop calc that I posted above.
__________________
2015 F150 3.5 EcoBoost Lariat FX4 502A 3.55 Gears Max Tow KO2 Tires
2017 Grand Design Imagine 2150 RB / Traded in Catalina 253RKS
kendive is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 06:54 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 10,907
Quote:
Originally Posted by JD and Beastlet View Post
Yes, I understand that. But saying "Power loss is proportional to the square of the current" sounds like a formula, and any such formula would have to take into account the length and gauge of the extension cord, would it not?
Yes. But you don't need to do the calculation to know what you need to do.

Power is equal to current squared times the resistance. The wire in the cord develops a certain resistance per foot. This resistance is related to the material of the wire and the diameter of the wire. Since most cords are made of copper, the resistance is then proportional to the size of the wire. Smaller wire, more resistance per foot. Longer cord, more feet, hence more resistance in the cord.

Current is proportional to the load you put on the end of the cord. If you operate something that consumes more watts (A/C, water heater, toaster, fridge), then the current it draws goes up.

So ideally, you want large wires, shorts cords and low wattage. If you change one in the "wrong" direction, you need to change one or both of the others in the "right" direction.

Consider your 30 amp RV cord as "adequate" for running most things. But if you start adding extra, smaller gauge extension cords to it, you need to start dropping the wattage of whatever your running.

Now, all that being said, in my driveway I've run my A/C with a 100 foot "normal" (not sure of it's gauge - probably 14awg) extension cord and have had no problems. BUT, I haven't run anything else, either.
__________________
1988 Coleman Sequoia - popup (1987-2009) - outlasted 3 Dodge Grand Caravans!
2012 Roo19 - hybrid (2012-2015)

2016 Mini Lite 2503S - tt (2015 - ???)
2011 Traverse LT, 3.6L, FWD
2009 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab, 5.3L, 4x4, 3.73
2016 Silverado 2500HD Dbl Cab, 6.0L 4x4, 4.10
rockfordroo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 09:25 PM   #13
Junior Member
 
TheHolders5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 28
So I'm good to run just the fridge?


2015 Cherokee 284bf limited
TheHolders5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 10:35 PM   #14
Sky&Scuba
 
kendive's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 120
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheHolders5 View Post
So I'm good to run just the fridge?


2015 Cherokee 284bf limited
Most likely yes for just the fridge.

Get you one of these and plug it into an outlet in the RV this will tell you for sure. I have the digital one. Also won't hurt anything after you have this turn the AC on for a few min with your 100 foot extension and you will see what happens to the voltage drop. Again won't hurt nothing unless you left it on running for hours. Most likely an 100 foot 14 AWG extension cord connected to an RV and running the AC will melt the extension cord in a few hours.

https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Product...dp/B000BRFTH6/

https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Product...dp/B002P48KLK/

We just traded campers and when I get a new one I pretty much tear it part adding upgrades I want. I also find alot of issues from the factory and fix them as I go.

Here is the thread I started on the new camper.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ks-111535.html

__________________
2015 F150 3.5 EcoBoost Lariat FX4 502A 3.55 Gears Max Tow KO2 Tires
2017 Grand Design Imagine 2150 RB / Traded in Catalina 253RKS
kendive is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 10:57 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 10,907
Quote:
Originally Posted by kendive View Post
Most likely yes for just the fridge.

Get you one of these and plug it into an outlet in the RV this will tell you for sure. I have the digital one. Also won't hurt anything after you have this turn the AC on for a few min with your 100 foot extension and you will see what happens to the voltage drop. Again won't hurt nothing unless you left it on running for hours. Most likely an 100 foot 14 AWG extension cord connected to an RV and running the AC will melt the extension cord in a few hours.

https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Product...dp/B000BRFTH6/

https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Product...dp/B002P48KLK/

We just traded campers and when I get a new one I pretty much tear it part adding upgrades I want. I also find alot of issues from the factory and fix them as I go.

Here is the thread I started on the new camper.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ks-111535.html

Mine never got hot. Maybe it's 12 ga, but doubtful.
__________________
1988 Coleman Sequoia - popup (1987-2009) - outlasted 3 Dodge Grand Caravans!
2012 Roo19 - hybrid (2012-2015)

2016 Mini Lite 2503S - tt (2015 - ???)
2011 Traverse LT, 3.6L, FWD
2009 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab, 5.3L, 4x4, 3.73
2016 Silverado 2500HD Dbl Cab, 6.0L 4x4, 4.10
rockfordroo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 11:16 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
Scubanut's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Canada
Posts: 516
I fried my fridge mother board. I was temporary using the trailer for a week at my home while we were moving. I only was using a few lights and tv, and fridge. I was to far away from my 30 amp RV home connection. So I plugged into 15 amp using the trl heavy gauge 30 plug, I used and adapter and I think 14 ga wire extension cord that was about 100 feet. Needless to say my adapter melted and now my fridge is fried. Two lessons for me, don't use 14 gauge wire with adapter for long periods, and I have a progressive EMS and I didn't use it because I though at home there was no need.


2012 F150 FX4 Crew 5.0 3.73 gears
2O12 Coachman Freedom Express 292BHDS (outdoor Kitchen)
Scubanut is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2016, 09:57 PM   #17
Junior Member
 
TheHolders5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 28
I will be plugging it in tomorrow so we will see how it goes!!!


2015 Cherokee 284bf limited
TheHolders5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2016, 07:38 AM   #18
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Box elder
Posts: 724
http://www.cerrowire.com/files/file/voltagedrop.pdf
__________________
2015 silverback 31IK
2023 f350
kcmusa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2016, 07:41 AM   #19
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Glasgow ky
Posts: 192
The trick is to ensure the battery is charged already or disconnect the battery. The charger will also heat up when trying to charge with it's input amperage low. Be sure not to try the ac or water heater.
Simplewon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2016, 07:55 AM   #20
Senior Member
 
Restcure's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 967
Quote:
Originally Posted by kendive View Post
Yes you are correct see my voltage drop calc that I posted above.
Geez, I missed that completely. Thank you.

Quote:
Originally Posted by rockfordroo View Post
Yes. But you don't need to do the calculation to know what you need to do.

Power is equal to current squared times the resistance. The wire in the cord develops a certain resistance per foot. This resistance is related to the material of the wire and the diameter of the wire. Since most cords are made of copper, the resistance is then proportional to the size of the wire. Smaller wire, more resistance per foot. Longer cord, more feet, hence more resistance in the cord.

Current is proportional to the load you put on the end of the cord. If you operate something that consumes more watts (A/C, water heater, toaster, fridge), then the current it draws goes up.

So ideally, you want large wires, shorts cords and low wattage. If you change one in the "wrong" direction, you need to change one or both of the others in the "right" direction.

Consider your 30 amp RV cord as "adequate" for running most things. But if you start adding extra, smaller gauge extension cords to it, you need to start dropping the wattage of whatever your running.

Now, all that being said, in my driveway I've run my A/C with a 100 foot "normal" (not sure of it's gauge - probably 14awg) extension cord and have had no problems. BUT, I haven't run anything else, either.
Thanks for the explanation. Between the information I've received and the voltage drop calculator link I have a better understanding.
__________________
2012 Rockwood Ultra-Lite 2701SS, Goodyear Endurance LRD, ProPride 3P 1400 hitch
2013 F-150 FX4 7700# GVWR SuperCrew 3.5L EcoBoost 157" WB Max Tow 3.73:1
John, Dawn and Emily... and Bella the camping kitty

visit our website at www.restcure.ca
Restcure is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:15 AM.