Power cord

[swanny]

I just situated our Monty on a perminent site. My issue is the shore power cord is 8' short 50amp cord. So I used my 30amp cord with adapters for 50amp service. So my questions are. What are the consequences of using 30amp power cord for extended periods of time with 50amp service? What about buying a shorter 50 amp cord and plugging it into the 30' 50 amp cord to make it long enough. All advice is welcome.

Thanks, kevin

[oldelmer1]

Sounds like you will only have 30 amp service. If you are going to be there all summer, and want to run everything on electric(2 ac units), you would probably be better off betting the 50 amp extension.

Where are you steup at?

[racerjoe]

I believe all you will get is 30 amp service from it. you are missing one wire in the 30 amp cord so you are just tieing the two together in the 50 amp cord. (If that made any sense)

[Countryfolks]

Be sure to put the 2 connectors in a plastic bag if you wind up using an extension. I've lost 2 30A cables with burnt contacts because of shorts across wet [rain/dew] contacts.
Silicone sealant around the seam may work also for long term use.

[Slufoot733]

I believe a 50 amp power cord is really two 25/30 amp cords in one. Your RV is divided into two separate 25 amp circuits. The 30 amp cord provides power to BOTH circuits of the RV instead of splitting the power. Therefore if you run all your electrical equipment you may (and probably will) overheat the 30 amp cord. The safe route would be to bite the bullet and purchase a 50 amp extension cord.

I may be incorrect on the circuit thing but I don't think so.

[snfexpress]

I would make or buy a 50 amp extension cord. A 50 amp service actually gives you 50 amps on each leg of service while 30 amp service (which you effectively now have) only gives you 30 amps total whether it is 15 amps on each leg of 20 amps on 1 leg and 10 on the other.

We made a 50 amp cord and also made a 50 amp extension.

[Mel]

I bought a short 50 amp extension and it has worked very well for me. I am glad I have it.

[helmick]

quote:Originally posted by Mel

I bought a short 50 amp extension and it has worked very well for me. I am glad I have it.

Great idea, it has worked great for us.

[swanny]

Thank you everyone. I wasn't exactly sure what I had for power at this point. Looks like I'll go with the 8 to 10 foot extension cord, and the idea of silicone around the connection is a great idea since it will be hooked this way for awhile. Ideally I would like to have a one piece power cord but fighting with more of that beast isn't my idea of fun. Thanks again for the help, you guys rock.


kevin

[firetrucker]

By using a 30 amp cord as an extension cord, you are using one leg, instead of two, of the 50 amp service to power your trailer. That limits you to a total of 50 amps before the breaker trips. But that 50 amps is now carried by a cord and connector designed to carry 30 amps, normally 10 awg wire (the 50 amp cord is 6 awg wire).

That means that the 30 amp cord and all the connectors will heat up more. because there's more resistance, and there will be more of a voltage drop across the cords, and your ACs will try to draw more current, which just makes things worse. Then, when the connectors start to melt, you're on the edge of disaster.

Definitely use a 50 amp extension cord (then you'll be distributing your load across two legs, decreasing the current through the wires, as well as the connectors). But, you've still increased the number of connectors, which are weak points. Protect them from moisture, but occasionally check them to see how hot they are getting. That's a sure sign of potential problems.

Bob

[BB_TX]

I agree with the above. Using a 50 amp extension will certainly make life easier, especially during hot weather.
We have camped at a couple parks that only had 30 amps. We could run one AC, the microwave, and maybe a few other low power things at the same time. But if we ran the AC, the microwave, and the washer/dryer at the same time it would trip the park 30 amp breaker.
You can do it by carefully watching what you run at the same time. But having to reset the park breaker when you get careless can get aggravating. And don't plan on running two ACs at the same time.

[jimcol]

Another thing I do when using an adapter or an extension cord is ty-wrap the connectors. It hold the connection tight and close together hopefully eliminating some burnt connections. I learned this after ruining a 50/30 dog bone. Jim

[1retired06]

50AMP rig hooked to 50AMP pedestal drives the requirement for a 50AMP cable feed, ie 50AMP extension as the practical solution

[kab449]

As long as the electric is on the campgrounds dime I would get the extension for the 50 amps and run everything on electric. That would not be possible with 30 amps.

[swanny]

I wish, my dime. I will be getting a 10 foot 50 amp cord to add to existing 50 amp cord

Kevin

[kab449]

quote:Originally posted by swanny

I wish, my dime. I will be getting a 10 foot 50 amp cord to add to existing 50 amp cord

Kevin

Isn't electricity a negotiating point? I don't know, I never had a long term site.

[Desert RVer]

I would recommend using only a single 50AMP cord which is long enough so that there isn't a need for an extension cord. Wiuth an extension cord you will have an extra connection(junction) which will be required to be protected from the weather and will offer the opportunity for some voltage loss. The two connectors are the most expensive part of a 50 AMP cord. The cable itself is less expensive.

[farmboy]

quote:Originally posted by Slufoot733

I believe a 50 amp power cord is really two 25/30 amp cords in one. Your RV is divided into two separate 25 amp circuits. The 30 amp cord provides power to BOTH circuits of the RV instead of splitting the power. Therefore if you run all your electrical equipment you may (and probably will) overheat the 30 amp cord. The safe route would be to bite the bullet and purchase a 50 amp extension cord.

I may be incorrect on the circuit thing but I don't think so.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but 50 amp service is really 2 50amp legs not two 25/30. Been working with electricity for 50 plus years. JME/O. Happy Trailes.

[snfexpress]

We use our 50 amp 25 foot extension cord at our winter site. We make the connection to our anaconda cord and put it on top of one of our driver side tires so that it is protected from the weather. Three years and no problems, but your mileage may vary.