Armoured extension cord
I need an armoured extension cord to power my RV at home, but I need it to cross the driveway, so it will be run over by the vehicles. Any suggestions?
Forum Discussion
fj12ryder wrote:afidel wrote:What exactly would be the issue? Just curious, as I know it may not be up to code, but there is PVC conduit, so why would a bit of PVC pipe run under a driveway be an actual problem.
Don't run an extension cord through conduit, it's not rated for that. Get an electrician to run proper rated cable through conduit and setup an outlet in an outdoor rated enclosure to plugin. If you do the trenching and conduit install it won't even be that terribly expensive.
Sweating and moisture retention inside the conduit leads to constant water puddles inside the conduit.
Not all electrical cables insulation are rated for immersion in water 24/7/365 and all it takes is one little pin hole to ruin the cable.
Additionally and ironically temperature can be an issue, most jacketed cables are rated for open air exposure and placing those inside conduit there is no way for air to move around the cable which may eventually lead to overheating of the insulation.
You take your chances and roll the die..
But much better reliability can be had by doing it right the first time..
Gravel driveway is a no brainer, gravel is no match to a ditch digger which digs a narrow ditch just wide enough for conduit and can be rented for a couple of hundred for a weekend..
Be sure to call a utility location service in your area before digging! They will place markers for each underground service that may be present where you are planning to dig.. For Homeowners this is typically a free no cost to you service, businesses typically have to pay a fee.
Yes, doing the right way is more expensive but if you plan to make a habit of this it is far nicer to have an outlet where you need it any time you want it.
