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Old 03-29-2016, 02:24 PM   #1
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Extension cord?

Is a regular outdoor orange with black stripe extension cord good enough to keep camper plugged in at home? It is also connected to another cord to reach the power outlet. Is this ok? I do have the adapter for it so I can plug the camper power cord into the extension cord.
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Old 03-29-2016, 02:38 PM   #2
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I would not run two extensions. A contractor grade 10/3 cord to the camper cord. Depending on the circuit you plug to you will determine what you can run it the camper. Light and fridge should be no issue, A/C or Micro wave maybe to much load.
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Old 03-29-2016, 02:38 PM   #3
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Is a regular outdoor orange with black stripe extension cord good enough to keep camper plugged in at home? It is also connected to another cord to reach the power outlet. Is this ok? I do have the adapter for it so I can plug the camper power cord into the extension cord.
Yup, I do it all the time. It's just fine as long as you understand that you need to keep the load to a minimum. After all, it's plugged into a 15- or maybe even a 20-amp circuit. And some of those orange cords may have only 16-ga wire! So don't run the AC, the microwave, the refrigerator and the entertainment center all at once. I keep mine plugged in like that mostly for lights when I go out to do some work on the TT.

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Old 03-29-2016, 02:52 PM   #4
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Yup, I do it all the time. It's just fine as long as you understand that you need to keep the load to a minimum. After all, it's plugged into a 15- or maybe even a 20-amp circuit. And some of those orange cords may have only 16-ga wire! So don't run the AC, the microwave, the refrigerator and the entertainment center all at once. I keep mine plugged in like that mostly for lights when I go out to do some work on the TT.

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Thanks.....is there a reason it makes a pop noise when I plug it in?
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Old 03-29-2016, 03:02 PM   #5
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A guess something is turned on and the snap is an arc as the cords connect.
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Old 03-29-2016, 03:12 PM   #6
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A guess something is turned on and the snap is an arc as the cords connect.
x2

And it's not a guess. Something is already turned on in your trailer and ready to draw current, hence the arc.
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Old 03-29-2016, 03:12 PM   #7
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A guess something is turned on and the snap is an arc as the cords connect.
Is it ok? I don't see anything turned on. I do have my battery hooked up.
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Old 03-29-2016, 03:14 PM   #8
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The converter/charger is always on unless you turned the breaker off, hence the pop or arc at the receptacle.
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Old 03-29-2016, 03:16 PM   #9
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The charger for the batteries is an instant load when you plug in, and that's a lot of current draw. Plus all the added resistance of the long double extension cord you're using. The refrigerator (unless it's set to propane only) is another draw.

Shut off the main breaker on the power converter, then plug in, then flip the breaker back on. That will save your receptacle from damage.
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Old 03-29-2016, 03:16 PM   #10
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Is it ok? I don't see anything turned on. I do have my battery hooked up.
I'm pretty sure your 12v system will charge the battery when it's connected to shore power, which means there's a load ready as soon as you plug in. That's why, when I hook up the electricity at a campground, I always turn the circuit breaker off *before* plugging in.

Right now my battery is sitting in my garage - I hook it up to a trickle charger once a month, and then put it on the trailer about a week before our first trip every year.
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Old 03-29-2016, 03:36 PM   #11
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May want to plug in a voltage meter as a long (or two) extensions may cause a voltage drop. Voltage is similar to water pressure, and you know how a long garden hose (or two) can cause the pressure to drop. Low voltage is a different animal than low amperage. Want to make sure, under load your voltage keeps above about 108 volts, under that may be a concern. Hopefully it will be close to 120volts.
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Old 03-29-2016, 06:55 PM   #12
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May want to plug in a voltage meter as a long (or two) extensions may cause a voltage drop. Voltage is similar to water pressure, and you know how a long garden hose (or two) can cause the pressure to drop. Low voltage is a different animal than low amperage. Want to make sure, under load your voltage keeps above about 108 volts, under that may be a concern. Hopefully it will be close to 120volts.
I condensed down to just one extension cord. Can someone tell me which switch in the breaker panel is the main one? Mine is marked but I pulled the cover off and then forgot which way was up so now I am not sure which end goes where.....good grief! lol
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Old 03-30-2016, 09:38 AM   #13
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All orange extensions were not created equal. Is it a Walmart purchase? Their website features a 100' extension cord "suitable for power equipment." Nowhere does it mention the gauge, which, as it turns out, is 16. Lots of common power tools require 12, at least 14 gauge. And 100' matters, too. If confused, find a decent Ace or Best hardware store. They usually have someone with a tad of knowledge to help you.
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Old 03-30-2016, 10:59 AM   #14
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You haven't mentioned the length of the extension cord, but I would advise against more than 50', shorter would be better. Unless you have heavy duty commercial cord, you will be trying to pull too much over too long distance. I burned my shore plug doing this.
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Old 03-30-2016, 11:17 AM   #15
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If the gauge of your cord is too small you will know it when you grab a hold of it as it will be warm. Warm then turns to hot which then turns in to fire or melted plug. Bigger is better! IMO I would not use a cord with smaller than 12 gauge wire. Then as others have said length does matter too.
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Old 03-31-2016, 09:32 AM   #16
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X2 on the minimum of 12 gauge, especially if it's a 50 foot cord. Also a 20 amp outlet is best if possible.
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Old 03-31-2016, 05:04 PM   #17
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Just ordered a 2016 27DSRL. In the meantime I've been studying the manual so that I am ready when it gets here. In that manual it states in there to NEVER use an extension cord. I guess that would be Okay if you could always get away with it. Truth of the matter is that not all sites are set up in a fashion where you have enough cord without an extension. Like everyone here has already said though, the trick is to have a heavy gauge cord that will handle everything you want to run at once. If you merely want to set it in the drive and run things like slide outs, lights, etc, then the lightweight orange cord will do ya. I wouldn't think of turning something like my A/C on with one of those "orange" extensions though. Hopefully if someone does that, they have "safeties" (breakers, etc) in place to keep them from a catastrophe. If not, get the checkbook ready. Bottom line,,,go buy a nice heavy cord that will always work for anything and evrything you want to run and use it religiously. Then you know you are protected.
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Old 03-31-2016, 05:34 PM   #18
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Something else you will want to check. At home I am always plugged into a GFCI protected outlet. A GFCI protected circuit will work also. You never know what will happen with those extension cords lying in your yard. I have cut a couple with the mower, oops. You also never know what kids will do.
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Old 04-01-2016, 07:46 AM   #19
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I made a long extension cord from Romex for powering my RV at home. I can't run the AC or microwave with it but I know the wire and plugs are heavy duty.
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Old 04-01-2016, 12:13 PM   #20
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My hubby wants to put in a 20amp box so plugging in at home will be like plugging in at a CG. I'll be able to run the a/c while loading the trailer when it's over 100 here in summer Yay!

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