![]() ![]() That’s because higher gauge cords can handle higher amp draw without overheating. The longer you’re extending your cord, the heavier-duty you need the extension to be. You’ll then want to carry dogbone adapters that’ll allow you to step down to the smaller plug required at the outlet, doing so as close to the outlet as you can.īut the RV extension cord itself is the critical part of the equation. Having the appropriate gauge extension cord to handle any potential distance you may need to cover is important for safety. So, when you need to connect to a power supply with an outlet or power pedestal that’s further away than your RV’s power cord can reach, you need a heavy-duty outdoor RV extension cord, ideally one that matches the power rating of your RV power cord. Regardless of how much power your RV power cord can handle, most RV power cords are between 25′ and 50′ long. How Do I Know Which RV Extension Cord to Buy? Most Class A RVs have 50-amp power cords allowing them to power two or three AC/heating units and larger appliances like residential refrigerators or electric clothes dryers.įor a lot more information on your RV power cord, be sure to have a look back at our post on that very topic. 15-Amp RV Power CordĪ 50-amp plug like this one is usually found on larger Class A RVs with a couple of AC units and that require power for larger appliances. Your RV’s built-in power cord has a specific amp rating, most likely either a 15-amp, 30-amp, or 50-amp power rating. The first thing you need to understand is the rating of your RV power cord. How Do I Know the Power Rating of My RV Power Cord? Here’s our YouTube video explaining how to plug an RV into any power source using dogbone adapters. If you pull too much power through too small of an RV extension cord, things can go wrong fast. Likewise, if you’ve had to adapt your RV’s power cord down to 15-amp, and still need to use a long 15-amp extension cord to reach the outlet, you could be flirting with disaster. You can’t ask your friend’s 15-amp service to provide the same amount of power a 50-amp power pedestal at an RV park would provide, for example. You need to always be aware of the amount of power you’re pulling through that cord. You can use a dogbone adapter (or adapters) to step down from your 50-amp cord to the smaller 15-amp outlet, allowing you to plug into that lower-rated power source and power your rig to a reasonable extent. For example, if you’re visiting friends and camping in their driveway and want to plug into an outlet in their garage. You can absolutely adapt your RV’s power plug to a lower-rated, smaller outlet. If you have a 50-amp rig (like we do), you can adapt down to a 30-amp or even a 15-amp plug if necessary. Can I Use an Adapter to Plug My RV Into a Lower-Rated Socket? Avoiding using a smaller, lower-rated cord, and adapting the plug down as close to the pedestal as possible, helps to minimize the risk of an overheating cord. That’s why we always recommend that RVers carry at least one extension cord sized to match their RV’s existing power cord. If you attempt to pull too much power through a lower-rated cord, with too small of a wire gauge, the cord can overheat, melt, short out, and even catch on fire, endangering your rig, everyone in it, and everyone/everything nearby. The issue is the amount of power you’re pulling through the cord and the gauge of the wire the cord is made from. It’s not that you can’t use a smaller extension cord (if you have to) if you’re plugging into a lower amp-rated plug. No! There are very significant differences in RV extension cords, and knowing which one you need is critical to safely obtaining power from a nearby outlet or campground power pedestal.
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