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PHEV: Extension cord

Discussion in 'Prius PHEV Plug-In Modifications' started by whk.wang, Sep 1, 2009.

  1. whk.wang

    whk.wang New Member

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    I am going to be doing the PHEV route using eh Enginer.us battery pack.

    I want to get a reasonable extension cord that I can use. Any one have recommendations?

    I have been looking at the 12/3 25 foot cords and the 10/3 50 foot cords.
    Any one have recommendations on where to get the 10/3 cords? I can order them online. But if I can get it locally the price for shipping seems for the extension cord seems to be a wash on price if I can find a place that sells them.

    Lows is not bad, they carry the yellow jacket (12/3) $41 that has the end that lights up. But I want to be a little more descreet and not have the plug light up.

    Any one else know where to look for a good price?
     
  2. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    you could always buy a heavy duty water tight male plug end, cut off the lighted end, and attach your own with no light.

    how much wattage does the charger pull?...
     
  3. krousdb

    krousdb NX-74205

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    I got a nice yellow 25 ft 12/3 without ends that light up at Walmart for $19.99.
     
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  4. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    In theatre as well as other semi-heavy-duty power applications,
    the standard spec is to use 12/3 for anything plugged into a
    20A circuit. That's considered safe to carry up to a 2400 watt
    load continuous, as is often approached pretty closely in
    stage lighting applications. 14/3 is also sometimes used with
    the caveat that it should be limited to 15 amps, 1800-ish watts.
    .
    Your typical 1200 to 1500 watt hair-dryer or other applicance
    will make either type of cable a little warm, but stay within
    its safety spec. *I* won't run any more than three typical
    stage instruments off one circuit, usually 575W apiece and
    rounded up to 600 for design calculations.
    .
    The real vulnerability comes in the plug/socket heads, where
    all the current often passes through contact points with less
    cross-sectional area than the wire itself. I have melted plugs
    on straight-from-the-Despot cables by having them carry a 15A
    continuous load, and for any cable I care about [14 or 12] I
    generally chop whatever molded piece of crap came on it and
    stick *real* heads on -- a nice heavy-duty male at one end whose
    contact/blade characteristics I can see when I open it up, and
    either a similar single female at the other end or a dual or quad-box
    since it'll likely be feeding more than one thing in typical use.
    .
    This is why stage cable and fittings are big and klunky -- the
    stuff can take assloads of nasty, harmonics-rich high currents
    and not get particularly warm. Connection points are still likely
    to run somewhat warmer than the cables themselves.
    .
    10/3 is sometimes used for very long runs where less voltage
    drop across the wire's resistance is desired, but in construction
    apps 10/3 is considered okay for up to 30A, I think.
    .
    _H*
     
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  5. plugmein2

    plugmein2 New Member

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    I have two cords. One in the trunk from Wal-mart 100ft for charging on the go. The other is the 25ft yellow jacket from Lowe's that lights up. It is in my garage where I charge everyday. I love the light-up feature. There have been times I have unplugged the car and have forgotten to flip off the power strip. :doh:Doh!!

    JOANNA
     
  6. fjpod

    fjpod Member

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    One could eliminate one end of the extension cord altogether by cutting off the male end and connecting it directly to home wiring via copper lugs, or soldered, to make a solid connection. The other end is plugged into the car. This would reduce 50% of the resistance from the plug in points. But I think some locales would prohibit a cord permanently hard wired that was more than 12 inches long...unless perhaps it came from overhead with a roll-up device.
     
  7. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    25ft cords can be 12/3. anything over 50ft should probably be 10/3.

    as for construction stuff. 10/3 can carry 30amps but it's not recommended over 50 ft. so it gets bigger and bigger and bigger the more length or amps you draw.
     
  8. MJFrog

    MJFrog Active Member

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    I just bought a 12/3 25 foot cord at Lowes. It's dark blue and is made by UtiliTech. Cost $21.74 +tax. It has a velcro strap attached so you can keep it rolled up easily.
     
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  9. khoakhoa

    khoakhoa Junior Member

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    I did the same thing for my Plugin 100ft walmart extension cable. What I had at the time. Obvious use the proper Guage / Shortest length for your needs for saftey

    &
     
  10. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    Man, I think you have 50' of wire to long !!! It's a hazard and an accident waiting to happen.