Power cord

i am still using the same 25' 30a rv extension cord bought in 2004 it just lays on the ground at my seasonal site on the river year round unless i have to move it for a flood like i did 2 weeks ago. it is still in great shape i just wipe it down good whenever i move the trailer. it gets about half buried in the ground as it lays there and i have never worried about the lawn mower hitting it as it is to heavy for the mower to lift up.

Look at the designation on the cord's outer jacket. If you look up the designation you'll find it's rated for outdoor use/exposure and should not be a problem leaving it exposed. I have our 30 amp shore power cord plugged in 365 days a year, either at a CG or at home. It's still in excellent condition 8 years later except for fading.

Physical protection is a different matter tho. Is this 30 or 50 amps? Shore power cords are not rated or permitted for underground use or inside a raceway (ie., pipe). Although not strictly allowable per code, using PVC pipe like 3" *should* work, depending if it's just on a lawn or under a roadway. Underground conduit is normally required to be at a depth of 2' or so depending on soil conditions and location.

If it were me, I'd use some conduit + wire or direct buried UF cable. Install a receptacle near your RV and a weatherproof junction box next to the power source/pedestal and convert to a properly rated extension cord their.

Don't bury any romex without putting it in a pvc pipe first. The cable and the pipe have to be rated for underground.

You could enclose the conductor in a pvc pipe on the surface if you prefer.

My cord was out in the open in S.E. GA for 3 years including one near miss by a Himicane (hurricane with a male name) and .. No damage that I noticed..

I would just get some romex that is rated for underground and bury it.

If this is an area where you can dig, I would run a separate line with a plug in box at the end. I guess one should ask are you running 20,30,or 50

Johno02 wrote:
Bury a 3" plastic pipe from rig to power post, and run power wire through it.

Or - don't "bury it".

~

That is exactly what I did as mine stays plugged in at home 24/7, in to years the cord is still like new.

Bury a 3" plastic pipe from rig to power post, and run power wire through it.

Moved from ATC