Forum Discussion

pweekly's avatar
pweekly
Explorer
Jun 11, 2021

Can I use any 50 amp extension cord?

Hi all. I have a 40ft diesel with 50 amp power. I need to use it for a guest house for a weekend and want to plug into my 50 amp in the barn but the cord isn’t long enough. I see that RV extension cords are more pricey than other ones. Presuming it is the same receptacle, are they all the same? Thanks.
  • If the cord does have the same connectors and wire size ("6/3", or 6 awg), it's equivalent to an "official" RV extension cord will work fine. There may be differences in the type of cable used (how resistant it is to abrasion or prolonged UV exposure, etc.) and the quality of the connectors, but I wouldn't worry too much about those things for your temporary use situation. In any case, it would be wise to keep the connections out of the weather if possible.

    Do double check that you're getting the right connectors.
  • As long as it is wired correctly and wire is sized correctly any will work. You could buy wire and connectors and make your own if you wanted. And know what you are doing. The RV cables have a rugged outer sheathing for xtra protection being dragged around frequently.