How to Pick an RV Extension Cord

by | May 27, 2016 | Shopping and Fashion

If you own an RV, then you want the best possible equipment or gear to use with it, and that includes picking the best RV extension cord. You need the right one so that everything will run properly, and your RV adventure or camping trip will go well.

There are several factors to consider when getting ready to choose the bestRV extension cord for your particular RV, so here are some tips and hints on being able to choose the one best suited for your RV.

Safety is Important When Choosing RV Extension Cord

One of the most important factors that must be taken into consideration when choosing the best RV extension cord is safety. Without proper safety someone could be injured or harmed in some way, and that wouldn’t make your vacation turn out well at all. Plus, it could also damage your equipment, and that would be an expensive end to your RV trip.

Choose Cord that Supports Right Amount of Current

Firstly, you need to choose a cord that allows the right amount of energy to travel through it, so it will support whatever is going to be plugged into it. What this means is that the amount of amps or current that goes through an RV extension cord is the same amount that ends up at the other end of the cord.

Plus, a specific amount of voltage happens at the point where you connect your cord to the power source. The longer the cord, the less voltage will end up at the endpoint of the cord from the power source. This also means, the more amps or current you have flowing through the RV extension cord, the more voltage loss end to end of the cord.

How is Total Cord Voltage Loss Determined?

The total voltage loss for a specific length of cord is determined by three elements: The diameter of the wires inside the cord, the current flow rate, and the total length of the cord. The size of the wires inside the cord is measured in the US by what is called the American Wire Gauge (AWG), with common sizes from 18 AWG to 10 AWG.

The National Electrical Code (NEC) lists the level of current a cord is allowed to carry, so you have to match that up to the RV extension cord you buy. The bottom line is that it takes a little planning to choose the proper RV extension cord for your RV.

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