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Long Extension Cord Run

sixt8 berd

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May 21, 2009
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75
Location
Illinois
I need to run 300 foot of extension cords to power a keyboard (120V 37W), amp (117V 100W) and mixer (120V 210W). Does anyone know what gauge extension cord I should use? Also, would using 6 50 foot cords be worse than using 3 100 foot cords?

Thanks in advance!
 
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w1im

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Sep 3, 2011
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Western MA
Your total load comes to a little under 3 amps.

Using the resistance of different diameter copper wires, with a total path length of 600ft (300 each way), I get the numbers in the attached table.

With 14AWG wire, you will have a voltage drop of about 4.5V, so 120V at the beginning of your cord will turn into 115.5V at the end. This comes from the middle column

However this does not take into account the resistance of the plug contacts. Generally contact resistance can be assumed to be 0.01 ohms per contact. With 3 cords, you have 4 plugs between the source and your instruments with 2 contacts each. With 6 cords, you have 7 plugs with 2 contacts each.

The right two columns show the voltage drop including contact resistance.

The big question is, how low of a voltage can your equipment accept. If you have a variac, I would test out each piece of equipment at 100-110VAC to see if it still works properly.

If you don't have the ability to test the equipment, I would say that any equipment rated for 120V (or 117V) should work fine at 110V and probably even 105V as well. While the calculations would allow the use of 16 AWG wire. You also have to remember that the length and size of wire from the transformer on the utility pole to your panel and then to the outlet you plug the extension cords into will be a factor.

Therefore I think 14AWG is the way to go.
 

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sixt8 berd

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Illinois
Wow, thanks for the explanation. I'll go with 14...I don't want the power to cut out while the bride is walking down the aisle!!!
 

rlitman

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Oct 18, 2010
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Long Island
A 500' spool of 14/2 SO cable plus a plug and receptacle might be cheaper than buying that as separate extension cords. Less plugs in the middle equals less chance of something going wrong.
 
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sixt8 berd

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May 21, 2009
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Illinois
I just called the rental place in my area and I can rent a 100 foot 12 gauge cord for $6 a day. I'll probably just rent since it would be closer to $200 to buy.
 
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rlitman

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Oct 18, 2010
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I just called the rental place in my area and I can rent a 100 foot 12 gauge cord for $6 a day. I'll probably just rent since it would be closer to $200 to buy.

That's a darned good idea. From what I'm seeing, it will probably cost a bunch more than that to buy.
 

mrb

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Dec 31, 2008
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Wow, thanks for the explanation. I'll go with 14...I don't want the power to cut out while the bride is walking down the aisle!!!

make sure the female ends arent all worn out on the rental cords, and also tape the connected plugs together with some gaffers tape.
 
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