Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Power cord length
| Power cord length [message #247573] |
Wed, 16 April 2014 08:08  |
kerry pinkerton
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
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Senior Member |
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I'm going to swap out my bulky 50A (6 ga power cord for a 30A cord (10 ga copper). Some of you more experienced camping folks can probably tell me if I need to go with more than 30'? I can get a 50' one for about 62 delivered or less. Cheaper than I can buy the SOW wire and connectors.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/50-FT-30-Amp-RV-Power-Extension-Cord-Camper-NEW-/261433342120?pt=Motors_RV_Trailer_Camper_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cdea 438a8&vxp=mtr
Also thinking about making a short cord directly from the coach breaker box that is just long enough to go into the generator female. The 30' extension cord would plug into that and if I need to go somewhere in the coach while at a campground, I could just unplug the cord and water and go without having to roll up and store the extension cord.
I suppose I could get an automatic transfer switch also but I still have to unplug the extension cord so it's not really that big a deal to also plug into the generator IF I NEED THE GENERATOR.
It seems like every time I go to a rally, there is a desire to drive the coach a few times.
Thoughts.
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
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| Re: [GMCnet] Power cord length [message #247574 is a reply to message #247573] |
Wed, 16 April 2014 08:32  |
Mr ERFisher
Messages: 7117
Registered: August 2005
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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​
> Also thinking about making a short cord directly from the coach breaker
> box that is just long enough to go into the generator female. The 30'
> extension cord would plug into that and if I need to go somewhere in the
> coach while at a campground, I could just unplug the cord and water and go
> without having to roll up and store the extension cord.
>
​yes that is the way to go, keep the horse dong, for an extension​
>
> I suppose I could get an automatic transfer switch
​not worth the added complexity and cost
jwid
erf​
> also but I still have to unplug the extension cord so it's not really that
> big a deal to also plug into the generator IF I NEED THE GENERATOR.
>
> It seems like every time I go to a rally, there is a desire to drive the
> coach a few times.
>
> Thoughts.
> --
> Kerry Pinkerton
>
> North Alabama, near Huntsville,
>
> 77 Eleganza II, "The Lady", 403CI, also a 76 Eleganza being re-bodied as
> an Art Deco car hauler
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
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| Re: [GMCnet] Power cord length [message #247581 is a reply to message #247573] |
Wed, 16 April 2014 08:59 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Kerry,
Shorter's better, with 10'-15' generally enough -- until you need longer.
Then use the extension cord(s).
As you think about automatic transfer switches, remember that 50A switches
are MUCH more complex than 30A, which can be a simple 110 VDC relay (as
I've used for 15 years). Probably not worth the trouble given the simple
arrangement for connecting the Onan.
Ken H.
On Wed, Apr 16, 2014 at 9:08 AM, Kerry Pinkerton wrote:
>
>
> I'm going to swap out my bulky 50A (6 ga power cord for a 30A cord (10 gacopper). Some of you more experienced camping folks can probably tell me
> if I need to go with more than 30'? I can get a 50' one for about 62
> delivered or less. Cheaper than I can buy the SOW wire and connectors.
>
>
> http://www.ebay.com/itm/50-FT-30-Amp-RV-Power-Extension-Cord-Camper-NEW-/261433342120?pt=Motors_RV_Trailer_Camper_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cdea 438a8&vxp=mtr
>
> Also thinking about making a short cord directly from the coach breaker
> box that is just long enough to go into the generator female. The 30'
> extension cord would plug into that and if I need to go somewhere in the
> coach while at a campground, I could just unplug the cord and water and go
> without having to roll up and store the extension cord.
>
> I suppose I could get an automatic transfer switch also but I still have
> to unplug the extension cord so it's not really that big a deal to also
> plug into the generator IF I NEED THE GENERATOR.
...
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: Power cord length [message #247588 is a reply to message #247573] |
Wed, 16 April 2014 09:32 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Senior Member |
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You could leave the 14-50 setup, dongle adapt it down and use lighter TT30 Cable as extensions. Don't try this with 2 rooftops as Matt said. If you go to all TT30 on a former 14-50 setup you will have to put a jumper in the panel to get power to both sides of the main breaker. Not sure how to fit 2 wires in one hole so this could get hokey with wirenuts etc. 14-50 gives you all options via adaptors IMO. Remember there is a slight voltage drop at each plug setup and with length, less so with the 14-50 due to multiple hot paths and balanced neutral.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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| Re: [GMCnet] Power cord length [message #247589 is a reply to message #247584] |
Wed, 16 April 2014 09:30 |
k2gkk
Messages: 4452
Registered: November 2009
Karma: -8
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Senior Member |
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On my coach (Money Pit) I cut off the original 50A power cord to about 2 - 3 feet and put a new male plug on that end. The original male plug had become intermittent on the ground side, so I cut that off as well. Then I turned what was left of the original cable into an extension cable. It's easy to stow that "extension" under the dinette table instead of trying to stuff it into the original cable compartment.
I also bought another 50A extension cable (~35') so I can make hookup my coach in the driveway to the 240V outlet up to about 50 feet away. Works fine for my coach (or Rob Mueller's Double Trouble when he visited in 2012). 30 foot cables are a lot easier to handle than a 50 footer!
Money Pit works just fine on the 50A 240V (split) feed and each A/C unit is on opposite sides of the 240V feed. Two A/C units are pretty much mandatory for summer comfort anywhere south of the Great Lakes! I have adaptors to run off a single 125V/30A feed at a campground if that is all that is available, but could only run one A/C in that case.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
~~ k2gkk + hotmail dot com ~~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
______________
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*--OO--[]---O-*
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> From: matt7323tze@gmail.com
> Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2014 09:15:41 -0500
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Power cord length
>
>
>
> Kerry Pinkerton wrote on Wed, 16 April 2014 09:08
> > I'm going to swap out my bulky 50A (6 ga power cord for a 30A cord (10 ga copper). Some of you more experienced camping folks can probably tell me if I need to go with more than 30'? I can get a 50' one for about 62 delivered or less. Cheaper than I can buy the SOW wire and connectors.
> >
> > http://www.ebay.com/itm/50-FT-30-Amp-RV-Power-Extension-Cord-Camper-NEW-/261433342120?pt=Motors_RV_Trailer_Camper_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cdea 438a8&vxp=mtr
> >
> > Also thinking about making a short cord directly from the coach breaker box that is just long enough to go into the generator female. The 30' extension cord would plug into that and if I need to go somewhere in the coach while at a campground, I could just unplug the cord and water and go without having to roll up and store the extension cord.
> >
> > I suppose I could get an automatic transfer switch also but I still have to unplug the extension cord so it's not really that big a deal to also plug into the generator IF I NEED THE GENERATOR.
> >
> > It seems like every time I go to a rally, there is a desire to drive the coach a few times.
> >
> > Thoughts.
>
> Kerry,
>
> The thing to think about is weather you might want to run both roof A/C units. You would be hard pressed to do that on 30Amp feed.
>
> Then there is the non-rally times that when we do go to a campground and find only 30amp feeds.
>
> Matt
> --
> Matt & Mary Colie - Members GMCMI, GMCES home from MontgomeryPlanning Chaumière's next excursion
> '73 Glacier 23 With 4 Rear Brakes that pull as they should
> SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: [GMCnet] Power cord length [message #247593 is a reply to message #247574] |
Wed, 16 April 2014 09:43 |
 |
USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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Kerry,
I'm not going to comment on the 50Amp power cord as that's what my Avion's came with and the whole 120VAC system is designed around a 50 amp supply and since I have two roof airs I could wind up wanting to run them both at the same time along with EVERYTHING else in Double Trouble.
I will comment on the ATS. I decided to add one to update the GMC because I also added an inverter. I wanted the system to automatically sense where the power was coming from. I purchased an IOTA 50 Amp ATS and JimB installed it (keep in mind that I AM electrically challenged).
I then began reading about IOTA 50 Amp ATS failing - NOT GOOD! To make sure I was covered I decide to purchase a spare 50 Amp IOTA ATS. Turns out that IOTA stopped making and selling them - ALSO NOT GOOD. I began to rue the day I bought the first one but I had removed the receptacle in the GMC that the 50 amp cord plugged into that went to the Onan. So I was stuck between a rock and a hard spot. I bought a "Direct Replacement" for the IOTA but when it arrived it was a direct replacement - NOT!
Fortunately this story has a happy ending when Mac McDonald came to my rescue and decided NOT to install the IOTA 50 Amp ATS he had purchased which was exactly like mine.
So far (four years) the IOTA has worked flawlessly.
Regards,
Rob M.
-----Original Message-----
From: gene Fisher
> Also thinking about making a short cord directly from the coach breaker
> box that is just long enough to go into the generator female. The 30'
> extension cord would plug into that and if I need to go somewhere in the
> coach while at a campground, I could just unplug the cord and water and go
> without having to roll up and store the extension cord.
>
​yes that is the way to go, keep the horse dong, for an extension​
>
> I suppose I could get an automatic transfer switch
​not worth the added complexity and cost
jwid
erf​
> also but I still have to unplug the extension cord so it's not really that
> big a deal to also plug into the generator IF I NEED THE GENERATOR.
>
> It seems like every time I go to a rally, there is a desire to drive the
> coach a few times.
>
> Thoughts.
> --
> Kerry Pinkerton
>
> North Alabama, near Huntsville,
>
> 77 Eleganza II, "The Lady", 403CI, also a 76 Eleganza being re-bodied as
> an Art Deco car hauler
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
http://gmcmotorhome.info/
Alternator Protection Cable
http://gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
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Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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| Re: Power cord length [message #247594 is a reply to message #247573] |
Wed, 16 April 2014 09:51 |
kerry pinkerton
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
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Senior Member |
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I should have mentioned that I only have one roof air.
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
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| Re: [GMCnet] Power cord length [message #247595 is a reply to message #247593] |
Wed, 16 April 2014 09:51 |
k2gkk
Messages: 4452
Registered: November 2009
Karma: -8
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Senior Member |
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I'm certainly glad to hear that the IOTA that Rob purchased from me is still working fine!
I think that what I read was that the IOTA problems came from inadequately tightened and/or soldered on the relays. Periodic checking of ALL electrical connections for tightness and cleanliness is probably highly advisable, ESPECIALLY (but not limited to) components added after original manufacture!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
~~ k2gkk + hotmail dot com ~~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
______________
*[ ]~~~[][ ][|\
*--OO--[]---O-*
> From: robmueller@iinet.net.au
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2014 00:43:32 +1000
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Power cord length
>
> Kerry,
>
> I'm not going to comment on the 50Amp power cord as that's what my Avion's came with and the whole 120VAC system is designed around a 50 amp supply and since I have two roof airs I could wind up wanting to run them both at the same time along with EVERYTHING else in Double Trouble.
>
> I will comment on the ATS. I decided to add one to update the GMC because I also added an inverter. I wanted the system to automatically sense where the power was coming from. I purchased an IOTA 50 Amp ATS and JimB installed it (keep in mind that I AM electrically challenged).
>
> I then began reading about IOTA 50 Amp ATS failing - NOT GOOD! To make sure I was covered I decide to purchase a spare 50 Amp IOTA ATS. Turns out that IOTA stopped making and selling them - ALSO NOT GOOD. I began to rue the day I bought the first one but I had removed the receptacle in the GMC that the 50 amp cord plugged into that went to the Onan. So I was stuck between a rock and a hard spot. I bought a "Direct Replacement" for the IOTA but when it arrived it was a direct replacement - NOT!
>
> Fortunately this story has a happy ending when Mac McDonald came to my rescue and decided NOT to install the IOTA 50 Amp ATS he had purchased which was exactly like mine.
>
> So far (four years) the IOTA has worked flawlessly.
>
> Regards,
> Rob M.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gene Fisher
>
> > Also thinking about making a short cord directly from the coach breaker
> > box that is just long enough to go into the generator female. The 30'
> > extension cord would plug into that and if I need to go somewhere in the
> > coach while at a campground, I could just unplug the cord and water and go
> > without having to roll up and store the extension cord.
> >
> ​yes that is the way to go, keep the horse dong, for an extension​
>
>
> >
> > I suppose I could get an automatic transfer switch
>
> ​not worth the added complexity and cost
>
> jwid
> erf​
>
>
> > also but I still have to unplug the extension cord so it's not really that
> > big a deal to also plug into the generator IF I NEED THE GENERATOR.
> >
> > It seems like every time I go to a rally, there is a desire to drive the
> > coach a few times.
> >
> > Thoughts.
> > --
> > Kerry Pinkerton
> >
> > North Alabama, near Huntsville,
> >
> > 77 Eleganza II, "The Lady", 403CI, also a 76 Eleganza being re-bodied as
> > an Art Deco car hauler
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
> >
>
> --
> Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
> “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
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| Re: [GMCnet] Power cord length [message #247623 is a reply to message #247584] |
Wed, 16 April 2014 13:16 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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I've never had to contend with the 50A GMC cable, but I have dealt with 2
A/C's on a 30A equipped coach. My '90 Airstream came with two roof airs
and only 30A service. As one of the work-arounds common in those days, it
was equipped with a toggle switch to select which A/C was in use. What a
kludge! I guess the idea was to cool the front down, then the rear & keep
running back & forth to that switch. Some others in those days had the
"running back & forth" automated -- they actually sold controls for that!
My solution was to put the rear A/C on a separate breaker box fed with a
15A cable. To be sure I was always able to plug into shore power, even if
there was only a 50A outlet, I fitted a plastic tool box with a 50A plug
and both 30A & 15A sockets -- which I still have and use occasionally when
visitors need to use my 50A service for their 30A coaches.
Ken H.
On Wed, Apr 16, 2014 at 10:15 AM, Matt Colie wrote:
>
> The thing to think about is weather you might want to run both roof A/C
> units. You would be hard pressed to do that on 30Amp feed.
>
> Then there is the non-rally times that when we do go to a campground and
> find only 30amp feeds.
>
>
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Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: Power cord length [message #247673 is a reply to message #247573] |
Wed, 16 April 2014 22:31 |
George Beckman
Messages: 1085
Registered: October 2008
Location: Colfax, CA
Karma: 11
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Senior Member |
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| Kerry Pinkerton wrote on Wed, 16 April 2014 06:08 |
I'm going to swap out my bulky 50A (6 ga power cord for a 30A cord (10 ga copper). Some of you more experienced camping folks can probably tell me if I need to go with more than 30'? I can get a 50' one for about 62 delivered or less. Cheaper than I can buy the SOW wire and connectors.
I suppose I could get an automatic transfer switch also but I still have to unplug the extension cord so it's not really that big a deal to also plug into the generator IF I NEED THE GENERATOR.
Thoughts.
|
Kerry,
I have a transfer switch and like it very much. It makes starting the Onan a matter of pushing the start switch. The switch has a 20 second or so delay which gives the Onan a little time to settle in before a load is connected. My original cable is pretty stiff and sometimes getting it plugged into the Onan was a chore and it rarely settled in squarely.
Randy Van WInkle helped (well did 99.9%) with the install. Getting the cables and wires coerced into the switch required a great deal of grunting and shoving but it turned out beautifully.
'74 Eleganza, SE, Howell + EBL
Best Wishes,
George
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| Re: Power cord length [message #247678 is a reply to message #247573] |
Wed, 16 April 2014 23:41 |
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WildBill
Messages: 232
Registered: January 2014
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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I'm separating everything from my roof air. Can't imagine 14 gauge or worst case 12 for the house. Separate 12 gauge for the roof air, just have one. Probably female plug so I can chose between possible genset while tuning of f.
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