Could I use a 500 feet extension cord to power a few light bulbs,tv and DVD player, table saw or power tools?
Posted By admin on October 7, 2008
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
By: Robert L
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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.
you would not be able to use an extention cord. you will lose to much voltage on that long of a run unless it was some really heavy gauge wire.
If you have a power pole 500 ft away why don’t you just run an underground conduit and have a sub panel at your site. If all you want is a few lights and a TV/ DVD you don’t need more than a 20 amp circuit. Why not go ahead and really be off the grid and set up a small solar system.
I don’t think you will even be able to buy a 500′ cord. Sounds like codes are going to be violated and ideas like this are the reasons for codes in the first place.
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.
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!!
What will you be connecting to? Another house or what?
First you want to run a table saw and power tools. Then you want to run a few lights and a tv. Which is it? That makes a difference.
Lets use a 20 amp load. Your TV, lights, dvd player, and a table saw. You would need a #1, 3 wire copper, SO cord, 500 feet long. Now lets just do the TV and lights and DVD. Say a 6 amp load. You would need a #6, 3 wire copper SO cord. Now call around and get a price on those cords.
You could also use a URD or USE aluminum 3 wire cable assembly, buried in a 500 foot trench. A #2 will give you 30 amps. Use a 4 wire #2-2-2-4 and you can have a 30 amp 240 volt service with a total of 60 amps of 120 volt power.
Email if you need more help.