I have a 400 watt inverter that is dedicated solely for use with my Dish ViP211z receiver. It only draws .42 amps or 12 watts as read off my Killawatt and .38amps 10 watts draw off the 12 volt as read from my Xantrex Battery Monitor. So the draw is minimal. I want to run a 15' 16/3 extension cord from the inverter under the sofa to the satellite receiver on the other side of the cabover. I know there would be a great deal of 12v line loss if I mounted the inverter near the receiver. But testing with the Killawatt at the inverter and again using the 15' extension cord, I see no loss and the satellite receiver seems to be working fine. Is this OK to use this way?

No, you have to use ten gauge cable for absolutely everything. ;)Seriously, though, I would try it without permanently installing it, just to make sure the thin cord can handle the load under real-world conditions. Does the cord seem warm? Does the Dish receiver use more power under certain conditions, e.g., when watching particularly dense documentaries? If there is no appreciable voltage drop, I don't see a downside.

Absolutely. Using a 120V extension cord, properly sized for the load, on a 120V circuit is perfectly acceptable. Do be aware of making sure the wire is run in a physically safe manner (such that it won't be pinched, abraded, enclosed in thermally insulating materials, stapled through, etc.)The voltage drop using the wire on 120V is a tenth what it would be for the same power transfer at 12V (because the current is one-tenth as great). The power loss is one one-hundredth as great, since that's voltage drop multiplied by the current. This same basic principle is the reason why power companies use high voltage transmission lines: it reduces line losses to an acceptable level.

Yes, it's fine. It's always better to extend the AC side over the DC side.

Fine electrically. Although I am not real big on cords draped all around. If there is an outlet nearby I would be inclined to get a transfer switch and wire it in.

Hi,I would use an even longer cord and go around the base of the sofa. Under is not a great idea, ever.

Is 15' extension cord OK off inverter? | Good Sam Community

time2roll
Nomad
Mar 14, 2017
Fine electrically. Although I am not real big on cords draped all around. If there is an outlet nearby I would be inclined to get a transfer switch and wire it in.
sch911
Explorer
Mar 14, 2017
Yes, it's fine. It's always better to extend the AC side over the DC side.
DrewE
Explorer II
Mar 14, 2017
Absolutely. Using a 120V extension cord, properly sized for the load, on a 120V circuit is perfectly acceptable. Do be aware of making sure the wire is run in a physically safe manner (such that it won't be pinched, abraded, enclosed in thermally insulating materials, stapled through, etc.)

The voltage drop using the wire on 120V is a tenth what it would be for the same power transfer at 12V (because the current is one-tenth as great). The power loss is one one-hundredth as great, since that's voltage drop multiplied by the current. This same basic principle is the reason why power companies use high voltage transmission lines: it reduces line losses to an acceptable level.
profdant139
Explorer II
Mar 14, 2017
No, you have to use ten gauge cable for absolutely everything. ;)

Seriously, though, I would try it without permanently installing it, just to make sure the thin cord can handle the load under real-world conditions. Does the cord seem warm? Does the Dish receiver use more power under certain conditions, e.g., when watching particularly dense documentaries?

If there is no appreciable voltage drop, I don't see a downside.

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Is 15' extension cord OK off inverter?

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