Posted 2013-09-19 7:40 AM (#154840) Subject: plugs and cords for living quarters???
Member
Posts: 49 Location: NC
We recently bought a trailer with a weekend package. It has electrical hook up and AC/HEat. The outlet on the outside of the trailer looks like the male end of a regular extension cord with three prongs. I am trying to figure out what type of extension cord I need to buy. I was told I needed something bigger then a normal extension cord if I wanted to run AC, we will most likely be running the heat option of the roof AC, but not positive. The place we r camping said they have some outlets for 30 amp and some with regular receptacles. After doing a search on here I saw people say if it looks like a normal house plug then it is 20amp. BUT when I search 20amp generator extension cords they have 4 prongs not three.... :/Very confused please help!
Posted 2013-09-19 8:48 AM (#154846 - in reply to #154840) Subject: RE: plugs and cords for living quarters???
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
Most house hold cords are designed for 110-120 volt and 15 or 20 amp circuits. Most 30 amp circuits usually jump to 220 volt. RVs are one of the exceptions where we see 110volt with 30 amp.
30 amp circuits use 10 gauge wire. 20 amp circuits use 12 gauge and 15 amp use 14 gauges. Cord manufactures also will step up a gauge in order to get longer distances. So where a 50 foot cord my use the standard gauge, a 100 foot cord will often step up to the next heaver gauge. This just compensates for the power loss over longer distances.
A 30 amp cord designed for 110 volt will have 3 prongs that connect to each of the 3 wires inside the cord. Ground, Positive and neutral. A 30 amp designed for 220volts will have 4 prongs on the plug and 4 wires inside the cord. A ground, a red and a black positive leg and a white neutral leg.
So for your RV or LQ you want a cord that can handle the longer distance that you might be required to stretch for plug, and you want to handle 110 volt and probably 30 amp so you have enough power for everything in the trailer.
I would look to buy a 10 gauge cord, 30 amp rated, 25 foot minimum in length, But if you camp in places with the longer connections distances, get the 50 foot. It will have a plug on the end like this:
The cord manufactures also make plugs that are designed to LOCK together with a twist. These won't plug into most outlet boxes, but are designed to lock cords together so the don't pull apart when being dragged across construction job sites. Since you won't be dragging your cords once parked. These probably are not needed by you.
Posted 2013-09-19 9:14 AM (#154851 - in reply to #154840) Subject: RE: plugs and cords for living quarters???
Elite Veteran
Posts: 798 Location: Tenn/Ala.
What PH siad is good info. What I'm thinking he didn't catch is that your trailer has what the industry calls a "motor base" plug. It is made so that a "regular" extension cord plugs into it. As PH said, they'll be rated for 20 amps, and are commonly used on "weekender" units. With an AC and fridge, they are at limit, but do seem to give dependable service.
All that said- buy the heaviest guage cord you can afford, in the shortest length to do what you need. The heavier the cord, the less the voltage drop, and the happier your AC will be.
Posted 2013-09-19 11:56 AM (#154855 - in reply to #154840) Subject: RE: plugs and cords for living quarters???
Member
Posts: 49 Location: NC
THANKS EVERYONE!!! So I found out that this weekend we are camping where there will be what I consider a regular house like receptacle. So in this case a large gauge normal extension cord should work??? What gauge should I get? And then I could get one of these http://www.dyersonline.com/voltec-15-amp-female-to-30-amp-male-tria... to put on end of said extension cord to be able to use 30amp plugs in the future?? Thank you all very much for your help.
Posted 2013-09-19 2:16 PM (#154856 - in reply to #154840) Subject: RE: plugs and cords for living quarters???
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
As RT said. Get the heaviest gauge you can afford.
When I buy cords, I look for how flexible they are and will remain in cold weather. Some of the cheap China knock offs are not flexible in cold temps and the pvc insulation cracks or breaks if you try to roll the cord up when cold. A more flexible cord is just easier to put away when you are done using it.
If you are running 20 amp plugs like your photo, I would get a 12 gauge wire
Posted 2013-09-20 8:03 AM (#154868 - in reply to #154840) Subject: RE: plugs and cords for living quarters???
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342 Location: MS
I have a 50 foot 10 gauge that has regular ends. The trailer has the other type. I got an adapter for the trailer cord, and have noticed that in spite of having very heavy cords, there is some 'melting' in the adapter. So, do I need a new adapter?
Posted 2013-09-20 8:25 AM (#154869 - in reply to #154868) Subject: RE: plugs and cords for living quarters???
Elite Veteran
Posts: 798 Location: Tenn/Ala.
Originally written by Linda Y on 2013-09-20 8:03 AM I have a 50 foot 10 gauge that has regular ends. The trailer has the other type. I got an adapter for the trailer cord, and have noticed that in spite of having very heavy cords, there is some 'melting' in the adapter. So, do I need a new adapter?
Yes you need a new adapter, but you also need to reduce your amperage draw. Through the adapter, you need to cap your draw @ 20 amps top. Basically, that means you can usually get by with 1 major appliance at a time (hair dryer, coffee pot, A/C, microwave). Use 2, and you'll overdraw for the adapter.
Also- you sound like you have a 50' cord on the end of what is probably already a 25' trailer cord. That's a lot of run. Be aware of potential voltage drop. To truly check, you can use a voltmeter in a receptacle at the trailer while everything is running.
Posted 2013-09-20 9:28 AM (#154873 - in reply to #154869) Subject: RE: plugs and cords for living quarters???
Member
Posts: 49 Location: NC
Originally written by RTSmith on 2013-09-20 8:25 AM
Originally written by Linda Y on 2013-09-20 8:03 AM I have a 50 foot 10 gauge that has regular ends. The trailer has the other type. I got an adapter for the trailer cord, and have noticed that in spite of having very heavy cords, there is some 'melting' in the adapter. So, do I need a new adapter?
Yes you need a new adapter, but you also need to reduce your amperage draw. Through the adapter, you need to cap your draw @ 20 amps top. Basically, that means you can usually get by with 1 major appliance at a time (hair dryer, coffee pot, A/C, microwave). Use 2, and you'll overdraw for the adapter.
Also- you sound like you have a 50' cord on the end of what is probably already a 25' trailer cord. That's a lot of run. Be aware of potential voltage drop. To truly check, you can use a voltmeter in a receptacle at the trailer while everything is running.
I don't think there is a 25" trailer cord. just about 6" stick out.
Posted 2013-09-21 8:18 AM (#154884 - in reply to #154869) Subject: RE: plugs and cords for living quarters???
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342 Location: MS
Originally written by RTSmith on 2013-09-20 8:25 AM
Originally written by Linda Y on 2013-09-20 8:03 AM I have a 50 foot 10 gauge that has regular ends. The trailer has the other type. I got an adapter for the trailer cord, and have noticed that in spite of having very heavy cords, there is some 'melting' in the adapter. So, do I need a new adapter?
Yes you need a new adapter, but you also need to reduce your amperage draw. Through the adapter, you need to cap your draw @ 20 amps top. Basically, that means you can usually get by with 1 major appliance at a time (hair dryer, coffee pot, A/C, microwave). Use 2, and you'll overdraw for the adapter.
Also- you sound like you have a 50' cord on the end of what is probably already a 25' trailer cord. That's a lot of run. Be aware of potential voltage drop. To truly check, you can use a voltmeter in a receptacle at the trailer while everything is running.
Thanks RTSmith! I bet you are right. It is a 25 foot cord already, so my run is probably too long. When it melted, I was using the AC and a light and various tools when I was redoing the inside of the trailer. I try not to use the 50 footer when camping, but think I did years ago. Sure will be mindful of that now...and get a new adapter.
Posted 2013-09-21 11:08 PM (#154890 - in reply to #154840) Subject: plugs and cords for living quarters???
Member
Posts: 30
Walmart can solve your problems even- they have a 30' RV cord and the adapter is $5. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Road-Power-15-30-Amp-RV-Power-Adapter/168... ended up at a large horse show in my new to me trailer that came hard wired with a cord. The cord was 10' too short It was 2AM by the time I got the trailer backed in, horses unloaded, stalled, fed and bedded. I returned to the trailer to look for former owners adapters to try and combine my old trailers 30 amp cord to the new trailers. No luck- the old trailer was plugged in via the female end and male end to power source. I didn't have anything that was 30 amp male on both sides. Grrrr. A quick 7 am trip to walmart and I just bought an extra cord. I just had to bite the bullet in order to be comfortable. For the night I ended up with a regular extension cord plugging in and just running the fan. Only the fan did not trip any breakers or overheat my regular extension cord.
Posted 2013-09-22 7:12 PM (#154903 - in reply to #154890) Subject: RE: plugs and cords for living quarters???
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
Originally written by Bluerose2001 on 2013-09-21 8:08 PM
No luck- the old trailer was plugged in via the female end and male end to power source. I didn't have anything that was 30 amp male on both sides. Grrrr.
More than Grrr. ... Damn jackleg, cheap, amateur, electricians wiring potential lethal installs!
Posted 2013-09-22 7:35 PM (#154905 - in reply to #154903) Subject: RE: plugs and cords for living quarters???
Veteran
Posts: 136 Location: Watertown, TN
Originally written by hosspuller on 2013-09-22 7:12 PM
Originally written by Bluerose2001 on 2013-09-21 8:08 PM
No luck- the old trailer was plugged in via the female end and male end to power source. I didn't have anything that was 30 amp male on both sides. Grrrr.
More than Grrr. ... Damn jackleg, cheap, amateur, electricians wiring potential lethal installs!
plugs and cords for living quarters???
It was 2AM by the time I got the trailer backed in, horses unloaded, stalled, fed and bedded. I returned to the trailer to look for former owners adapters to try and combine my old trailers 30 amp cord to the new trailers. No luck- the old trailer was plugged in via the female end and male end to power source. I didn't have anything that was 30 amp male on both sides. Grrrr. A quick 7 am trip to walmart and I just bought an extra cord. I just had to bite the bullet in order to be comfortable. For the night I ended up with a regular extension cord plugging in and just running the fan. Only the fan did not trip any breakers or overheat my regular extension cord. 