When an appliance or tool has an attached cable that is too short of reaching the required location, extension cords provide a way to expand the electrical circuits in a home or workshop. For this reason, most people keep several extension cords on hand. The fact that these extension cords must be the right size for their power load is frequently overlooked.
When using electricity on holiday, the power cords frequently don’t extend as far as you would like. You need an extension cable in these circumstances, just like at home on the ground. The distinction, in this case, is that not just any cable will do. If you attempt to use a regular extension cord, particularly in harsher environments, you risk damaging your tool or the cord itself.
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Can Your Motorhome Use an Extension Cord?
When camping, you need an extension cord that is strong enough to withstand the weather and long enough to stretch throughout your campsite. You’re prepared to go with a 30 amp extension cord from Americord. You can locate the extension cord type you need from their wide selection, whether you need a cord that is one foot long or one hundred feet long.
You can use an extension cable to increase the length of your RV power cord, but only if it is properly rated to transport the required amount of current. Never use an extension cord from a typical home to accomplish this. Keep in mind that you will be using it outdoors and that you are working with high voltage.
The distance a cord must travel to reach electricity and the amount of draw requires a larger cord. A lengthy, thin cord with a low power draw rating may become too hot. Extension cables of high caliber are easily accessible and affordably priced. Most significantly, they have safety features and wiring appropriate for the amperage you’re working with.
How Long Should an RV Extension Cord Be?
The extension cord should be as short as possible to connect you to the power pole as quickly as feasible. The appliances you’re attempting to run on an extension cord could be damaged and underpowered if used for too long. Depending on the connections, it might also boil and pose a fire risk.
The shortest extension cord that will get you from your rig to the electricity pole isn’t necessarily what you should buy. Beyond length and load, there are additional variables to take into account. You might only need to restrict your power usage if you have a lengthier cord.
How to Choose the RV Extension Cord You Need?
Aside from length, the most crucial considerations when selecting an RV extension cable are your power requirements and the cord’s suitability. Extension cords come in various lengths, gauges, and configurations to accommodate various uses.
You put a lot of demands on the power supply when you use it to power your RV. As a result, the appropriate extension cable is required for the task.
RV Extension Cord Gauge
Even smaller RVs have substantial electricity requirements, so the right gauge wire is needed. Cheap cords usually work for indoor or outdoor uses that don’t require a lot of capacity. However, you’ll need an extension cord with a bigger gauge of wire to power your entire RV.
American Wire Gauge (AWG) is the rating used for extension cables in the United States. Most budget-friendly cords in a big-box retailer are 14 or 16 AWG, capable of managing up to 15 amps or 1,800 watts. Most motorhomes run on 30- to 50-amp circuits and hardly ever need that much electricity to function.
30 Amp RV Extension Cord Gauge
You need a 10 AWG extension cord to manage the 3,600 watts a 30-amp cord can support. Remember that the necessary AWG number decreases with the length of the extension cord.
Best Motives For Purchasing A 30 Amp Extension
Batteries or external power sources, such as generators and designated electrical outlets, can power an RV’s electrical components. When you need external power, but your RV’s power cord cannot reach the closest power pedestal, you must devise a practical and dependable answer. You can easily increase the length of the power connection in your motorhome with the aid of a 30 Amp extension cord.
All the Power Your RV Requires
When using external power, only use a cable to supply the necessary power for your motor home’s electrical systems to function correctly. Smaller and medium-sized motor homes’ electricity needs can be met by a 30 Amp cable in some cases but not always.
Any extension cable’s power capacity is affected by both its length and the gauge of the wires inside. Generally, thicker wires are used when the gauge is lower, which increases the cable’s total capacity.
Stay Safe
It’s essential to remember that you’re working with high-voltage power when you power your RV with an external power source. Any extension wire intended for use with an RV must have a ground connection for safety reasons.
You can quickly determine whether power is moving through the cable and that there is a ground connection by performing a visual inspection thanks to the indicator lights for Continuous Ground Monitoring and Power Transmission built into the connector and plug of the 30 Amp extension cord.
Bottom Line
Although they are not technically regular power cables, extension cords are a fascinating subset of all wires and cables because most use them frequently at home. Due to safety issues with this cable, choosing the appropriate extension cable for your appliances is crucial. Making smarter decisions about how to power your RV can be aided by knowing your vehicle’s power needs and how RV extension cords function.
