Shore power cord?

[DrewsBrews]

I've never realy had to think much about the distance to the power post until now. 25ft sounds like a nice cord length.. but I'd swear I've been to campgrounds that had the post all the way up at the front of the site. I can't quite remember.

What do you guys do? Just get a 50ft and deal with the big coil each time? Get a few lengths and chain them if needed? I'll just be using 15/20A hookup if it matters.

Also I imagine it is a good idea to get a hi-vis cord. Though Menards has 25ft 12awg in red white and blue for under $17 right now.

 

[GTS225-TNT]

I think I'd get a pair of 25-footers, both in 12 gauge, and yes......Hi-vis colors. There's too many out there that pay no attention while they're mowing.

Roger

 

[philpom]

Search Amazon for retractable exstension cords.

 

[Shadowcatche]

Voltage drop needs to be factored in and 50' appears to be where it becomes significant "For a 50-foot copper the voltage drop depends on the wire gauge and the current flowing through it. Generally, larger gauge wires (smaller numbers) have lower resistance and thus less voltage drop."
I have stuck with 10ga and have a hard wired Progressive Industries EMS, it tells me the voltage at the tear.

 

[DrewsBrews]

I suppose the voltage drop depends on how much current you are pulling over that length. It is the law afterall (Ohm's law)

My current overload trips past 15A so even if I adapt to a 30A I'll only ever pull up to half. If you are pulling up to 30A.. yeah, gonna need heavier gauge. This calculator was fun to mess with but doesn't realy factor in plug connections.

I ended up picking up a couple 25ft 12ga. Should technically be satisfactory up to 20A. Even if de-rating due to extra plug connections I feel plenty safe for my 15A use.

Thanks for all the input!

 

[GTS225-TNT]

Hey! As a little "sidebar" to this subject.......last I knew, the NEC classifies current draw in two ways. "Temporary", and "permanent". "Temporary" is under three hours, and "permanent" is over three hours. When it comes to using a drop cord, if you're going to pull 20 amps through a 15-amp cord, you can do it "legally" for not more than three hours.
Now, that doesn't mean you WON'T destroy your cord. That's only the legal rhetoric behind the idea of not starting fires with electrical equipment.
In the real world......get a cord rated for what you MIGHT pull for current.

YMMV.....Roger

 

[DrewsBrews]

Makes sense, It takes time for heat to build up if only going slightly higher current. But I find it interesting there are provisions to let folks fly that "close to the sun". I'm so used to the world being wrapped in so much bubble wrap you can barely breathe.