I use my TT at events such as fairs and festivals where power is supplied by huge generators. They do not provide a 30 amp plug but my AC runs perfect off 110. This is using my TT chord with the adapter. However, I recently found myself needing an extension to their power box. My 12 gauge 100 ft would not supply the amps for the AC. You could hear the motor bog when the compressor would come on and I immediately quit using it. I want to buy a 10 gauge to prevent this. I normally only need 50 feet but would like the option of 100 feet. I want to buy two 50 ft cords. Will I lose amps by plugging two 50 footers together (due to resistance in the connection midpoint) or should I just buy the 100 footer and deal with the extra length when not needed most of the time? Thanks for your opinions and suggestions, Mike.
Not sure what the resistance drop of the connector would be, but expect it would be small compared to the 50ft of cable resistance loss. I'd opt for the two 50' because most of the time running one 50ft I wouldn't have to pay the resistance loss price of the other 50ft I didn't need.
Try Lowes or Home Depot for 50' and 100' 10 gauge extensions. Expensive, but if you need them, cheap. Install a voltmeter, and watch your voltage drop. If less than 110v with AC running, shut it off. At that length, and with questionable power, ACs are not a good idea. Yould should be OK for lights and TV. Also, microwaves are not a good idea either.
Noel and Betty Johnson 2005 GulfStream Ultra Supreme, 1 wife, 1 Poodle
I would get at least #10 wire for your cords. I would suggest 50 footer, too.
If you do this a lot, I would make up a heavier cord using #8 wire. 50 foot would decrease you voltage drop.
You could make up cords with heavier cord bodies.
Another thing to look at is the genset receptacles. Many have 30 amp twist locks. You can get a 30 amp twist lock to 30 amp TT adapter.
Mike
If I am understanding this correctly you want to essentially run 125' of cord to your trailer. You could make two 50' cords and use a 30 amp connector in between them they have a greater surface area to make contact with each other. You are going to have two problems I can think of one is going to be a voltage drop over that far of a run without looking at my books I would venture to say 10 gauge is not going to get it. The second problem is the connector you are using to plug into the standard 110 outlet. IMHO you should not be running your A/C through this connector its just not heavy duty enough to supply the current needed for the A/C Sorry to be the bearer of bad news and in no way am I a electrical expert I do have experience in this field and am simply offering my opinion Joe
I agree with Mike that a "normal" 15 or 20 amp Edison outlet is not what you want to use to feed an AC unit through 125' of cable. For the price of the cable and connectors, you could buy a Champion generator, or have a decent chunk towards a Honda.
Todd
1993 Ford E-350 pushed by a 1988 Wilderness 24' TT
Thanks for the replies. I’m leaning toward a 50’ 10 gauge. That will be used 90% of the time. If I have to go farther than 75’ (25’ attached to the tt + 50 extension) I’ll simply go without air. I’d hate to burn up my AC due to a lack of AMPs. I haven’t had any issues with the 110 (from the power boxes off their generators) powering the AC until I used 100' 12 guage of extension cord. Thanks “enblethen” for the 30 amp twist lock adapter suggestion too. Most of the boxes we plug into are the construction site style twist connector and till now I was just using the 110 receptacle on the box. For some reason those seem to put our enough for the AC without any struggle, but it the 30 amp is there might as well get the adapter and use it, even with an extension cord.
I have run my 5'er for extended periods of time (months) with 4, 25' 30 Amp cables connected together and plugged into a 20 amp outlet with a 30 to 20 amp adapter. This is in central Florida in the Winter months with some AC usage as well as some electric heater. We use a plug in voltmeter and are adept at not using high draw devices at the same time. Microwave, electric water heater, AC, electric heater or coffee maker are never used concurrently. We popped a breaker 1 time in 2 Winters. We now have a 30 amp box that requires 2 25' 30 amp cables. Still don't run two devices at same time.
Another consideration is the weight and coiling of 50' 30 amp #10 cables.
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