Finding a 30 Amp RV Extension Cord 100 Ft (Options + DIY)
It seems that there are rare occasions where you would need this size of the power cord. Some owners only use it 1% of the time they go camping and the power drop may not be worth the expense of buying this length of the extension cord.
If you decide you do need it, then finding one is not going to be a problem. Amazon has quite a few in stock and the cost is between $150 and $300. You can go to different electrical shops that may make one for you as long as you bring the ends.
To learn more about this topic, just continue to read our article. It has the information you want to know about so that you can find a power cord in the length you need. Take a few minutes to see how this information can help you.
100 Ft 30 Amp RV Extension Cord Options
One of the things that you will have to watch out for is that different businesses will advertise they are selling 100-foot-long power cords. When you show up or read the small print, that length turns out to be 2 50-foot power cords.
That may work out for you and give you some flexibility but they will not be true 100-foot cords. Amazon does sell true 100-foot power cords as does Walmart. The price is $250 at the latter store.
That means that home improvement outlets like Home Depot and Lowe’s should have the same size in stock or can get it for you. These would be the obvious choices and if they are not in your area, you may have to go to local shops.
Most likely, your smaller hardware stores will have something on hand but we cannot speak for them or the price they will sell it at. It may take some searching if you are in a smaller town and far from a bigger city.
One other option you can try is to buy your 30-amp ends, and then go to your local electrical shop and ask them if they would make you one. Some may put the ends on for free as long as you buy the cable from them.
What they charge will be up to them also. But it is worth a shot and nothing bad will happen if they say no.
DIY 100 Ft 30 Amp Extension Cord
If you are skilled enough, you can make your own power cord. Be careful as some websites can get a little carried away with their instructions. The first step is to buy the right gauge of wire.
10-gauge is rated for 30 amps but most people recommend that you go to 8-gauge because of the power drop over 100 feet that comes with the former gauge.
After buying your wire, you will need to buy connectors, one for each end. These connectors need to be rated for 30 amps as well. You can pick the design of those connectors to fit your RV situation.
Once you have those two parts, strip the end of the wire about 1/4 inch from the end and insert those wires into the right spots on the connectors. Securing the connection will depend on the type of connectors you bought.
When you do this, watch out that you do not cross wire any of the wires in the cable. Double-check to make sure you got the same wire connected to the right screws or holders.
When that is done, you should put tape over the wires to make sure they do not come loose and touch the other wires. The thing you want to avoid is a short circuit so make sure you got everything secured correctly. Plus, you can tape over the end of the connector to keep it tight with the wire.
Test your cord once you have completed it. But be careful when doing this. You never know when a spark will come.
30 Amp 100 Ft Wire Size
The wire gauge is what you will be looking at. As we mentioned earlier, when you go 100 feet in length for a power cord, you are going to have a significant power drop over that distance.
The recommended gauge for 30-amps is 10 but it would be better to go down to an 8-gauge wire. The 8 gauge is rated for 50 amps but it will help keep that power drop from getting too low.
When you have a power drop, you could ruin some of your appliances. They are not getting exactly 30-amps and that is a problem for you. They are also not getting 120 volts and may try to operate on 100 volts.
When that happens the motors can burn out on you. This is one reason why many people recommend that you go with an 8-gauge wire. This is a wire rated for 50 amps and the voltage drop is not as bad as it would be for the 30 -amp wire.
To give you an idea, a 50-foot cord will have twice as much voltage drop as a 25-foot cord. A 100-foot power cord will have 4 times the drop that the 25-foot cord will have.
What you are looking for is to keep at least 114 volts coming to your RV at all times. That is the lowest boundary you should meet. Anything less can cause your appliances to run hot and burn out.
Some people say you can go as low as 108 volts but it is best to err on the side of the higher figure. A power supply monitor can help you determine how large a power drop you have and help you stay within a safe range.
Reducing Voltage Drop
There seem to be 4 ways to help you avoid a voltage drop when you connect your 100-foot power cord. The first way is to lower the gauge of the wire. By lower, we mean that you go to a lower number. For example from 10-gauge to 8-gauge.
The lower the number, the thicker the wire. This will help you save on the power drop. The second way to do this is to increase the number of strands in the power cord.
The more wire strands you have the less you have to worry about power drops. The reason this works is that there is less resistance in the cord to stop the power from getting to your RV.
Or you can install an isolated conductor which will help stop voltage loss due to grounding. A third option is to shorten the length of the power cord. Since you may need 100 feet this is not practical.
But if you do not need that length, go to a shorter power cord and protect your appliances. Another way to handle this problem would be to decrease the demand. Unplug some electrical features from one circuit and plug them in elsewhere.
As an honorable mention, you can also decrease the temperature of the conductor. It is said that for every 1 degree of temperature, the resistance grows by 0.3%. Keeping the power cord in the shade or covered will help keep it cooler.
The Cost Of Making Your Own Extension Cord
When you do it yourself, the cost is usually cheaper than having a professional do the task. You save on higher labor costs and any price boosts for the individual parts.
Some people have said you can make your own extension cord for under $25 but to do that you may have to buy cheap wire and going cheap is not recommended.
If you buy good cable and connectors, then you should be able to do it for around $50 to$100. The time involved is maybe 1 hour if you are good. The key would be to spend the right amount of money and get an 8-gauge wire instead of 10.
You want to be protected and if you need to change the extension cord to 50 amp. Then all you would need to buy would be 50-amp rated connectors and swap the old ones out.
Shop around to see where you can get the best deal but make sure you buy 30-amp connectors or you will have a problem fitting the connectors into the outlets.
Some Final Words
It should be rare that you will need a 100-foot extension cord. On those rare occasions, it may be best to carry 2 fifty-foot cords instead. That way you have the flexibility and won’t lose as much voltage when you are closer to the shore power outlet.
You will need to watch that voltage drop and make sure you stay within safe limits. That way your appliances will remain protected and you won’t have to replace them any time soon.
