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Topic: 115 vac maintainence cord (Read 558 times) previous topic - next topic

115 vac maintainence cord

Did a search, but could not find the answer. Just want to be able to plug the coach into a 15 amp 115 vac outlet for temporary maintainence, and to maintain batteries, without dragging out the 50 amp cord and all of the adapters. Male to male short cord, and rely on my residence circuit breaker or did foretravel hide something for this in a bay.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: 115 vac maintainence cord

Reply #1
A male-to-male cord would be dangerous.  Have you considered attaching the adapters to your 50 amp cord and then just run a standard extension cord to the coach?  You can attach the adapter to the extension cord inside the bay without actually dragging out the 50 amp cord.
Mark Duckworth
2003 U320 4220
Build 6199, Motorcade 17971

Re: 115 vac maintainence cord

Reply #2
In the electrical business,,,, we call the male to male cords- "suicide adapters".
Not sure why....... ::)

kinda like giving someone a new toaster for their bathtub!

Justin & Cathy Byrd
1995 U280 "Old Faithful"
36' Build #4673
C8.3 Cummins
Allison MD3060R 6 speed - retarder
Powertech 10KW  4cyl Kubota


Re: 115 vac maintainence cord

Reply #4
A male-to-male cord would be dangerous.  Have you considered attaching the adapters to your 50 amp cord and then just run a standard extension cord to the coach?  You can attach the adapter to the extension cord inside the bay without actually dragging our the 50 amp cord.
Male to male is something I knew I wanted to avoid. Have an ored so no big bays, and 50 amp inlet is on side of coach. Looking for old timer answer. Inverter has been disconnected so when the power goes out tonight. I don't want to back feed the grid and send 7000 volts thru a lineman.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: 115 vac maintainence cord

Reply #5
When I store the coach, I use a 50/30 adapter in conjunction with a 30/15 adapter and a standard extension cord. Also, in the back of the Heart interface control panel set dip switches 7 and 8 to the ON position. This prevents the inverter/charger from sending any more than 5 amps to charge the batteries.  This is also going through my Progressive EMS so if there is too much draw on the 15 amp line, the voltage will drop and the EMS will cut the power.
There is very little that can be run in this configuration but it does keep the batteries up. you can also run the refrigerator and icemaker but thats about it. I run a separate exttension cord if I want to vacuum or run power tools.
Rick and Wendy Green
1998 U270 3600 The Coach Formerly known as Princess
Build# 5336
2007 Ford Explorer

Re: 115 vac maintainence cord

Reply #6
Stump, thanks but appears not to work with my 50 amp marineco style coach recessed male twist lock inlet. Surely somebody has been down this road before.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake


Re: 115 vac maintainence cord

Reply #8
Half the RV parks in upper Canada and Alaska are only 15 amp.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: 115 vac maintainence cord

Reply #9
Stump, thanks but appears not to work with my 50 amp marineco style coach recessed male twist lock inlet. Surely somebody has been down this road before.
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Stump, thanks but appears not to work with my 50 amp marineco style coach recessed male twist lock inlet. Surely somebody has been down this road before.
Huh? You plug in your 50 amp cord as usual.This plugs onto the other end of your 50 amp cord. The extension cord plugs into this.
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: 115 vac maintainence cord

Reply #10
I think what he wants is a very short adapter cable to plug into the outside of the coach. 

Existing coach bulkhead male connector --> female 50a female connector --> 18" 10ga or 12ga cable --> 15a or 20a male plug --> extension cord to house

Shouldn't be hard to build.  Just need to source the 50a female connector.  That way he doesn't have to drag the big 50a cord out of storage.
Mark Duckworth
2003 U320 4220
Build 6199, Motorcade 17971

Re: 115 vac maintainence cord

Reply #11
Check the Marinco website,they have every adaptor you can think of!!
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: 115 vac maintainence cord

Reply #12
Gotcha, Thanks Mark I didn't realize he had his connector on the outside.
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: 115 vac maintainence cord

Reply #13
Jcus referenced the adapter that he needs in his previous post
Justin & Cathy Byrd
1995 U280 "Old Faithful"
36' Build #4673
C8.3 Cummins
Allison MD3060R 6 speed - retarder
Powertech 10KW  4cyl Kubota

Re: 115 vac maintainence cord

Reply #14
I connect a regular smart battery charger to the house batteries and leave it on all the time plugged in to my home. Then I use the inverter any time I want to use electricity in the coach and turn it off when done.
1994 U280, Build 4490
Deming, NM.

Re: 115 vac maintainence cord

Reply #15
115 vac seperate shore power inlet to run charger and refrig and whatever low power items I might use while working on it until I get the big garage/shop built this winter. Am I creating a dangerous situation with the AC wiring system.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake


Re: 115 vac maintainence cord

Reply #17
My 50 amp shore power inlet has 3 radial blades twist type, with the ground I think being an anualler contacts on the sides of the plug. Looked at the marinco website and found the one with the pigtail. Was hoping to mount a 15A one in somewhere out of the weather, that I could use a standard heavy duty cord on. At that point, it becomes a question of where is the best place to tie in the Romex (or better grade) wiring.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake