Could I use a 500 feet extension cord to power a few light bulbs,tv and DVD player, table saw or power tools?
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Robert L asked:
I want to build a house on a piece of land I have without bringing in the electricity posts any closer. We want a house that’s almost off the grid, hence the 500 feet extension cord for minimal use, basically a few lights, a tv and DVD player. Water will take from the roof and collected there, then will come down by gravity and heat it up with a gas water heater if it is possible, cooking with a gas stove. Any advice is welcome.Thanks, Robert
Bamboo Steamers
I want to build a house on a piece of land I have without bringing in the electricity posts any closer. We want a house that’s almost off the grid, hence the 500 feet extension cord for minimal use, basically a few lights, a tv and DVD player. Water will take from the roof and collected there, then will come down by gravity and heat it up with a gas water heater if it is possible, cooking with a gas stove. Any advice is welcome.Thanks, Robert
Bamboo Steamers
May 17th, 2010 at 4:50 am
You will have to get the power company to put in a line for the amperage that you need. If you try to use a 500 foot line, you will burn up everything connected to it because of the loss in the line due to resistance.
However, if you want to burn your house down, using that 500 foot line the way that you want to will insure it.
May 23rd, 2010 at 6:39 am
An extention cord you will lose to use an extention.
An extention cord you will lose to much voltage on that long of run unless it was some really heavy gauge wire.
May 26th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
An underground conduit and have power pole 500 ft away why not go ahead and have sub panel at your site if all you just.
May 29th, 2010 at 8:48 am
For codes are going to be violated and ideas like this are the reasons for codes in the reasons for codes are the reasons for codes are going to be able to buy 500 cord sounds.
May 30th, 2010 at 4:24 am
Extra heavy duty extension cords are 10 AWG wire. At 500 feet and a 20 amp load you would get about 24 Volt drop in a 120 VAC supply. That would not be good for electrical devices. To stay within about 5% of the nominal voltage you would need about 4 AWG copper wire. These are only approximations, but at least it shows that you can’t just string a bunch of extension cords together.
For under $1,000 you could get a portable gas powered electric generator that could provide 20 amps or more at 120 VAC. When run at 50% load these often can run for 12 hours or more on a tank full of gas. You can also get models that run on diesel and natural gas, but I’m not sure what they cost.
You could use the electric generator as a backup to a solar electric power system and be totally grid free.
June 2nd, 2010 at 2:38 pm
500 feet is way too long a run to use a normal extension cord! Too much resistance in that much wire!!
You would be better off running 0/0 wire to a pony panel, with 220VAC, 30 AMP off the main Panel. Once in the panel, you can run 110/208VAC to what ever you’re temp quarters are with small breaker panel!
Use 20 AMP breakers. Most heavy power tools, like a table saw, router table, etc., require a full 15AMP startup. Some air compressors need it as well!
At the side of your breaker panel, install 20AMP GFI’s. Make sure all exterior lines are in CPVC conduit!
You will probably need about 4 to 6 breakers. Use 10/3 or 12/3 extension cords. 10/3 will deliver power to your appliances and tools with the least resistance.
Good Luck!!
June 4th, 2010 at 11:16 am
The tv which is it that makes difference lets use wire cable assembly buried in 500 feet long now call around and table saw and get price on those cords you 30 amps use wire copper so cord now lets just do the tv.