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mojo43
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 12:29pm
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I want to connect my generator to an inlet installed on the outside of my cabin. There will be no electricity hookup in the future and I want to keep this really simple as I am no electrician.
The inlet will connect two or maybe three outlets in the cabin.
The problem is that I can't seem to find an inlet anywhere that will accept a standard extension cord with a bubble cover for outdoor use. Can someone recommend one please?
Also, if anyone has any information about how to split up and go to the 3 outlets then that would be fantastic as well.
Thanks!
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DaJTCHA
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 12:45pm - Edited by: DaJTCHA
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If it were me, (I know that individuals with chime in with reminders of code and safety violations) I would get myself an outdoor utility box with a water tight cover. Inside this box I would install a plug that is not easily tapped into by anyone that isn't you...something like this:
Of course, you'd want a version of this that you can mount within a utility box. From that point, I'd get the male version that would plug into it and make up a very short length of cord that you'd run to your generator with a male version of plug that would fit the outlets on it.
Essentially, female jack in the utility box mounted to the cabin that you'd couple to a double ended male extension cord of heavy gauge (10 would be great, 12 works).
From the other side of the female NEMA plug I would run the 2-3 outlets you require on the inside. You might even consider running the lead into a fused utility box before running the three branches to interior outlets.
None of this meets code and my suggestions are *wing it at your own risk*! Keep in mind, I would follow this order of connection. Plug the pig tail into your cabin, plug your pig tail into the generator, start generator, enter cabin and flip on all breakers, and then use outlets. You don't want the pig tail plugged into a running generator while your holding the other end that is LIVE!
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mojo43
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 12:47pm
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I don't understand, why would someone want to tap into it?
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DaJTCHA
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 12:56pm
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My point was if the exterior outlet has a "foreign" looking face plate and plug, people will not try to mess with it for electrical needs that aren't there in the first place.
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ICC
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 12:57pm
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http://www.marinco.com/product/30-amp-125-volt-power-inlet-gray
use the above type of receptacle mounted in the exterior cabin wall. cord connects generator to the special safe cabin wall socket. sagest way to do it. you'd have to try hard and be dumb to electrocute yourself with one of these.
Quoting: mojo43 I don't understand, why would someone want to tap into it?
because you have no control over how stupid other people can be, and yet you could be legally responsible even if they were trespassing and they got hrt or worse
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mojo43
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 01:00pm - Edited by: mojo43
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Quoting: DaJTCHA Essentially, female jack in the utility box mounted to the cabin that you'd couple to a double ended male extension cord of heavy gauge (10 would be great, 12 works). From the other side of the female NEMA plug I would run the 2-3 outlets you require on the inside. You might even consider running the lead into a fused utility box before running the three branches to interior outlets.
I understand. I think creating my own wires (for outdoor use) as well as installing a fuse box is a bit above my head.
I was looking for something simple. Wiring to an inlet would not meet code? Isn't this what RVs do? I was thinking that this would be the same thing except for this is a small cabin.
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mojo43
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 01:03pm
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Quoting: ICC use the above type of receptacle mounted in the exterior cabin wall. cord connects generator to the special safe cabin wall socket. sagest way to do it. you'd have to try hard and be dumb to electrocute yourself with one of these.
So I would have to create my own wire with this solution? I guess I can learn how, but if it is for outdoor use then how do I make sure it is ok in the rain and snow?
Thanks for all of the help!
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ICC
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 01:11pm - Edited by: ICC
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buy an outdoor rated cord with a plug already on it that fits into the generator if you can. thats the easiest starting point. then buy one of the receptacles as pictured and a plug end (for a cord) that plugs into the receptacle. cut off the end that is not needed. black wire always connects to gold/brass colored screw. white wire always connects to the silver screw. ground wire (green) connects to green screw. these plugs and recepacles are twist lock so the cord stays attached
connecting receptacles inside the cabin is one of the easy electrical tasks too. again black and white and green (or bare) wires always connect as described above. buy a simple wiring book if in doubt, there are lots, most are useful
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GomerPile
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 01:16pm - Edited by: GomerPile
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You did not state what kind of generator you have....does it produce 220V? If so, then realize you will only get half the generators output from a 120v plug....which is probably not an issue since you only have a couple outlets.
From your post it sounds like you just want a single 120V outlet as your inlet (maybe you have a Honda EU?). A very simple thing I have seen is a retractable power reel mounted in the wall with the end poking out of a watertight receptacle (the other end is hard wired).
When needed you pull the wire out of the wall and plug into your generator. When done the automatic spring take up reels the wire back in.
This is really just a fancy extension cord...but if you don't want to figure out the wiring its easy.
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mojo43
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 01:16pm
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Great, thanks for the info. Sounds easy enough. I have done some wiring in the past, but I don't remember it as it was a while ago.
How do I make sure that the outdoor wire is going to be weather proof? Should I just wrap lot's electrical tape around one of the ends (where the new plug has been added)?
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mojo43
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 01:20pm
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Quoting: GomerPile n. This is really just a fancy extension
Sorry, my generator is 120v. That would be a perfect solution. Where could I find something like this?
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 01:34pm
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Whew  we made an outdoor/heavy duty extension cord a "double male" too and I've wondered if our whole cabin would some day blow sky high! Lol, yikes! It is a relief to hear others have done the same thing! 
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GomerPile
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 01:53pm - Edited by: GomerPile
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http://www.amazon.com/Bayco-SL-800-Professional-Retractable-30-Foot/dp/B000256R9G/ref =sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366739674&sr=8-1&tag=smacab-20&keywords=retractable+cord+reel
Cut off ends and swap. The fixed side gets attached to cabin wiring and the other end gets a male plug for generator.
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mojo43
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 01:57pm
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Hmmmm... Not sure I like this one, but thanks!
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ICC
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 02:05pm
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Quoting: trollbridge extension cord a "double male" too and I've wondered if our whole cabin would some day blow sky high!
its not the cabin that will blow sky high. its some unsuspecting person, but some people like to live dangerously i guess
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mojo43
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 02:09pm
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I think I remember reading on another forum that this is called a suicide cord. I won't be doing that...
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 02:13pm
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Whoa, wait! Why exactly is it unsafe?
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mojo43
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 02:15pm
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If someone trips over it and then goes to pick up the male end.... zap!
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ICC
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 02:18pm
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you never know who might for no apparent reason pull the plug from the cabin while the generator is running and touch the live ends. and as mentioned someone unknowing or just forgetful could trip on the cord and expose the live ends of the second male plug. it is so easy to wire this in a manner that is safe that it just dumb to take a chance
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 02:38pm
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OK, thanks to both of you...I get that if it comes unplugged from the cabin and the generator is running how it is unsafe, I never thought of it though. Duh!
I'm going to have to ask my husband exactly what he did. I admit, I really haven't paid too much attention to it because it all seemed to work well. I do remember him looking for the right type of receptacle, but when he couldn't find one the weekend he planned on doing this, he went to plan B. I bet he hasn't thought about the dangers either.
Thank you for pointing that out!
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mojo43
Member
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 02:54pm
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That's exactly why I started this posting. I went into a bunch of the local stores, but I couldn't find the right receptacle.
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ICC
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 02:57pm - Edited by: ICC
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boat and rv dealers should have these receptacles. so does amazon.com
15 amp on amazon http://www.amazon.com/Marinco-150BBI-On-Board-Charger-125-Volt/dp/B000NI38MG/ref=sr_1 _1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366743168&sr=8-1&keywords=shore+power++connector
you could get by with the 15 amp plug with a gen of 2000 or less watts
30 amp are more $$ http://www.amazon.com/Conntek-Marine-Shore-Safety-Enclosure/dp/B002IWZSPU/ref=sr_1_2? ie=UTF8&qid=1366743168&sr=8-2&keywords=shore+power++connector
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trollbridge
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 03:16pm
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Thanks so much for originally posting mojo and ICC, thank you for taking the time to post the links.
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ArkansasCabin
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# Posted: 25 Apr 2013 12:55pm
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It seems you're just looking to have a few simple outlets not intended for any major appliances. I set my cabin up the same way.
You can use an "inlet receptacle" like the one I linked below, and wire it directly to your outlets. This method is very simple and not "code," but it seems you just want a few outlets with power on the inside for various reasons. This inlet box is weatherproof and allows for you to use a regular extension cord connected directly from the generator without the risk of frying yourself.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00074USHY/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 
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mojo43
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# Posted: 25 Apr 2013 12:57pm
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Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for. Out of curiosity, are you grounding your generator?
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mojo43
Member
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# Posted: 25 Apr 2013 01:04pm
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PS. I just bought the one you suggested, thanks!
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 26 Apr 2013 02:10pm
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Quoting: mojo43 I think I remember reading on another forum that this is called a suicide cord. I won't be doing that...
Or "deadmans cord" 
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Borrego
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# Posted: 28 Apr 2013 07:28pm
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So to take this to the next step, I wired my cabin as you would wire a house and home-runned the 4 circuits into a small panel for future use with solar. How could I run a cord from my generator to the panel and connect it to the breakers?
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 28 Apr 2013 09:07pm
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Quoting: Borrego So to take this to the next step, I wired my cabin as you would wire a house and home-runned the 4 circuits into a small panel for future use with solar. How could I run a cord from my generator to the panel and connect it to the breakers?
Run your inlet plug wire to the panel, leave enough wire inside the panel to move it around later if you wanted to. Hook the wires from the inlet to the panels inlet. The black to one leg, red to the other, white to ground bar and ground to the same bar assuming panel and neutral bar are bonded.
If you power it up with a 110V AC generator, run the black to one of the inputs, wire to ground and ground to ground, then make a jumper of the same gauge out of black wire and jump across from one input to the other. With enough extra left inside the panel, this input could be made to an outlet ir moved if fed using a 220V generator too.
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Borrego
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# Posted: 28 Apr 2013 09:17pm
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So run the cord from the genny into the top just like the power company would? Would I need a 3 wire plus ground cord? And I'd really like to have the option after i do have solar to hook the generator in there with a switch to go from solar to generator, that make sense?
thanks!
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