Extension cord question

Pixguy · Apr 9, 2022

Ok, you'll clearly see I have no electrical experience. I have my motor home plugged in at the storage unit. It appears to be only 15amp gfi outlet and I have a short 14 10' extension cord plugged in to keep batteries up. No problem with this setup. Then after a trip, instead of backing it in and having the sun hit the windshield I pulled it in forward and ran a brand new 12 100' extension but it kept tripping the surge protector and eventually tripped the gfi. I have mostly everything shut off and just incidental stuff still on. Put it back he short cord and all is fine.
What's up?
btw, I just went to put a meter on the long cord and some dummy (

) left it on and I need to get more 2032 batteries.

LittleBill21 · Apr 9, 2022

it shouldn't trip anything, what do you mean its tripping the surge protector? sounds like the new cord is bad.

newbury · Apr 9, 2022

You lose a lot more w/ 100' of 12 gauge vs 10' of 14.

linky

LittleBill21 · Apr 9, 2022

newbury said:
You lose a lot more w/ 100' of 12 gauge vs 10' of 14.

linky

you can run 2000 feet. it shouldn't trip a gfci or a surge protector

Norm W · Apr 9, 2022

If you left the 100' coiled up, with just what you needed unwound, that could be the problem. You have just formed an inductor. I've seen coiled extension cords catch fire from the heat generated in the coils.

bcp · Apr 9, 2022

Interesting discussion and photos here:

https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/192923/why-is-it-dangerous-use-a-coiled-extension-cord

One post has a table about how much to derate a cord in a coil. For example, 20 loops of a two conductor cord can handle only 35% of rated capacity, (if I read it right)

Bruce

Pixguy · Apr 9, 2022

Thanks guys. Here is the surge protector that one of the best that I installed. It kicks off if it doesn't like the supplied power at campgrounds to protect the rv.

I did leave about 50' coiled up inside the electrical compartment.

How could I test the new 100' cord?

LittleBill21 · Apr 9, 2022

what is it tripping on?

Pixguy · Apr 9, 2022

When I first got to the storage unit to ck on it, the gfi was tripped so I reset it. It then was kicking on and then off every few minutes which is the surge protector doing what it does. The gfi never did trip again while I was there switching direction and the cords.