Newbie question about power cord length

[pratmaster]

So how long of a power cord should I keep in my camper? do I really need a 100' cord, or will my heavy duty 25' be long enough?

I am trying to put together the camper with what I have, but do not want to load to much unnecessary stuff as I tend to over kill everything. Such as put 2 100' cords in the camper rather then just the 25' one.

[rexlion]

I carry a 25' and a 50'. If you ever camp in a Michigan state park, chances are good that you will need both, as I did.

[pjay9]

I made up a 10' 15 amp plug to my 30 amp as there was a place I stayed on the dock all summer that only had 15 amp service...didn't even have to take the 30 amp out of the cubby...that will dissapear and go to the Marinco style on the rebuild. I used power for refer,TV and charger. No need to get fancy.

For your question I'd carry 2 25' and call it good! Much easier to handle and if you don't need 50 it is not stretched out all over as a trip hazard. Post some pics of your old fellow!!! Have fun.

[jimh406]

I don't carry one because I'd need a heavy weight one to be able to run the AC/Microwave. I've used a normal extension cord to keep the batteries charged when visiting friends. I just don't run the AC or Microwave.

I don't carry hardly anything just in case.

[Camp__Forrest__]

I have a 50' cord and I've used it many times. Occasionally I can't back into a campground space far enough because of my boat. Most of the time I use it when I am borrowing electricity from a friend's house or charging up before a trip.

[kohldad]

My main cord is about 25' long. I still carry a 50' 14ga extension cord. Most of the times, I pop out the extension cord, connect it between the main cord and the power box. So much easier than trying to coil up the main cord, especially in the winter.

Note however that I am not a heavy power user. Worst case in the winter is a 600 watt heater and few more amps for the inverter. In the summer time, when I run the a/c, only the main cord is used.

[Super_Dave]

Do you guys use the extension cord for main power? I use an extension cord pretty often but only to run appliances off the exterior receptacle on the camper.

[deltabravo]

trop-a-cal wrote:
If you have a long connection to a point of power, the amperage drops.

It's actually the voltage that drops, (due to resistance of the long cord).... and as the voltage goes lower, the amp draw goes UP, not down.

Ohms's law.

[pratmaster]

trop-a-cal wrote:
,then knowing your wire gauge, and distance to your RV to determine if you have more power than you are drawing. Low power draw can cause fire due to heating up appliances and wire. I bet you find that shocking .................

Actually I understand this all to well, the people that I bought my house from had 3 window ac units on the same 20 amp breaker, the wire was melted from the over loading. I removed it all when I had central ac/heat installed.

[trop-a-cal]

If you have a long connection to a point of power, the amperage drops. That burns out any unit like an air conditioner that may require 13.5 AMPs to start and around 10 AMPs to run. You have to know your draw of AMPs are lower than the power drop. It's all determined by starting at the power source, and determining what is being delivered,(which changes at peek power demand, if your are sharing power between the main box and your connection),then knowing your wire gauge, and distance to your RV to determine if you have more power than you are drawing. Low power draw can cause fire due to heating up appliances and wire. I bet you find that shocking .................

[pratmaster]

I think that is what mine is, not 100% sure. It's a thick ol cord.
My ac is on its own cord, it's a really big cord too, so all I would be running is the lights, maybe the microwave now and then and I am not sure I will ever use the fridge since its just 110v, I might take it out since what ever I had in it would ruin when not plugged in while driving around as I do not plan on staying in one spot for very long when camping.

[time2roll]

Just make sure the cord is #12 wire and go with what you have.
Worst case you just pick up what is needed on the road.

[pratmaster]

Never mind, Billtex has the best idea that I completely just never thought of. Yep.....

[pratmaster]

billtex wrote:
.

You have a truck camper...you can move it...

😮 good point, yeah I think I need to go back to bed and start the day over LOL

[bgiroux]

our camper has a 25' cord and we carry another 30' extension, which I use all the time. Easier to replace the extension cord if it gets worn and damaged, then to replace the camper power cord and we often use both.