After reading all the replies, I'll just have an electrician come and install an outlet closer to my car.
Thank you all for your input.
Thank you all for your input.
Safest maximum length for extension chord from dryer?
- Thread starter GarZ
- Start date
ucmndd
Well-Known Member
Day one difference in ideal conditions? Yep, probably nothing. Totally agree.
How about two years later? 50-100 insertion cycles on one or both ends? Dirt/moisture/contaminants on the plugs and receptacles? What condition will the cord insulation be after spending two years on the garage floor or possibly outside in the sun and elements?
These seem like the more important questions to me, and the real reason why this shouldn’t be considered for a permanent charging solution.
coconutboy84
Member
SSonnentag
Rocket Scientist
Given they're the same dimensions, solid copper wire can carry more power (lower resistance) than stranded wire at 60 Hz, due to packing inefficiencies (empty space) that is inevitably between the individual strands.
The main advantage of stranded is that it's more flexible.
But you are correct, with properly-sized wiring and no visual, the meter wouldn't tell me which was which.
Sorry, neutral.
Same response, if you plug something else in, it could still be deadly and destroy a lot of equipment.
Plug in a motor home to the cord. It is expecting 2 120V circuits, not a 220V circuit, Whoops.
If you must convert, use an adapter, at a minimum, just build your own adapter.
...which is why no one is suggesting that. Neutral is not the same as ground. The neutral pin in the 14-XX series Tesla adapter plugs are literally dummy pieces of metal that are not connected to anything.
And I NEVER suggested cutting the neutral off of an extension cord--only the Tesla adapter.
The usage goes like this: I have a short pigtail for a 10-30 to 14-50. Then the 14-50 extension cord gets the 30 feet of length needed to get out to the car. Now what Tesla adapter should I plug into it? The real outlet it is connected to is a 10-30 on the other end, so it would be more foolproof to be able to plug a Tesla 30 amp outlet adapter into it so it matches the current properly. Not having the neutral pin on my Tesla adapter lets me use the correct matched amps for things like TT-30 or 10-30 with an extension.
And I never suggested that. Sure, a missing neutral on an RV connection can pop appliances in your RV. That is not good and why it is not a good idea to change the extension that could be used for other things. But the Tesla adapter isn't that. You can't accidentally plug an RV into a Tesla UMC adapter.
No, that's not how you would generally use that. There are other short pigtails to go on the other end to go to TT-30 or 10-30 or whatever outlet you are trying to get to. And yes, even a 14-XX pigtail adapter that doesn't have a neutral, so it can use any of 14-30, 14-50, or 14-60. The extension cord in the middle can stay unchanged.
M3BlueGeorgia
Active Member
14-30, as people have said.
Better suggestions:
1) Put in a A/B switch, run some conduit with #6 gauge wire (future proofing) and have a 14-30 socket within reach of the mobile connector.
2) Put in a sub-panel to service both the dryer and the car, and support 50A to the car, so you can use 14-50 socket.
Since most sub-panels are 100A, also run a 6-20 into your garage/carport.
@M3BlueGeorgia From your disagree marking, perhaps you didn't follow what I was talking about. I was not recommending that neutral pin thing to @GarZ , the original poster. It isn't something new folks should be trying to do. It was a recommendation response specifically quoted to @doghousePVD who was saying he has a bag full of adapters where everything goes to a 14-50, and he has still been plugging his Tesla 14-50 adapter into it, no matter what level of outlet is on the other end and then has to remember to manually dial down the current in the car every time.
I was recommending how to use that setup of equipment he already has more safely where you can use an appropriate adapter that will set the current for you instead of having to remember to do it yourself manually.
I was recommending how to use that setup of equipment he already has more safely where you can use an appropriate adapter that will set the current for you instead of having to remember to do it yourself manually.
I can tell you that using an extension cord in this manner violates electrical code and Tesla’s instructions. Hence my somewhat jocular comment that the safest length is zero, meaning the absolute safest thing to do is not use an extension cord. I’ve done it. It’s not the end of the world. But the best way is to run permanent wiring instead of using an extension cord.
ucmndd
Well-Known Member
davewill
Active Member
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