Main power extension cord now a must for me

[Boomerweps]

Just Amazoned in a 25' 30amp extension cord for my TT.
Last camp, the power pedestal for my site was too far away for my 30' mains cable. The pedestals were set up one for four sites. It was located on the opposite side from my power inlet and some extra distance away. We were camping beside my DD & SIL and he didn't need the extension there, so he let me borrow it. I needed between 15-20' to reach. I'm not going to have that happen again. Otherwise I'd have had to use 12awg extensions and adapters to get power.

[1320Fastback]

I keep 30 extra feet of power cord in the storage bay mostly for boondocking reasons to get the generators far away but have had to use one of the 15 foot sections before to reach a pole that was behind our spot in Mesa, Az RV park.

Never hurts to have what you need 😉

[pianotuna]

Hi CA Traveler,

Here is the path:

shore power-->front of RV male plug-->rear of RV female plug-->shortened RV shore power male plug.

CA Traveler wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

I have a permanent extension cord #10 with a male end at the front of my RV and a female at the rear. I simply plug the Shore power cord into the female outlet. That lets me power the RV from either end safely.

So you plug in shore power to the female outlet and the male end of the permanent extension cord is now hot? There must be more to the story.

[sayoung]

ScottG wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
With DUAL 50A Receptacles Front & Rear and detachable 50A Power Cord I have NOT needed an extension cord

How do you switch between them?

I added a 50 amp plug and a transfer switch/surge protector to our 5er. We occasionally take the pooches so I run a generator sitting in the pickup when we stop for a lunch break. I almost didn't use the switch but got to thinking what if a kid opened the cover of the other plug.

[Old-Biscuit]

ScottG wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:

cougar28 wrote:

ScottG wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
With DUAL 50A Receptacles Front & Rear and detachable 50A Power Cord I have NOT needed an extension cord

How do you switch between them?

He saying he has a receptacle that common between the two on his. One in front and one at the rear so he just uses the closest one to the power pedestal to plug his cord into.

The 2 AC Source Inputs went to an Auto Transfer Switch \
The ATS were troublesome (Parallax)....both failed and Parallax knew of problems. Wanted to keep sending me replacements.... :S

I threw the junk away and installed a 125V subpanel wired up the 2 AC Source Inputs to 50A CBs that are mechanically interlocked so only one AC source can be On at a time.

Need a part........50A CBs available at any hardware store. No more troublesome relays/contacts etc.
Just a simple manual transfer by flipping the CBs

I knew it would be above-board! :B

No 'widow maker' cords for me!

[ScottG]

Old-Biscuit wrote:

cougar28 wrote:

ScottG wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
With DUAL 50A Receptacles Front & Rear and detachable 50A Power Cord I have NOT needed an extension cord

How do you switch between them?

He saying he has a receptacle that common between the two on his. One in front and one at the rear so he just uses the closest one to the power pedestal to plug his cord into.

The 2 AC Source Inputs went to an Auto Transfer Switch \
The ATS were troublesome (Parallax)....both failed and Parallax knew of problems. Wanted to keep sending me replacements.... :S

I threw the junk away and installed a 125V subpanel wired up the 2 AC Source Inputs to 50A CBs that are mechanically interlocked so only one AC source can be On at a time.

Need a part........50A CBs available at any hardware store. No more troublesome relays/contacts etc.
Just a simple manual transfer by flipping the CBs

I knew it would be above-board! :B

[CA_Traveler]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

I have a permanent extension cord #10 with a male end at the front of my RV and a female at the rear. I simply plug the Shore power cord into the female outlet. That lets me power the RV from either end safely.

So you plug in shore power to the female outlet and the male end of the permanent extension cord is now hot? There must be more to the story.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

I have a permanent extension cord #10 with a male end at the front of my RV and a female at the rear. I simply plug the Shore power cord into the female outlet. That lets me power the RV from either end safely.

[Old-Biscuit]

cougar28 wrote:

ScottG wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
With DUAL 50A Receptacles Front & Rear and detachable 50A Power Cord I have NOT needed an extension cord

How do you switch between them?

He saying he has a receptacle that common between the two on his. One in front and one at the rear so he just uses the closest one to the power pedestal to plug his cord into.

The 2 AC Source Inputs went to an Auto Transfer Switch \
The ATS were troublesome (Parallax)....both failed and Parallax knew of problems. Wanted to keep sending me replacements.... :S

I threw the junk away and installed a 125V subpanel wired up the 2 AC Source Inputs to 50A CBs that are mechanically interlocked so only one AC source can be On at a time.

Need a part........50A CBs available at any hardware store. No more troublesome relays/contacts etc.
Just a simple manual transfer by flipping the CBs

[GordonThree]

ScottG wrote:

Thx, I knew what he was saying. Problem is, if you're plugged into one and there's no switch to select between them, the other will be hot and present an electrocution danger.

That's why I asked.

Scott

I was thinking the same thing, sounds dangerous.

Of course, locking covers maybe?

[ScottG]

cougar28 wrote:

ScottG wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
With DUAL 50A Receptacles Front & Rear and detachable 50A Power Cord I have NOT needed an extension cord

How do you switch between them?

He saying he has a receptacle that common between the two on his. One in front and one at the rear so he just uses the closest one to the power pedestal to plug his cord into.

Thx, I knew what he was saying. Problem is, if you're plugged into one and there's no switch to select between them, the other will be hot and present an electrocution danger.

That's why I asked.

Scott

[SoundGuy]

Boomerweps wrote:
Last camp, the power pedestal for my site was too far away for my 30' mains cable.

I needed between 15-20' to reach.

Boo Hoo - here in Ontario, when camping in the provincial park system, 100' to the power post isn't unusual at all. I have 140' of 10 gauge and have used every bit of it on occasion.

[pianotuna]

Exactly why I use an autoformer.

Boomerweps wrote:
75'! 125'! Great Googly Moogly!
MASSIVE voltage drop!

Yes, it was a private CG.

[imgoin4it]

I carry a 25 foot 50 amp extension cord. It used to be 30 feet cord with a 50 amp plug until I drug it about 15 miles down an interstate highway. A little shorter but turned it into an extension.

[Boomerweps]

75'! 125'! Great Googly Moogly!
MASSIVE voltage drop!

Yes, it was a private CG.