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 03-18-2016, 02:01 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
leefl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 454
Twist lock extension cord ?

Hi,
I'm in need of a 30A extension cord for a big trip this summer ("just in case").
All of the extension cords that I've seen go between the plug end of the existing cord and the supply post, with mating plug/socket.
While these would work just fine, it bothers me that there's nothing covering the mating surfaces of where the normal supply cord plugs into the extension cord.

I was wondering if there are any extension cords that use the same twist-lock connector that connects the supply cord to the camper ?
So you'd plug (and twist lock) the extension into the camper, and then connect the other end to the normal supply cable (which would also make use of the twist-lock connectors), and then just plug the normal cable into the supply post.

Seems that with the twist-lock connectors it would all be much more secure, and rain resistant.

Hope that makes some sense
__________________
2015 Rockwood Signature UltraLite 8281WS
2016 Ford F-250 Lariat CrewCab, 4x4, 6.2L V8
leefl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-18-2016, 02:08 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
caper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,031
If you want to keep the connection off the ground and water proof just use a 5 gal pail. Cut holes on opposite side and plug in cord turn bucket upside down now your cord is off the ground and out of the weather (easy fix).
__________________
Terry and Janet
2008 3001W Windjammer
2007 Ford F150
caper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-18-2016, 02:22 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
leefl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 454
Quote:
Originally Posted by caper View Post
If you want to keep the connection off the ground and water proof just use a 5 gal pail. Cut holes on opposite side and plug in cord turn bucket upside down now your cord is off the ground and out of the weather (easy fix).
Nice "hack"
__________________
2015 Rockwood Signature UltraLite 8281WS
2016 Ford F-250 Lariat CrewCab, 4x4, 6.2L V8
leefl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-18-2016, 02:24 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
leefl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 454
This is *almost* what I was thinking of
Amazon.com : Marinco 50SPP PowerCord PLUS Marine Electrical Power Cordset (30-Amp, 50-Feet) : Boating Shore Power Cords : Sports & Outdoors

except that it doesn't look like the socket end would latch with the lock from the existing cord

I believe I'd basically need a NEMA L5-30P to NEMA L5-30R male to female extension cable with Hubbell twist lock on both ends of the cable (one locking ring, one locking receptacle). Perhaps such a thing doesn't exist for some strange reason
__________________
2015 Rockwood Signature UltraLite 8281WS
2016 Ford F-250 Lariat CrewCab, 4x4, 6.2L V8
leefl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2016, 07:46 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
cpaulsen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Brookings
Posts: 561
Use the regular 30 amp extension cord......I have done it before.....dialectic grease on the prongs........then wrap it with duct tape...had mine on a piece of short 2x6 board for 4 months....with no problems
cpaulsen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2016, 11:26 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
bob213's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,472
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaulsen View Post
Use the regular 30 amp extension cord......I have done it before.....dialectic grease on the prongs........then wrap it with duct tape...had mine on a piece of short 2x6 board for 4 months....with no problems
Actually if you look up dielectric grease you will find it is a NON conductor. Best product to use is Noalox.
Ideal NOALOX 4 oz. Anti-Oxidant Compound-30-026 - The Home Depot
__________________
You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality – Ayn Rand
bob213 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2016, 11:32 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Wolverine 1945's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: SouthWest Michigan
Posts: 5,977
If what you want is twist lock,,, go to your local Ele Supply House,,, they will have several different twist lock connecters !!! You may want to take your cord with you to make sure you get the right one !!!
Wolverine 1945 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2016, 11:49 AM   #8
Member
 
KMANUEL74's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Cape Cod
Posts: 76
Quote:
Originally Posted by leefl View Post
This is *almost* what I was thinking of
Amazon.com : Marinco 50SPP PowerCord PLUS Marine Electrical Power Cordset (30-Amp, 50-Feet) : Boating Shore Power Cords : Sports & Outdoors

except that it doesn't look like the socket end would latch with the lock from the existing cord

I believe I'd basically need a NEMA L5-30P to NEMA L5-30R male to female extension cable with Hubbell twist lock on both ends of the cable (one locking ring, one locking receptacle). Perhaps such a thing doesn't exist for some strange reason
That is the same cord I use for my Rockwood Roo, except I think mine is 75 ft.
KMANUEL74 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2016, 12:39 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 593
I use a Marinco adapter. It has the 50 amp twist connector for the trailer on one end and a 30 amp rv plug on the other. It is about a foot long. Works great. Use it with a 25 foot 30 amp rv extension cord. Saves dragging out the big cord. I use it for all 30 amp hookups.
Harkerr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2016, 12:45 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Oaklevel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 9,740
You can get twist locks at electrical supply houses but there is really no need.

__________________

2005 Dodge 3500 Cummins
2017 Wildwood Lodge 4092 BFL
1966 Mustang GT
1986 Mustang SVO
Lillie Spoiled Rotten Boxer Mix
Oaklevel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-20-2016, 09:53 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
Too Tall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 939
You may have to add the twist lock end yourself which is no big deal if you can find one that would work inline like you want to do.

An alternative would be to buy an entire longer cable which would give you 100% redundancy. IMO, that's the best most reliable option. Put it under the seat of the truck and hope you don't have to use it. I only had one occasion that I almost needed more than 25' length. A state park had all the electrical post on the wrong side.

You can always limp by with a regular heavy duty extension cord till you can run in to the nearest RV supply to get a replacement.

IMO, I wouldn't worry about the weather exposure but you can cover it as mentioned or wrap it in a garbage bag. My cord is plugged in 24/7 to the side of my house and has never had issues. You can actually see the prongs, so it's far from weather proof.
__________________
Rockwood 2104S, 2014 Ram 2500 Diesel.
USMC 68 -70
Too Tall is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-20-2016, 10:10 AM   #12
Member
 
jimmymjr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 81
Quote:
Originally Posted by bob213 View Post
Actually if you look up dielectric grease you will find it is a NON conductor. Best product to use is Noalox.

Ideal NOALOX 4 oz. Anti-Oxidant Compound-30-026 - The Home Depot

The reason for dielectric is so it doesn't leak current between the prongs.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
[SIGPIC]Jimmy Miller
2016 27RKSS
jimmymjr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-20-2016, 10:25 AM   #13
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Central Louisiana
Posts: 93
I have two 50 foot marinco cords for boats like the one above . You will also need a collar and ring to make it watertight. As on this website.

Marinco Sealing Collar with Threaded Ring, 30A Systems | Redden Marine Supply
drc343 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-20-2016, 10:00 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
leefl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 454
I ended up giving up and just getting a regular 30A extension cord.
I'll use some dielectric grease between the connectors to prevent sorts due to water ingress (since it is indeed an insulator) and some PPE (polyphenyl ether is great as a conductive contact cleaner) on the contacts, and just keep it off the ground and covered.
__________________
2015 Rockwood Signature UltraLite 8281WS
2016 Ford F-250 Lariat CrewCab, 4x4, 6.2L V8
leefl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2016, 08:08 AM   #15
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Bates City, MO
Posts: 4
I see where there are locks to protect people from steeling surge protectors. It seems like if the surge protector was on the end of an extension, someone could steel the extension WITH surge protector. I just bought my RV this weekend so still learning...but is there a gadget one can buy to prevent someone from unplugging at the point where the extension is plugged in?
dnnmccrd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2016, 08:30 AM   #16
Senior Member
 
B and B's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 10,833
Send a message via AIM to B and B
I attached aircraft Cable and use pad locks. Put a piece on each end, use crimps and put shrink over the ends to prevent scraps from the wire cable ends. I added the shrink after photo was taken.

Click image for larger version

Name:	11111.jpg
Views:	93
Size:	361.1 KB
ID:	108136
__________________
B and B
2022 Venture RV SportTrek STT 302 VRB Travel Trailer
2018 Heartland Landmark 365 Louisville 5th Wheel
2015 Heartland Bighorn 5th Wheel
2013 FR Rockwood 8289WS 5th Wheel
2012 FR Rockwood 2703 SS Travel Trailer
B and B is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2016, 09:18 AM   #17
Site Team
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Northen IL
Posts: 8,288
The one from Progressive industries comes with a metal ring so you can lock it directly to the post.

Iwritecode is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2016, 11:54 AM   #18
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Bates City, MO
Posts: 4
Thanks for the response!
dnnmccrd 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 09:09 AM.