Two shore power questions....

Anything electric, AC or DC

Two shore power questions....

Postby kayakrguy » Thu Aug 31, 2006 4:02 am

Hi everyone,

We have never used marine or campground hookups-- never had electricity in the kayak or tent trailer <G>

So, I hav some questions that I feel silly asking....

1)The power cords used to hook up to camground power--are they configured male/female or both male ends or what...

2)I assume that the powerconnection at the trailer is like the gfi receptacle on my patio?

3) 30A shore power cords at West Marine are$$$$$$$$. Any good prices to be found elsewhere--Boaters World etc?

Thanks for your patience,

Jim
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Postby Sonetpro » Thu Aug 31, 2006 5:34 am

Jim,
Shore power cords are male/female. They are way over priced. Most have a 30Amp male end on them. But can easily be converted with a $5 converter.
Most campers have a twist lock on the trailer side, But you could put any kind you wanted. I use a twist lock so it won't come unplugged.

I just bought a heavy guage outdoor extention cord and put a twist lock on the female end. You can buy the ends at Lowes or HD. Most marine shore power cord are expensive because they seal water tight at the female side. Mine doesn't but then again my tear isn't in the water.
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Postby sdtripper2 » Thu Aug 31, 2006 5:42 am

If you read and study this electrical Secrets section you will find your questions answered in more detail for sure. Your questions have been
answered here before.
That said I will make a first attempt to answer your questions.
Here is an article that may help you. http://tinyurl.com/gbf6r

Assuming your trailer is a small Teardrop with 120V service?
Your Question:
1)The power cords used to hook up to campground power--are they configured male/female or both male ends or what...
Answer: 120V Male / Female standard outdoor extension cord.

Your Question:
2)I assume that the power connection at the trailer is like the gfi receptacle on my patio?
Answer: Assume nothing / Could be GFI or fused panel in your rig. See this example http://tinyurl.com/g4986 for an idea of how many home made trailers have a receptacle for inlet power. This is where you would plug in the female end of your cable from shore power. Again this electrical secret section has many threads that explain all of this in more detail.
http://tinyurl.com/fng4h http://tinyurl.com/zl4ma http://tinyurl.com/h6gfl
Your Question:
3) 30A shore power cords at West Marine are$$$$$$$$. Any good prices to be found elsewhere--Boaters World etc?
Answer: This is a question with a few answers and solutions. I would suggest that an adapter plug be had for the times you need to hook up to a 30A service using your standard cable with it. Example http://tinyurl.com/h9ua9 a two to four dollar cost is average for this solution.
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is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards." -------Theodore Roosevelt

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Postby kayakrguy » Sat Sep 02, 2006 6:29 pm

Two Steves:

Thanks for the advice and pics. Now I at least know what shore power connections are (female) and what the tralier connection is (male) and which ends of the shore line go where!

I am going to keep the shore power separate from the 12 volt system except for a battery charger for the battery and the Deltran stuff looks pretty good and pretty pricey! Would anyone vote for Black and Decker?--less pricey from what I can see.

I figure my total draw at any one time on the 120v could be as much as 20 amps. My biggest draw, when I am using it, will be the AC unit and if the charger is really cranking that could be another 6-10 amps so it looks like I will need 30 amp connectors, breakers etc... I don't plan to be using big draws like toasters, coffee pots, microwaves--though the Higher Power may put in an order for that last.....


Jim
A disposition to preserve, and an ability to improve, taken together, would be my standard of a statesman...

But what is liberty without wisdom, and without virtue? It is the greatest of all possible evils; for it is folly, vice, and madness, without tuition or restraint.

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Postby madjack » Sat Sep 02, 2006 7:18 pm

Jim, don't confuse AC amp draw and DC amp draw....10amp draw on a 12vdc battery charger = 120watts which is [email protected] 5000btu AC runs on around 5amps and draws at startup around 10-12 amps...those 2 things running at the same time would draw less that 15amps....
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Postby kayakrguy » Sat Sep 02, 2006 8:33 pm

Whoooops! Thanks Jack, brain was weak from all the rain Ernesto has been dropping--diluting all the good things wayyy too much <g>

What I am a bit skittish about is that microwave....and ummm....the home entertainment center.....<g> Should I just give up and plan for them now or add on the 50 amp system later? <g> Decisions, Decisions....

Jim
A disposition to preserve, and an ability to improve, taken together, would be my standard of a statesman...

But what is liberty without wisdom, and without virtue? It is the greatest of all possible evils; for it is folly, vice, and madness, without tuition or restraint.

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Postby madjack » Sat Sep 02, 2006 9:47 pm

Jim, if you go with 2 15A circuits (30Atotal) you should be good to go................ 8)
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Postby JunkMan » Sun Sep 03, 2006 9:33 am

We have a hardware/lumber yard chain in the Midwest called Menards. I bought 25' 30 amp RV cords from them for about $30. For some reason, the extension cords seem to be cheaper than the cords with just the male end.

The one thing that I haven't been able to find, is a RV type 30 amp flush mounted male receptacal, so I had to hard wire the cord into the fuse box. This was not really a problem, but I would have rather had a cord that i could disconnect and store somewhere else.
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campground power panels

Postby sdtripper2 » Sun Sep 03, 2006 10:54 am

Jim wrote:1)The power cords used to hook up to campground power--are they configured male/female or both male ends or what...


Jim, I cam across this picture and pdf file of campground hookups.
This may help you get a feel for what you will look at when you pull
into a campground.
Image

Jim this is too much information for you but, here is the pdf file
of setting up a campground electrical outlets.
http://tinyurl.com/gpvwj
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30 A Male receptacles

Postby sdtripper2 » Sun Sep 03, 2006 11:25 am

JunkMan wrote:The one thing that I haven't been able to find,
is a RV type 30 amp flush mounted male
receptacal, so I had to hard wire the cord
into the fuse box.


JM, There are many places to get the
flush mounted 30A male plugs.
Here are but a few selections.


30A ParkPower by Marinco conversion kit
http://tinyurl.com/gusnq
http://tinyurl.com/hdc89

Marine 30A recepticals
http://tinyurl.com/kfrn6
http://tinyurl.com/zr4ax
http://tinyurl.com/zzxda
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is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards." -------Theodore Roosevelt

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