Extension Shore Power Cable

[crushor]

Not a trouble shooting question, however, due to the location of my trailer in reference to my home, I am using the factory shore power cable and an extension cable. This past year on our maiden voyage I packed the extension cable as I didn't know the distance from trailer to shore power at the CG. Didn't use it. How often (random question) do you find the need to use an extension shore power cable when at CG's?

[B47]

Fortunately I have never yet had to use an extension shore power cord.

[MillerTime]

I never have either. I guess if I have a choice on parking close to electric or a water faucet I always chose electric. I guess that's why I have 125' of white hose

[GlacierGus]

I camped my way home after picking up my Mini Lite in Ohio (RVW). My third night out I camped at a CG where two units shared the electrical pedestal. My original cord was nowhere long enough. Luckily the CG loaned me an extension. I purchased my own extension now and will always have it along.

[Dave_Monica]

I carry a total of 100' of 30A cable and have had to use it all a few times. It's most common when camping in Ontario Provincial Parks to share a double pedestal between 2 adjacent sites. Once I had to position the camper so the 100" of cable would reach.

Dave

[Sirsea]

So far, never had to use an extension at a campground but do carry a 75' when visiting some relatives so we can plug into their dryer outlet, of course we only get 30 amps but it works well if running only one a/c.

[B47]

Originally Posted by Dave_Monica

I carry a total of 100' of 30A cable and have had to use it all a few times. It's most common when camping in Ontario Provincial Parks to share a double pedestal between 2 adjacent sites. Once I had to position the camper so the 100" of cable would reach.

Dave

Dave- I have a simple question regarding electrical power in Canada - that being is the power 60 cps or something other like the Euporean system?

[prairiecamper]

Originally Posted by GlacierGus

I camped my way home after picking up my Mini Lite in Ohio (RVW). My third night out I camped at a CG where two units shared the electrical pedestal. My original cord was nowhere long enough. Luckily the CG loaned me an extension. I purchased my own extension now and will always have it along.

This has happened to us more times than I care to think about! The shared pedestal where if you are on the wrong side of the pedestal the RV cord is never long enough!! Than you need to run an extension underneath and across your site where everybody walks and walks on the cord to plug in. Who designs or wires these pedestals certainly doesn't understand RV's real well! There is only one application that I can think of where this might be acceptable and that is waterfront sites or view sites where Motorhomes use the side that doesn't work for Trailers. my rant, ok now I feel better.

[Dave_Monica]

Originally Posted by B47

Dave- I have a simple question regarding electrical power in Canada - that being is the power 60 cps or something other like the Euporean system?

Canada is 60 cycle same as the US.

Dave

[RamblerGuy]

Something Sirsea said could be dangerously misleading to the unwary. Sirsea didn't say so, but my guess is that his RV has a 50 amp, 240 volt shore line. Class C's and maybe some travel trailers use 30 amps, 120 volts. Plugging one of those into a dryer receptacle could be a disaster since the dryer receptacle is 30 amps, 240 volts. You could make up an adapter and be safe if the dryer receptacle is a newer 4-pin type (2 120 volt hots, neutral and ground legs), but the older 3-pin types don't have a ground leg. If you didn't get it right, you could get 240 volts into your 120 volt RV. Or, you may have 120 volts (from one hot leg and the neutral) but you would not have a ground.

I installed a TT-30 receptacle on a new 30 amp breaker at home, and use a 20 amp receptacle at my mother's house when we visit. I updated the wiring in her house a few years ago, so I know the circuit is truly 20 amps. In fact, I ran the wire when we added that section to the house when I was 15!

Back to the original post, I ran across a 50-foot "heavy duty 120 volt 20 amp" extension cord at Lowe's. It is 10 AWG so it is suitable for 30 amps. I cut off the ends and installed a TT-30 plug and receptacle. It cost a lot less than 50 feet of extension cord at the RV dealer. I have to use it at home to reach the new receptacle, and have used it at maybe 5% of our campsites.

[RamblerGuy]

May I add that my post was not being critical of what was already posted. I assumed that those who had posted were knowledgeable of the subject. I simply wanted to point out that would be easy for someone to mistakenly think they could just plug into any dryer receptacle. That could be disastorous. One must be careful plugging into an outlet that wasn't specifically intended for the desired use, or when using adapters.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Dave_Monica

I carry a total of 100' of 30A cable and have had to use it all a few times. It's most common when camping in Ontario Provincial Parks to share a double pedestal between 2 adjacent sites. Once I had to position the camper so the 100" of cable would reach.

Dave

Me too. A 100 foot of 30amp, a 25 foot 30 amp, and the OEM 30 foot cable.
In 4 years I usually use them all at one time or another.

Once the pedestal failed at our "full" campground and we needed to run a long cord to the pedestal at the next site. The alternative was to leave.

[B47]

Originally Posted by Dave_Monica

Canada is 60 cycle same as the US.

Dave

Thanks - that what I thought, but wasn't sure.

[camper1999]

I carry a cheaper 30 amp extension for my 50 amp trailer. In state parks a lot of times 30 amps is all you get. In over 20 years of camping never needed it. But I am a just in case type of guy.

[crushor]

My trailer is capable of both 50 and 30 amp service. I carry the 50 amp shore power cable and thanks to all will carry the extension cable when leaving my local area. I also have the 50 to 30 amp converter plug. Additionally I carry a 30 amp plug in surge suppressor.

New question... The hard wired surge suppressors, I would like to get a 50 amp version. If the CG requires me to convert to 30 amp will the suppressor still work or ??? I would assume (we all know what that does) that the functionality would not change. Thanks.

[prairiecamper]

the only drawback to a make it yourself extension cord is that the ends are not hermetically sealed, just saying. I don't know how important that would be to somebody?

[SimchaSabre]

For Michigan State park camping, I need to use the 50ft' extension cord w/ the 30ft' factory cord about 50% of the time. Most sites share a pedistal, so it is about a 50/50 chance whuch side you get. I also prefer to run the cord the long way around if needed to avoid tripping over it.

[camper1999]

I use my 50 amp surge protector with 30 amp service all the time. Should be no problem.

[crushor]

That's great. One thing the off season is good for planning and weather permitting, implementing mods.

[camper1999]

Yep The off months I plan and buy items to work on my trailer when the weather breaks. Just thinking about mods and items I want to fix gets me through the winter months.