DavidP
Raleigh
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Joined: 09/13/2006
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Lantley wrote:sonicsix wrote:sdavis622 wrote:Well, first I am no electrician! I saw this done on another forum, or by another member, can't recall. Basically I just figured it to be a hard mounted extension cord. Most electrical posts at campgrounds have breaker on the 20a plug so I figured that would cover it. Maybe I should add a GFCI... never thought about that! Thanks for the insight. Like I said I am no electrician, and this seemed simple enough.
I did this mod a while back, and I used 14 AWG wire. This outlet is used for a toaster oven, a griddle or a hair dryer. Always one at a time, so overloading the wire is not a worry. The cords on the appliances are much thinner than the 14 AWG wire I used to wire the outlet.
The issue has nothing to do with the cord on the appliance. The issue involves protection on the circuit. Sdavis22 installed 15 amp wire on a 20amp circuit. In the event of an overload the 20 amp breaker will not trip until 20 amps however the wire will begin to heat when the current exceeds its 15 amp rating. This heat has the potential to start a fire. 14 wire is designed to work on a 15 amp circuit not a 20 amp circuit. 12 wire is rated for a 20 amp circuit.
Keep in mind if your appliance has a short in its cord or anywhere else the circuit,the breaker is designed to trip. If the wire is not properly matched to the breaker the circuit may never trip. The wire will heat up just like it is part of the toaster. Only instead of toasting bread it may toast your RV. Using an underrated wire is just plain wrong and a potential hazard. All Romex wire is not created equal. They make different wire for different applications.
Sound advice and an easy fix.
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TreeSeeker
San Diego
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Joined: 10/10/2007
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It would seem that the extension cord from the outlet post to the RV also needs to be at least 12 guage wire.
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DavidP
Raleigh
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TreeSeeker wrote:It would seem that the extension cord from the outlet post to the RV also needs to be at least 12 guage wire.
That is correct.
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toprudder
Raleigh, NC
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Joined: 10/08/2004
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Just a suggestion. When quoting someone's post, remove the pictures. No need to see them twice (or three, or four times). Saves scrolling. 
Bob, Martha, and Matt.
Tucker, the Toy Poodle
'09 K-Z MXT20, '07 Chevy 2500HD Duramax
Toprudder.com
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ctpres
SAN BERNARD RIVER VALLEY
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Joined: 06/05/2009
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Another Kinda-sorta mod. During recent 1,800 mi trip I got grease on pants more than once from hitch ball. Medium foam coffee cup was the answer. Removed a bit of rim to make cup shorter and pressed upsidedown cup onto greasy ball. Six or seven campsites later the same cup is still doing the job. Unexpected benefits: I put fresh grease in bottom of cup and regrease ball eveytime I put the cup back on and white cup is much easier to see with backup camera, so much so that I will paint front of hitch white also.
Foreman Chuck and Headhoncho Suzie
BAR-BOB Ranch, San Barnard River Valley, Texas
08 Dodge 1500 Quad Ram 5.4L
07 Puma 20QB
And "Bird"
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Pitapony
Out There Somewhere
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Joined: 03/11/2002
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A tennis ball will do the same thing and is a bit more durable.
COPD and LVRS
On the Road Again
My Home - 2002 Glendale Titanium, 32/37DS
My Home's Leader - Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins Turbo Diesel Dually
My Leaders - Pounce the Perfect(Dog), Taco the Terror (Dog), and Sam the Social (CAG)
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campin4kids
Indiana
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Joined: 05/07/2007
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We use a baggie.
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IrishPam
Cincinnati, Ohio
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Joined: 01/30/2006
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I use a simple black rubberized cover.
I picked up 2 of them at our dealer.
Something like this......
Hitch Ball Cover
Pam, Sharon & Emma
Sometimes Kris & Will "Big Boy"
Bella(Yellow Lab/Golden Mix) & Piper(Black Lab mix)
2002 Yukon XL SLT with Timbrens
2008 Jay Feather 31V
Days Camped in 2009 = 28
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Ed ke6bnl
Agua Dulce, Calif
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Joined: 02/09/2006
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I cut the water bottle in half and put it over the ball.
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pasusan
PA
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Joined: 05/13/2009
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Here are a few of my mods... Some I thought up myself, some ideas I got from this forum. 
One of the greatest improvements is the Fantastic vent we put in the bathroom:
I partitioned off an area under one of the beds for the cats' litter box:
So they could get in and out I took off the door and made a curtain:
Replaced most of our incandescent lights with LEDs - here is a reading light:
Here is an overhead replacement for an 1156:
Here is another replacement for an 1156 - this one is a bunch of LEDs on a circuit board - very bright:
I replaced the stereo with this one that has a USB connection and Aux input so we can watch movies on our laptop with surround sound:
Put up hooks to hang shirts and stuff that we are going to wear again:
Removed the microwave and put in a much smaller one to get extra room for other stuff:
Put up a magazine rack in the living area:
Moved the light over, installed a paper towel holder, a dish towel holder and a soap dispenser:
Put up an expandable towel bar in the shower and added shampoo and soap dispensers:
Put up a plastic tissue holder and got some plastic storage thingies for combs, toothpaste, etc.
Installed a crossbar for the screen door, and made a cat barrier to keep the cats from accidentally getting out into the cold cruel world:
Another magazine/book rack for the bedroom:
Hung up a little "Welcome Aboard" plaque since our trailer looks like an upside down boat:
* This post was
edited 11/06/09 06:40pm by pasusan *
Trip Pics
Susan & Ben ~
84 Bronco & 90 Award Classic 23 joined with a Hensley Cub
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