50 amp RV cord replacement

time_to_go_now wrote:
Never thought about it until I read it on here someplace!

My 10 year old 50 amp power cord is very stiff and difficult to roll up and put away. Somebody in this site suggested to replace the cord with one that has a rubber jacket so it will remain more flexible.

I am looking for 6 gauge 4 wire power cord. I will put on my own end. First questions is do I need 4 gauge 4 wire power cored? the 6 gauge wire is only rated to 45 amps.

Is 30' enough? Or should I go a little longer? Would I then need to jump up to 4 gauge??

The next question is what kind of wire? I have found 6/4 SEOOW Portable Cord 600v Non UL. I have also found 6/4 SOOW Portable Cord 600V Non UL.

What does SEOOW or SOOW mean? Which is best for a 50 amp RV cord?

Thanks.

SOOW = Rubber jacket, more pliable over temp range.
SEOOW = Thermoplastic PVC, not as pliable over temp range.

For RV application, I'd go with the 6/4 SOOW.

6 ga will work fine for up to 100' @ 50 amp, although it'll hardly ever see that much current in operation. But I'd get no more then 25' as that's the typical length an RV uses and that's correct for 99% of the sites I visit. I do carry a 25' 30 amp extension cable as it's smaller gauge and lighter for those rare places I run across where I need more than 25' length but I've never found a place that the 30 amp wouldn't work fine.

The thing is that 6/4 flex cord is so bulky and heavy, that 25' is about as much as a retired individual wants to horse around in the rain or cold or heat of camping. Not to mention some difficult tight spaces. Plus, you need ROOM to store all that cable and the OEM often only supplies enough room for 25' to 30', my RV electrical compartment could hold 50' I'm sure, but I don't want to handle that much!

With my RV I'm lucky that I can put the 25' 50 amp cord in it's compartment circling the exit hole and coil the 25' 30 amp above it on an extra shelf Winnebago supplied. Not much room left. It is sometimes a real ***** JUST to get that 25' 50 amp cord out or back into it's routing hole. Wouldn't want anything longer.