Can I use an extention cord? - R-pod Owners Forum

In the area where I keep my trailer the power cord is about 10 feet short of reaching an electrical outlet. Can I use an extension cord? I'd like to make sure the batteries are topped up prior to the coming holiday weekend? I have an 8 foot 16 guage cord or an 50 foot 14 guage. Would either of these work? Could I also turn the frig on Propane to cool it down or will this be too much electrical draw?

As always, thanks for your advice!

Rob
2012 HRE 177
2010 Toyota Tacoma

If you are just using the extension cord to maintain your batteries and run your fridge (on electric), the 14 gauge extension cord will be just fine, no worries.

The three biggest draws in your camper are AC, Microwave and the water heater when it's on electric (that's a huge draw). I regularly have to plug into standard, 20amp outlets that are too far for my heavy, 30amp cord(s) to reach (in addition to living in my 180 pretty much full time it is also used as a production studio for our broadcast business). I also carry a 50', 12 gauge 20amp extension cord (about $40 on Amazon) for these occasions. Here's the real world scoop:

On a 20amp you can successfully, and safely, run any one of the "big three" along with everything else in your camper, at the same time. This includes fridge, laser printer, three laptops, production computer, water pump, all the lights and a Keurig coffee maker. If you're running the AC, turn it off to Microwave or fire up the water heater. In reality, you can run the AC and microwave at the same time on 20amp as long as your timing is good enough that you don't accidentally fire up the microwave at the exact moment your AC compressor is cycling on.

On a 15 amp breaker, it's any one of the big three and less of the others. If you're NOT running one of the big three, you can power everything in your camper at once off a 15amp, including the fridge.

The only time we've kicked a breaker on our feed was an AC/Water Heater combo on a 15amp outlet when I forgot to flip the water heater switch off electric. It's important to note; if your water heater is flipped to electric, it will start to heat as soon as you plug in. The toggle inside on your panel is only for the propane heat. Also, even though I know a lot of people on here do it, you shouldn't use the breaker in your camper as an on/off switch for your water heater. They are not "switching" breakers and the constant toggling will weaken them over time.

A bit more than you asked for but I see a number of questions about this stuff and thought I'd throw it all out there. Other people may have different experiences.

Former 2017 rPod 180 owner
Now in a 2019 Little Guy MAX
Full timer who logs more than 35,000 miles per year.

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Robwid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 31 Oct 2011 Location: Oregon Online Status: Offline Posts: 67	Topic: Can I use an extention cord? Posted: 22 May 2017 at 11:54am
	In the area where I keep my trailer the power cord is about 10 feet short of reaching an electrical outlet. Can I use an extension cord? I'd like to make sure the batteries are topped up prior to the coming holiday weekend? I have an 8 foot 16 guage cord or an 50 foot 14 guage. Would either of these work? Could I also turn the frig on Propane to cool it down or will this be too much electrical draw? As always, thanks for your advice!
	Rob 2012 HRE 177 2010 Toyota Tacoma

jato Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3257	Posted: 22 May 2017 at 7:27pm
	I am not sure about the extension cords but I do know that the fridge uses very little electricity when turned of Propane. We normally dry camp and expect a minimum of 3 days from each of our 12v deep cycle batteries which are now operating on year 7. And this is when the night temps are in the upper 30's to lower 50's at night. The biggest user is of course the furnace. Great idea to cool the fridge before leaving. We always allow 1 day for ours to cool down before filling it with food.
	God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

ChetC Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 17 Jul 2016 Location: Las Vegas, NV Online Status: Offline Posts: 43	Posted: 23 May 2017 at 7:04pm
	If you are just using the extension cord to maintain your batteries and run your fridge (on electric), the 14 gauge extension cord will be just fine, no worries. The three biggest draws in your camper are AC, Microwave and the water heater when it's on electric (that's a huge draw). I regularly have to plug into standard, 20amp outlets that are too far for my heavy, 30amp cord(s) to reach (in addition to living in my 180 pretty much full time it is also used as a production studio for our broadcast business). I also carry a 50', 12 gauge 20amp extension cord (about $40 on Amazon) for these occasions. Here's the real world scoop: On a 20amp you can successfully, and safely, run any one of the "big three" along with everything else in your camper, at the same time. This includes fridge, laser printer, three laptops, production computer, water pump, all the lights and a Keurig coffee maker. If you're running the AC, turn it off to Microwave or fire up the water heater. In reality, you can run the AC and microwave at the same time on 20amp as long as your timing is good enough that you don't accidentally fire up the microwave at the exact moment your AC compressor is cycling on. On a 15 amp breaker, it's any one of the big three and less of the others. If you're NOT running one of the big three, you can power everything in your camper at once off a 15amp, including the fridge. The only time we've kicked a breaker on our feed was an AC/Water Heater combo on a 15amp outlet when I forgot to flip the water heater switch off electric. It's important to note; if your water heater is flipped to electric, it will start to heat as soon as you plug in. The toggle inside on your panel is only for the propane heat. Also, even though I know a lot of people on here do it, you shouldn't use the breaker in your camper as an on/off switch for your water heater. They are not "switching" breakers and the constant toggling will weaken them over time. A bit more than you asked for but I see a number of questions about this stuff and thought I'd throw it all out there. Other people may have different experiences.
	Former 2017 rPod 180 owner Now in a 2019 Little Guy MAX Full timer who logs more than 35,000 miles per year.