Quality Shore power cord

vermilye wrote:
Probably more than most people are interested in, but some general information on cord:

S types without the "J" are 600v Extra Hard Usage Service Grade.
SJ types are 300v Junior Hard Service Grade.

Code does not specify which cord type (S or SJ) is required for an RV, only length (minimum of 25'). Although SJ cords are lighter & less expensive, they are more easily damaged. Type S cords have thicker jackets, more fillers, and are much tougher (most could be used as a tow chain).

Either can be made with a thermoplastic or synthetic rubber jacket. Thermoplastic insulations are less expensive, but get very stiff when cold, while synthetic rubber are flexible warm or cold, but cost quite a bit more than thermoplastic. To add even more confusion, there are Thermoset cord types that can have good cold flexibility.

Cord designations use additional letters to define some of their specifications. For example, an "O" stands for oil resistant and can be added to either weight cord.

An additional "O" stands for oil resistant fillers, a "W" for weather resistant. If there is a "T" in the cord description, it will be thermoplastic, however some thermoplastic cords leave out the "T". Because the letter designations can be confusing, it is better to look at specific manufacturers.

Carol Wire produces both an S & SJ Super Vu-Tron rubber cord, however #10 is the largest size available on a standard order. This is an extremely flexible cord even below freezing.

Coleman Wire manufactures Seoprene 105 SEOOW & SJEOOW cord that is rated as extremely flexible at cold temperatures. Here is a link to general cord information & their product.

Lastly, some of the cord you can purchase at your local big box hardware store will be thermoplastic. You need to carefully check the product information if you want cold weather cord. Another solution is to go to a real electrical supplier to get the better quality cords, however they will not be inexpensive.

bka0721 wrote:

Huntindog wrote:

bka0721 wrote:

Huntindog wrote:
Let me try again.

Also, I would like it to be as all weather as possible, which looks like a cord with molded ends from the factory would be the ticket.

I have looked at quite a few online... The lack of specifics in the descriptions is driving me nuts.
Cords from 50.00 to 150.00 have pretty much the same info on them. There are some yellow ones out there for over 100.00... But since they are yellow, I doubt that they are rubber???

Let me try this again, answering your question. It becomes obvious you are looking for us to provide a Link you can click on and order one without leaving your home. That is certainly fine with me. As going to a General Air Welding shop, with your current cord in hand, or a picture of the connector on the end, then describing your needed use to the sales staff (as some generators use a different twist off connectors to ensure they do not become disconnected from the vibration of the generator or use) just put into your Google search Extreme weather Use Power Cord and you instantly get 26,300,000 results. As long as you use a 12ga or 10ga cord, irrelevant on the color of the cord, you will meet your needs for powering up with a generator. I ran a generator everyday for over 2 years as I began Full timing and am very familiar with your situation, as I am almost to 6 years Full timing and boondocking over 1,980 of these nights. But now use 1,860 watts, of solar, to meet my fulltiming, boondocking demands.

Here is a good example that will meet your needs. It is also available in shorter lengths. I would not get a cord smaller in gauge than 12g. You can also cut off these cord ends and attach your own, to match your generator, or pay someone to do it for you.

b

Extreme Weather power cord 12/3 Clicky

NO. What is obvious is that you like to tell others what to do. Re read your first response, and realize how far off base you were.

What puzzles me though, why do you need a shore power cord? Your signature states you BOONDOCK 100% of the time. If that is the case, you have no need for a shore power cord. Boondockers don't need to plug in, as they are off the grid as there are no power poles or electrical access available. Or maybe change your signature to reflect the change you are making.

What I am interested in is a quality cord that will last, and preferably factory built. I am perfectly OK with what I have now, other than it isn't aging gracefully.

I am hoping that someone else who has had this problem in the past will have a recommendation on what to get, based on their EXPERIENCE in purchasing and using a quality replacement.

Absolutely, you are correct.

I like sharing information, just like the in the fashion MEXICOWANDERER does and often. I am sure that this is what this forum is all about! Helping others and sharing. If you don't care for the information, ignore it or choose not to post your question. One has the right to post here and not be dissuaded by others.

As for the first post, I did not have all the information and to be honest never thought anyone would be boondocking with only a generator, 100% of the time. My mistake and a learning experience in others uses and how they boondock. Once that information was provided by another frequent contributor, MrWizard, as you stated; Teller of what to do, I became a much more informed contributor. Thus my further comments were more on point, as you might see.

As an investigator, we are given the information and only use the information given (your OP and Signature) When there are others and witnesses to provide more detail (MrWizard, MEXICOWANDERER,pianotuna and others) than the original complainant (Huntindog), then one should use that to continue to get to the result.

Like you, I suffered the issues dealing with cold weather and have shared my experiences extensively about 4 season boondocking. I have had to make adjustments, over the following years and felt that my personal experiences, of almost 6 years, of Fulltiming would benefit you. As you stated you wanted experiences of others.


When first met with your problem personally, I first looked at the expensive cords that are available at Home Depot with the marine connector, too. But I decided to just make my own, for what turned out to be 45% of $$ what the Factory Made Home Depot cord would cost.

The majority of people, posting here ih the RV.net forum Tech Issues, are looking for how one can do it themselves (D.I.Y.) so as you showed you were looking for something manufactured, in a later comment, so I again adjusted my responses. In fact, included a link and how to search for this yourself. One interested in finding where to purchased a manufactured cord generally will go to their specific RV.net Forum, like Class C, 5th Wheel or General RVing. Not a forum where others, like me, will be telling you what you could do. My apologies for this confusion.

I do hope you find a solution, because I too hate dragging some hoses and cords into my RV to warm them up, so as I can coil them up and store them. But in your situation it appears you are dealing with a permanently connected shore power cord.

Good luck and all the best!

b

Huntindog wrote:

bka0721 wrote:

Huntindog wrote:
Let me try again.

Also, I would like it to be as all weather as possible, which looks like a cord with molded ends from the factory would be the ticket.

I have looked at quite a few online... The lack of specifics in the descriptions is driving me nuts.
Cords from 50.00 to 150.00 have pretty much the same info on them. There are some yellow ones out there for over 100.00... But since they are yellow, I doubt that they are rubber???

Let me try this again, answering your question. It becomes obvious you are looking for us to provide a Link you can click on and order one without leaving your home. That is certainly fine with me. As going to a General Air Welding shop, with your current cord in hand, or a picture of the connector on the end, then describing your needed use to the sales staff (as some generators use a different twist off connectors to ensure they do not become disconnected from the vibration of the generator or use) just put into your Google search Extreme weather Use Power Cord and you instantly get 26,300,000 results. As long as you use a 12ga or 10ga cord, irrelevant on the color of the cord, you will meet your needs for powering up with a generator. I ran a generator everyday for over 2 years as I began Full timing and am very familiar with your situation, as I am almost to 6 years Full timing and boondocking over 1,980 of these nights. But now use 1,860 watts, of solar, to meet my fulltiming, boondocking demands.

Here is a good example that will meet your needs. It is also available in shorter lengths. I would not get a cord smaller in gauge than 12g. You can also cut off these cord ends and attach your own, to match your generator, or pay someone to do it for you.

b

Extreme Weather power cord 12/3 Clicky

NO. What is obvious is that you like to tell others what to do. Re read your first response, and realize how far off base you were.

What puzzles me though, why do you need a shore power cord? Your signature states you BOONDOCK 100% of the time. If that is the case, you have no need for a shore power cord. Boondockers don't need to plug in, as they are off the grid as there are no power poles or electrical access available. Or maybe change your signature to reflect the change you are making.

What I am interested in is a quality cord that will last, and preferably factory built. I am perfectly OK with what I have now, other than it isn't aging gracefully.

I am hoping that someone else who has had this problem in the past will have a recommendation on what to get, based on their EXPERIENCE in purchasing and using a quality replacement.

bka0721 wrote:

Huntindog wrote:
Let me try again.

Also, I would like it to be as all weather as possible, which looks like a cord with molded ends from the factory would be the ticket.

I have looked at quite a few online... The lack of specifics in the descriptions is driving me nuts.
Cords from 50.00 to 150.00 have pretty much the same info on them. There are some yellow ones out there for over 100.00... But since they are yellow, I doubt that they are rubber???

Let me try this again, answering your question. It becomes obvious you are looking for us to provide a Link you can click on and order one without leaving your home. That is certainly fine with me. As going to a General Air Welding shop, with your current cord in hand, or a picture of the connector on the end, then describing your needed use to the sales staff (as some generators use a different twist off connectors to ensure they do not become disconnected from the vibration of the generator or use) just put into your Google search Extreme weather Use Power Cord and you instantly get 26,300,000 results. As long as you use a 12ga or 10ga cord, irrelevant on the color of the cord, you will meet your needs for powering up with a generator. I ran a generator everyday for over 2 years as I began Full timing and am very familiar with your situation, as I am almost to 6 years Full timing and boondocking over 1,980 of these nights. But now use 1,860 watts, of solar, to meet my fulltiming, boondocking demands.

Here is a good example that will meet your needs. It is also available in shorter lengths. I would not get a cord smaller in gauge than 12g. You can also cut off these cord ends and attach your own, to match your generator, or pay someone to do it for you.

b

Extreme Weather power cord 12/3 Clicky

Huntindog wrote:
Let me try again.

Also, I would like it to be as all weather as possible, which looks like a cord with molded ends from the factory would be the ticket.

I have looked at quite a few online... The lack of specifics in the descriptions is driving me nuts.
Cords from 50.00 to 150.00 have pretty much the same info on them. There are some yellow ones out there for over 100.00... But since they are yellow, I doubt that they are rubber???