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CWSWine · 08-15-2019, 07:42 AM

I have a bad back and limited to how much weight I can lift and that 40-foot power cord took both me and my wife to carry. On Amazon I found a 15 foot 40 Amp power cord. Most sites we have been to I can position the AS within 15 foot of the power pedestal and much easier carrying a 12-pound power cord than the one that came with the AS.
Here is a link to the cord I purchased.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Daquenzer · 08-15-2019, 07:55 AM

Thanks for the posting. The 40’ cord is a pain to deal with. I’m in good shape, but it is just too long. And if it is cold out that cord is stiff and really difficult to deal with. Have you ever found the 15’ too short?

Ol Bob · 08-15-2019, 08:15 AM

And one positive benefit of a 15ft cord is that if your cord has a male & female end (and not the trailer connector) you can use it to attach it to the 40ft cord occasionally when you are "head in" on a site. I tailgate 7 times a year backwards and splice the two together to make it to the pedestal which is 50ft away. Good luck.

CWSWine · 08-15-2019, 08:32 AM

Mine has the "Trailer Connection" and it's not the extension cord but a replacement cord for the one that came with the AS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol Bob

And one positive benefit of a 15ft cord is that if your cord has a male & female end (and not the trailer connector) you can use it to attach it to the 40ft cord occasionally when you are "head in" on a site. I tailgate 7 times a year backwards and splice the two together to make it to the pedestal which is 50ft away. Good luck.

Mollysdad · 08-15-2019, 08:34 AM

My advice would be to replace the HUGE stock cord with a 25' cord much lighter.

For some unknown reason Airstream supplies a cord that's not the standard of the RV industry.

CWSWine · 08-15-2019, 08:39 AM

I can say I never found the cord too short but I have only been three sites since I purchased it. The site I currently in I could pull all the way to the back of the site and probably won't reach but I take into account that the cord is only 15 foot long when parking. I can think back over the years when a 15 foot won't reach but I still carry the one that came with the AS for that occasion.

It is hot now but I can roll it up like extension cord and not coil it on upon the ground like I have to do AS cord. It only weighs 12 pounds.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daquenzer

Thanks for the posting. The 40’ cord is a pain to deal with. I’m in good shape, but it is just too long. And if it is cold out that cord is stiff and really difficult to deal with. Have you ever found the 15’ too short?

uncle_bob · 08-15-2019, 08:40 AM

Hi

Another solution is a 30A cord with a 50A connector on the trailer end. You only get 30A so it's not going to work with two A/C's running. For a lot of sites, it will do just fine. Since it only handles 1/3 the power, it's a lot lighter weight.

Bob

uncle_bob · 08-15-2019, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

My advice would be to replace the HUGE stock cord with a 25' cord much lighter.

For some unknown reason Airstream supplies a cord that's not the standard of the RV industry.

Hi

The cord weighs what it does due to the amount of copper in it. The losses in the cord go up as you take copper out. That makes it get hotter when in operation. You can compensate for that by using high temperature insulation in the cord (so it melts at a higher temperature).

Since there are other things around the cord that also will get hot ... hmmm... do you really want to do this? ( = that's why not all cords are made that way).

One thing that saves you is the fact that you normally don't pull full load. Heat goes up as the square of current. If you typically run half current, then it only gets 25% as hot as it might get. At least on our trailer, it is unusual to pull more than 20A on either side of the line for any significant period of time.

Bob

CWSWine · 08-15-2019, 08:46 AM

I looked at that one but the way my plug fits in the AS that angle would be to the side and not pointing down. I was worried it would put a twist on the plug on the AS could damage the plug. I also looked at the adapter that has a 90 degree down but it also fits with the angle to the side and not facing down.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

My advice would be to replace the HUGE stock cord with a 25' cord much lighter.
For some unknown reason Airstream supplies a cord that's not the standard of the RV industry.

wlanford · 08-15-2019, 09:12 AM

I carry two 15' 50 amp cords in the rare case one is not long enough.

CWSWine · 08-15-2019, 09:13 AM

That wouldn't work in my case. I just check the EMS and I'm pulling 32 amps with both AC running and the water heater and fridge on electric. The wifes hair dryer or microwave would put us way over 30 amps.

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

Another solution is a 30A cord with a 50A connector on the trailer end. You only get 30A so it's not going to work with two A/C's running. For a lot of sites, it will do just fine. Since it only handles 1/3 the power, it's a lot lighter weight.

Bob

BernieMac13 · 08-15-2019, 09:34 AM

Does anyone know the length of the OEM cable? I have one that I've wanted to sell for a little bit and I haven't figured out the length yet!

IB Streamin · 08-15-2019, 10:17 AM

I sold my 37' grey colored 50A original on Craigslist for $75...
and
replaced it with a more manageable 50A 25' (https://www.etrailer.com/RV_Wiring/M...-5025ED90.html)

plus a 50A 30' extension (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024ECIP0) for those rare occasions.

My 26U does not pull a lot of current so the extra length and extra connection of the extension is not a concern other than to keep the connection relatively dry for safety reasons.

Bilbo · 08-15-2019, 10:36 AM

We carry the OEM 50 amp cable in the rare event we need to run both ACs, usually stays coiled inside the rear bumper storage compartment. We also carry a much more manageable 30 amp cable and 30-to-50 amp pigtail to plug it into the trailer. This is what we use 95% of the time. I'm betting the 30 amp cable and pigtail is more manageable than even a 15 ft 50 amp cable.

**Hans627** · 08-15-2019, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

My advice would be to replace the HUGE stock cord with a 25' cord much lighter.

For some unknown reason Airstream supplies a cord that's not the standard of the RV industry.

I replaced the stock 50 A cord supplied with my AS with this 50 A cord. Not so much for weight (I didn't weigh it but it doesn't seem lighter) but for flexibility. The stock cord is like fighting with a boa constrictor (not that I have experience), especially when it is cold. This cord is much more flexible and is so much easier to deal with.

Anyone need a stock 50 A cord?

ElBrillante · 08-15-2019, 11:02 AM

Check out e-trailer .com. I replaced the AS Anaconda w/ the 50 amp cord pictured in other replies here. What an improvement!

jcwall · 08-15-2019, 11:33 AM

I have a 15 foot 50 amp cord and a 30 ft 30 amp On a couple of long trips I can only recall a time or two I had to use the 30 amp cord. Almost always able to park the rig next to the power source. I hate that huge50 amp cord with a passion.

hhendrix · 08-15-2019, 04:30 PM

I made my own 12' 50 amp cord and it works in about 90% of the campgrounds I've been in since 2016.

guskmg · 08-15-2019, 09:17 PM

I made a 10' 50 amp cord and have not needed the 35' 50 amp Airstream cord in a long time. I like the idea of two short cords in case one is not long enough. If you have a rear under frame cargo drawer be careful not to put too many heavy copper cords and other heavy stuff in it. That caused me e rear end sag repair job recently. Airstream says that compartment does not have any weight restrictions. It should be limited. Now it only has the 10' 50 amp cord and a couple of water hoses in it.
guskmg

link2dks · 08-16-2019, 07:48 AM

The AS supplied 50 amp power cord set on my trailer is a 40 foot Marinco Easy Lock. A bear to coil especially as it gets colder outside and it does NOT have a 90 degree connector at the trailer end which would reduce the strain on the trailer connection. I have previously used Marinco cord sets on boats, they are well made, and sturdy, and heavy and difficult to store ...

I getting older and wanted a cord set that was easier to deal with. Mighty Cord was the answer for me.

Marinco 50 amp 40' cord set:
31 pounds
"Connected" indicator light
Straight trailer connection
3 #6 gauge and 1 #8 gauge wires
Difficult to coil

Mighty Cord 50 amp 25' cord set:
17 pounds
"Connected" indicator light
90 degree trailer connector
3 #6 gauge and 1 #8 gauge wires
VERY EASY to coil

Mighty Cord 50 amp 15' extension cord:
10.7 pounds
Same wire gauge as 25' cord set

To me it was a no brainer to store the Marinco and buy the two Mighty Cords from Amazon (they had the best price when I bought them.) The combined weight of the two Mighty cords (27.7 lbs.) is very close to the single Marinco cord (31 lbs.) Most of the time I only need 17 lb 25' cord and I have the 15' extention if needed. The ease of coiling has to be due to the material used to insulate the wires and the outer casing as the wire gauges are identical.

After a year of use I can see no exterior excessive wear on the cord set and I don't baby it. I'm a happy camper

Dave S