If you don't use the units shore power cord but plug in an extension cord from a 115V source to any RV electrical outlet, will it power the unit and maybe charge the batteries through the charger/ inverter?

It will charge the batteries. You will be limited to 15 amps (maybe 20). Not enough for AC, but enough for refrain and furnace."refrain" should be "refrigerator"

Are you talking about back feeding? With a 50A RV, there are 2 separate legs like in a house so it may or may not provide power to the charger. With a 30A RV, it would.But in either case, why would you? You would have to use a "suicide cord" and that would be quite dangerous,Unless I'm missing something...

You will be limited to the amp rating of the circuit or less, which means charger/converter YES, microwave and AC NO

Thanks for the info, makes sense.

Because doing that requires making an "extension cord" with two male ends on it, a thing that is a dangerous risk to life by it's mere existence, DON'T DO IT.There's a reason you can't buy one like that. That reason is that sooner or later somebody is going to pick up one end, not realizing that the other is plugged in, and somebody will get electrocuted.You want to supply power to your rig via a 15 amp circuit, buy a proper 15 amp to 30 or 50 amp adapter and plug in that way. The lives of both you and your family and all your friends are in your hands.

Shore power option | Good Sam Community

Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Apr 16, 2017
:S
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Apr 16, 2017
"And furthermore (a Jacques Clouseau moment) someone who gets shocked by this can leave you standing stark naked inside a barrel"

Any lawyer would fall to his knees in ectasy representing a plaintiff
ScottG
Nomad
Apr 16, 2017
Please dont do this to save a buck. It is insanely dangerous - much more so than you realize.
An adapter is less than 5 bucks and a lot less work.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Apr 16, 2017
Like at age 8 my older brother licking the door handle of a 51 Hudson Hornet - to see if it would stick. Problem? Great Falls, Montana. Christmas Day 1952
wnjj
Explorer II
Apr 16, 2017
RoyB wrote:
Amazing what some folks will do just to save $10...

A bit of an assumption there. Perhaps the OP has a missing or unusable shore power cord and just needs the battery charged with what he has on hand. Maybe it's miles to an RV supply store.

OP: If you just want the batteries charged, get battery charger and just plug that directly into the extension cord, bypassing the RV power system or jumper cables from a vehicle works too.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Apr 16, 2017
RoyB wrote:
CA Traveler wrote:

And doubly dangerous because the male end of the normal RV cord will also be hot.

Good point on the shore power connector having hot male blades as well... Just waiting for someone to grab them...

Amazing what some folks will do just to save $10...

Roy Ken

Someone looking for a Darwin Award!!!!
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Apr 16, 2017
Wonderful. Feeding an RV via 14 gauge outlet wire. Sigh.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Apr 16, 2017
Use of the proper adapter or adapters means you use your RV's inlet as an inlet, And can plug into 50, 30 or 15/20 amp outlets for battery charging.. I like to use a 12 ga cord for the 15 amp run.

DO NOT EVER use an outlet as an inlet. put power in via an OUTLET, NEVER do that, NEVER. Danger, Death, Destruction, Damage, NEVER DO IT.
RoyB
Explorer II
Apr 15, 2017
CA Traveler wrote:

And doubly dangerous because the male end of the normal RV cord will also be hot.

Good point on the shore power connector having hot male blades as well... Just waiting for someone to grab them...

Amazing what some folks will do just to save $10...

Roy Ken
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Apr 15, 2017
naturist wrote:
Because doing that requires making an "extension cord" with two male ends on it, a thing that is a dangerous risk to life by it's mere existence, DON'T DO IT.

There's a reason you can't buy one like that. That reason is that sooner or later somebody is going to pick up one end, not realizing that the other is plugged in, and somebody will get electrocuted.

You want to supply power to your rig via a 15 amp circuit, buy a proper 15 amp to 30 or 50 amp adapter and plug in that way. The lives of both you and your family and all your friends are in your hands.
X2 Potentially very dangerous.

And doubly dangerous because the male end of the normal RV cord will also be hot.