Extension Cords 50A vs 30A

[jmi]

What extension cords do you carry?

Buying my Honda EU2000i Generators which put out 30A power. My thought is I will need an extension cord at times I need the generator further away from the Monty. Wish to carry one extension cord. Do I carry an extra 50A cord and adapt at the generator? The alternative is between the factory Monty cord and extension?

Pros & Cons anybody?

Cheers ... Jeff

[Fire5er]

You can do both, but we just carry a 30A when using one generator during the cooler months. If going to be using air conditioner, and thus both Honda EU2000i Generators, then we use the 50A cord.

[Waynem]

I believe your Monty has a 50 amp cord as the primary. So here are my thoughts on it and the are JMHO.

In the past I have been at places were I have been 5 feet or so short of my electrical hook up. Now mind you that this has only happened twice in the last 3 years. I did make a 50 amp extension cord and in both of those instances it helped me out. It may be a little bulkier to handle, but the nice little round laundry basket is an easy way to store it nicely coiled up. Should you decide on a 30 amp cord and ever need to use it as an extension to the present 50 amp cord, it's going to be a less current carrying capacity than desired, expecially at the extra total length.

If you never plan on using it in that manner and will only use it with a portable generator capable of 30S only, then just a 30A cord is needed.

Again, JMHO, but I like to be prepared for the unusual.

[Weldon]

I carry both (in fact I carry 3 regular cords as I find use for them lights etc.) I carry a 30 amp I made up that is around 50 feet & the 50 that came with the Monty. I only use what I need at the time (if someone takes one I want it to be as small as possible). I have heard of people taking not only cords but genset also. So I only have the lest that will do the job out.

[Capt Kidd]

I carry the original 50 amp and a 15 foot 50 amp extension and a 25 foot 30 amp and a 25 foot 30 amp extension.

I mostly just use the 30 amp unless I think I will be using both air conditioners then I use the 50 amp.

The 30 is sp much easier to coil up and weighs so much less than the 50.

[drsmart]

I tried this voltage drop calculator
http://www.calculator.net/voltage-drop-calculator.html
and compared the 6 gauge wire in the 50 amp cord to the 10 gauge wire in the 30 amp cord over 25 and 50 feet. I don't think the difference justifies going to a 50 amp extension. The 50 being bulkier, heavier and more expensive and as Weldon mentioned, if one goes missing... On the other hand, you may some day need extra 50 amp cord if you're short to the power post or if your post has a problem, you cold connect to the next post if it's available until the park repairs your post. We have been in one park that only had 50 and 20 amp connections so the 30 amp cord wouldn't have helped.
We carry the 50 amp that came with the Monty, a 50 foot 30 amp extension and a 100 foot 12 gauge extension.

Dave

[ols1932]

quote:Originally posted by jmi

What extension cords do you carry?

Buying my Honda EU2000i Generators which put out 30A power. My thought is I will need an extension cord at times I need the generator further away from the Monty. Wish to carry one extension cord. Do I carry an extra 50A cord and adapt at the generator? The alternative is between the factory Monty cord and extension?

Pros & Cons anybody?

Cheers ... Jeff

If you're talking about only when you use your generator, a 50-amp cord is unnecessary. You only get 13 amps (16 amps surge) out of the generator. I have the same generator and I just use my 30-amp cord adapted to the 20-amp output of the generator.

Orv

[Phil P]

Hi

I have the same generators and use a 50-amp extension because I use it when the Montana is at home. (I gave home away to my son free and clear. The idea was I wouldn’t have to be here. He gave it back a year latter.)

I turn the Montana around once a month when I keep it at home to keep the sun from bleaching one end more that the other. When the front faces south I need an additional cord.

Also I had fabricated this cord 30 years ago when we moved out here because we had the washer and drier in a semi-trailer and I used it to power them and the lights.

When we built the big house the washer dryer combo is in a closet next to the kitchen and I no longer needed the 50-amp cord and I had it stored in the semi-trailer.

I have been carrying it in the Montana and have never needed it.

I removed it last Thursday. Now watch the next time we use the Montana I will need it. LOL

Phil P