30 amp extension cord

TT

TTnewbie

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Feb 15, 2021
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Hi all. I want to purchase a 50-75 extension cord that will allow me to connect my trailer to my house at the street level. Due to an incline in my driveway, I cannot back the trailer onto my property to be closer to my outlet.

I need suggestions on a reliable extension cord that I can use. I found some on Amazon and Ebay but I am not sure which is a quality brand. I would hate to buy an extension cord that would put my rig/house in danger of fire. Also, I read somewhere that anything longer than 50 feet will cut down the amperage rating from 30 amps to 20 amps??? Is that true? From the front of my garage to the curb it is 30 feet. I would then need an additional 10 feet to the outlet and extra length to reach the electrical panel. I was leaning towards a 75 foot extension cord until I read that. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
 
All depends on what you're going to be doing with the TT when parked.

Running just the AC unit? Then a 12ga cord is fine.

AC plus microwave basically living in it a 10 ga cord.

Just keeping the battery topped off, a few lights preping for a trip, your run of the mil outdoor cord will be fine.
 
Currently, all I just want to bring the trailer to my house and clean it up and prep it for next season. At the same time, I was thinking that I should just get the "right" extension cord that would allow me to hook up the trailer to my house in the event of any situation that would require me to live in it with my family while hooked up to my house.
 
If you are just wanting to keep the battery toppoed off, use a few lights, and such while cleaning, a good quality cord using #12 AWG wire is OK. If you want to run the a/c, then a larger gauge cord, i.e. #10 would be better.

If you want the full 30 amp capability, you should install a proper 120 volt 30 amp RV outlet at the house and have it wired to a dedicated 30 amp circuit breaker. Then purchase a proper 120 volt 30 amp RV cord of the proper length.

Bob
 
I installed a 30 amp outlet in my garage with a 30 amp double breaker that I used for my garage heater during the winter. I plan on connecting the trailer to it if I need to run the full set up. I keep the battery in my house at the end of the season and periodically connect it to a batter charger.

What I would like some direction with is suggestions for trusted brands of 50-75 foot extension cords. The ones that I found on Ebay and Amazon do not state if they are UL approved based on what I read. I also saw a few reviews showing extension cords that overheated and melted at different points. This is what I want to avoid having to worry about.
 
TTnewbie said:
I installed a 30 amp outlet in my garage with a 30 amp double breaker that I used for my garage heater during the winter. I plan on connecting the trailer to it if I need to run the full set up. I keep the battery in my house at the end of the season and periodically connect it to a batter charger.

What I would like some direction with is suggestions for trusted brands of 50-75 foot extension cords. The ones that I found on Ebay and Amazon do not state if they are UL approved based on what I read. I also saw a few reviews showing extension cords that overheated and melted at different points. This is what I want to avoid having to worry about.
Click to expand...

Did you wire this 30 amp outlet as a 120 volt 30 amp outlet or a 240 volt 30 amp outlet. Why the double breaker? This to me says it is wired 240 volts.

If you plug the RV into that, things will fry! Don't do it unless you are absolutely sure it is a 120 volt 30 amp circuit. . You have only ONE chance if it is wrong.

Bob
 
I'm not an electrician but can manage basic wiring and the like. I went to Lowes and was helped by someone that is a retired electrician. I hope he wasn't BSing me. I attached a pick of the breaker that I installed.
 

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I'd check the outlet voltage before plugging your RV in. As for a cord I would pick up some 3 wire 10 gauge SO or SJOOW cord in the length you need plus the male and female RV plugs and make my own.
 
mysery1 said:
I'd check the outlet voltage before plugging your RV in. As for a cord I would pick up some 3 wire 10 gauge SO or SJOOW cord in the length you need plus the male and female RV plugs and make my own.
Click to expand...

Does this come out cheaper than buying a premade extension cord? I recall the 10 gauge cable being very expensive at HD and Lowes.
 
I use a 20 amp extension cord and a 30 amp adapter

I can use ALL of my trailer......... but not at once

trailer is stored 50 foot away from house garage 20 amp outlet
the air conditioner is 13500btu and it is set for 85 degrees
no fires or issues... I did burn out a poor quality adapter
swapped it for a better one ... but there was no chance for a fire as the cord did not get hot and it does not sit in any combustible material to support a fire

IF the cord was to be damaged more... it would sooner or later create a short and trip the breaker in the garage ... maybe a bit of scorched lawn would be the result if the cord ever totally melted.

make sure your breakers are good...

as mentioned the only time Ive had a issue was with the adapter
If I ever have to replace it again I will buy a 30 amp connector that fits on the trailer
and attach that to the cord...
cord would still be protected by the 20 amp breaker..... but there will be no adapter to worry about
 
Last edited:
TTnewbie said:
Does this come out cheaper than buying a premade extension cord? I recall the 10 gauge cable being very expensive at HD and Lowes.
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Usually not. When I needed some temporary wiring, I'd buy an extension cord of the proper gauge and cut off the ends. Was always cheaper than buying the SJO cord.
 
He wasn't BS'ing you BUT...

TTnewbie said:
I'm not an electrician but can manage basic wiring and the like. I went to Lowes and was helped by someone that is a retired electrician. I hope he wasn't BSing me. I attached a pick of the breaker that I installed.
Click to expand...
BUT THAT IS THE WRONG BREAKER FOR A TRAILER!

A 30 amp 240 volt breaker with two switch handles is used for things like a clothes dryer or water heater or a big space heater.

A 30 amp 120 volt breaker with only one switch handle is used for RVs. If you somehow plug the RV into the present outlet, you will do a lot of expensive damage, destroying the converter and microwave oven for a start, possibly the air conditioner if you are really persistent.

Don't do it.
 
Larry-NC said:
BUT THAT IS THE WRONG BREAKER FOR A TRAILER!

A 30 amp 240 volt breaker with two switch handles is used for things like a clothes dryer or water heater or a big space heater.

A 30 amp 120 volt breaker with only one switch handle is used for RVs. If you somehow plug the RV into the present outlet, you will do a lot of expensive damage, destroying the converter and microwave oven for a start, possibly the air conditioner if you are really persistent.

Don't do it.
Click to expand...

I'm glad that I upgraded my electrical panel to 200amps because I have plenty of space to add more breakers. Do you have a link to the breaker you are talking about? I looked it up and did not see one with only one breaker handle.
 
what Larry said....

rv 30 amp only has a single HOT wire on one breaker

you didn't by chance remove a 20amp and stick a 30 in there with existing wires?
That would also be real badddddd.
 
TTnewbie said:
I'm not an electrician but can manage basic wiring and the like. I went to Lowes and was helped by someone that is a retired electrician. I hope he wasn't BSing me. I attached a pick of the breaker that I installed.
Click to expand...

That's scary!!!! Many Licened Electricians when they see a 3 prong plug think immediately of a 240 volt 30 amp dryer circult.

Just because they are a Licensed Electrician only means they have a piece of paper in their pocket that tells them they are a Licensed Electrician. It is what is in their head that counts, not the piece of paper in their pocket.

As I stated earlier, if you plug the trailer into that circuit, which we suspect is a 240 volt 30 amp service, you will be replacing lots of electrical items in your trailer.

Bob

A former LOWE's employee for 15 years.
 
I appreciate the assistance with getting the correct breaker for the RV hook up. Keep in mind that the 30 amp double pole breaker is for my garage heater. That is what I spoke to the Lowes employee about, not a 30 amp connection for an RV outlet.

The mistake here would have been on my end, assuming that 30 amp breaker could be used for anything that needed 30 amps of power. I was not aware that there was a difference between 120v and 220v for RV connections. I am really glad that I posted on this forum because I was simply going to get an extension cord and hook up the trailer directly to the 30 amp outlet that I installed for the heater.

I'm only using half of my panel so I will be getting the correct breaker and installing a dedicated outlet for the trailer.
 
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