BajaNomad

Making an extension cord

maspacifico - 9-29-2013 at 12:36 PM

Thieves cut the big extension cord off a trailer we have in Todos Santos. They stripped it for the wire. I've got a motorhome next to it that they haven't gotten to... yet. Can I cut that big cord, put plugs on both ends of the cut, and take it home with me?

DENNIS - 9-29-2013 at 12:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by maspacifico
Thieves cut the big extension cord off a trailer we have in Todos Santos. They stripped it for the wire. I've got a motorhome next to it that they haven't gotten to... yet. Can I cut that big cord, put plugs on both ends of the cut, and take it home with me?



If the wire is same or close to same gauge, why not.

vandenberg - 9-29-2013 at 12:45 PM

Not very clear?
If they got the cord and stripped it for the copper, there wouldn't be anything to conduct electricity, so..worthless. If you're talking about a different cord, as long as the copper wire is there, all you do is put a receptacle on one end and a plug on the other. Both available at any hardware store.

maspacifico - 9-29-2013 at 12:51 PM

They cut and stripped the trailer cable. That's a goner. I'm talking about the cable still connected to the motorhome. I guess I'm wondering if I can use the plugs I can find in town or if I need something heavier.

willardguy - 9-29-2013 at 12:51 PM

expect to spend around 15 bucks per end (30amp). no problem!

Udo - 9-29-2013 at 12:55 PM

You need a wire from home depot, or hardware store. At least 10 gauge, preferably 8 gauge.
Colors:
Black, Red, Green, White
You can also buy the plugs @ Home Depot.

willardguy - 9-29-2013 at 01:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Udo
You need a wire from home depot, or hardware store. At least 10 gauge, preferably 8 gauge.
Colors:
Black, Red, Green, White
You can also buy the plugs @ Home Depot.
is the red just to make it pretty? :lol:

DENNIS - 9-29-2013 at 01:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by willardguy
is the red just to make it pretty? :lol:



Red, Green and white are Mex flag colors. It's a patriotic repair job. :lol:

maspacifico - 9-29-2013 at 01:08 PM

Black is more my mood right now!
The trailer has had most of the wire and copper taken from it....and the line from the street has been taken. I've put an outlet box at the street and running regular extension cords for lights and fans. Just replaced all the copper water lines from the water heater to an outside shower with cpvc. The reason I'm asking this is the motorhome parked next to the trailer didn't get messed with, but it will, and I'd like to just cut that big shore cable and make an extension cord out of it before it gets stripped too. Sounds like 30 amp ends is what I need.

willardguy - 9-29-2013 at 01:09 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by willardguy
is the red just to make it pretty? :lol:



Red, Green and white are Mex flag colors. It's a patriotic repair job. :lol:
:lol: picturing udo scratching his head wondering where to put that 4th conductor!

Wahoo RV

windgrrl - 9-29-2013 at 01:13 PM

Try these guys...they say they can get parts brought down:
http://www.mexonline.com/wahoorv.htm

I'm no expert, but....RV stuff can be specific.

Good luck,
W

[Edited on 9-29-2013 by windgrrl]

Mula - 9-29-2013 at 01:25 PM

I've had a hard time in the past in Loreto with Rv plugs.

Best bet is probably wahoo rv in Cabo.

Can get some plugs at El Arco - not at Home Depot.

We just had to go to El Arco for the wire feed welder plug.

monoloco - 9-29-2013 at 02:33 PM

Why can't you just remove the cable from the lugs where it connects to your distribution panel in the MH, and reconnect it when you want to use it? If you want to make it like an extension cord you could use either appliance plugs and receptacles like you would use for a range or clothes dryer or use heavy duty twist lock type plugs, either of which should be readily available at Los Arcos or another electrical supply house. Sorry to hear about the ratones stealing your power, most people are going to aluminum cable from the street in Todos Santos after being ripped off because it's less valuable to the tweakers. There are also steps you can take to make it impossible to pull the cable out of it's conduit.

comitan - 9-29-2013 at 03:15 PM

I have a 25ft with the RV plug if interested U2U me, wiley La Paz

maspacifico - 9-29-2013 at 04:24 PM

Thanks guys and gals. If I can't find the right plug here in Todos tomorrow I'm going to cut it and take it into Wahoo RV. Unhooking at the breaker lugs was a thought....I unhooked what was left of the trailer cable (didn't want them coming back for anything)....the motorhome breaker is a major pain to get at. Will have to research aluminum wiring when I put things back together!

Amazing what this has come to. The slime probably made $100 off what they got and they worked pretty hard to get it. They cut wires as small as 3" sections, and this is regular Romex. They screwed up an electric fridge thinking the condenser tubes were worth something. Cut propane lines that I finally plugged enough to get gas to the water heater. Ahhhhhhhh

Past break in experiences were, while annoying, at least we could tell they didn't have anything to begin with. This was just stupid and very destructive. Very tempting to run a "special" and hidden line .

willardguy - 9-29-2013 at 04:37 PM

so the way I understand it you have a 15amp receptacle at the street? are you gonna change that out too or use a pigtail? do you stay at RV parks? the only reason for an RV specific connection. yes?

maspacifico - 9-29-2013 at 05:07 PM

There is a breaker box, 15 amp breakers, at the street. Romex used to run to an outlet mounted on a palapa pole. The trailer shore connection plugged into the outlet. Now the outlet is mounted on the cement pillar the breaker is on. 15 inches of wire from the box to the breaker. The shore connection is stripped, as well as the converter/charger box and most everything else. I'm running extension cords for the time being into the trailer for fans and lights.
You are saying it doesn't matter if I have anything larger than a 15 amp plug on my new extension cord?

willardguy - 9-29-2013 at 05:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by maspacifico
There is a breaker box, 15 amp breakers, at the street. Romex used to run to an outlet mounted on a palapa pole. The trailer shore connection plugged into the outlet. Now the outlet is mounted on the cement pillar the breaker is on. 15 inches of wire from the box to the breaker. The shore connection is stripped, as well as the converter/charger box and most everything else. I'm running extension cords for the time being into the trailer for fans and lights.
You are saying it doesn't matter if I have anything larger than a 15 amp plug on my new extension cord?
yes! I would just put 15 amp ends on and call it good. 30amp to 15amp pigtails are a common item around RV parks.

monoloco - 9-29-2013 at 05:42 PM

If it's only a 15 amp circuit, you might as well just run 12 gage romex from your outlet to the main panel of the trailer. If you are not using the 12v system in the trailer, turn off the converter/charger because they can draw a lot of power. If it makes you feel any better, a friend of mine witnessed one of those tweakers get lit up pretty good a few months back when he grounded out trying to pull a hot wire. Freaking idiots think nothing about doing several thousands of dollars damage to someone's house so they can buy a dime bag and a few beers. My neighbors here in Pescadero had a few hundred meters of very expensive cable stolen, and the little bastards came back one day after they had new cable installed and tried to steal it again.

willardguy - 9-29-2013 at 05:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by monoloco
If it's only a 15 amp circuit, you might as well just run 12 gage romex from your outlet to the main panel of the trailer. If you are not using the 12v system in the trailer, turn off the converter/charger because they can draw a lot of power. If it makes you feel any better, a friend of mine witnessed one of those tweakers get lit up pretty good a few months back when he grounded out trying to pull a hot wire. Freaking idiots think nothing about doing several thousands of dollars damage to someone's house so they can buy a dime bag and a few beers. My neighbors here in Pescadero had a few hundred meters of very expensive cable stolen, and the little bastards came back one day after they had new cable installed and tried to steal it again.
thats why he wants an extension cord, so he can roll it up and stash it from the little bastards, and he already has the cable (probably 10 gauge) I would think.

maspacifico - 9-29-2013 at 05:57 PM

That's what I want. Take it away with me.

I would pay to see the "toasting" though!

Thanks again.