Surprise in the mail

[Ladyhawk]

I received the owner's manual from Jayco. Weird. The dealer said the companies didn't do manuals anymore and when I tried to get one online, they told me my serial number was invalid, yet, here it is. Yay!

One thing in the manual stated that the electrical cord shouldn't be coiled when hooked up to shore power. I've always just pulled out what I needed and left the rest in the box. Anyone else stretch out their cord?

[dpf]

Good new for you! Sure a manual will help.

I've never heard about that the cord shouldn't be coiled when it is plugged in. But when I think about it our cord is close to the front of the rig and the shore power is usually way to the back so it never is coiled.

[mtngal]

Umm, mine is 'looped' as we speak, didn't know it might be a problem though.

[Pooker]

Great that you got the manual!

I never heard of any problems resulting from having the electric cord coiled. Never gave it a thought in years and years of RVing and never had any problems. Did they offer a reason why they say that?

The only thing I can think of might be the slight possibility of cracking the rubber coating if it was left coiled in the same kinked position for a long period of time? However, my son has a 37 year old Class C with the original cord that was coiled up in the cabinet for years and years. The old owner didn't even know whether there was an electric cord or not because they never tried to use it. The old rig was just kept in their yard for the kids to have sleepovers and play in! He's living in it now and has no problem with his electricity, so I wouldn't worry about coiling your electric cord!

Pooker

[BarbaraRose]

They say not to wrap the electric cord around your hair dryer too, but I do that all the time, and never figured out why they say not to. Maybe if it got kinked, it could cause a problem, but that would be hard to do with an electric cord, especially a thick one.

Barbie

[Acadianmom]

The question about the electric cord would be a good one to post on RV Net. We could really start something. But not me, I'm not going there.

One of my motorhomes had the little hole to wind up the cord in and I would just pull out what I needed and sometimes leave part of it inside. The cord I have now comes completely off for storage.

Martha

[mitch5252]

I just emailed my electrical genius ham radio friend. He'll know if it's a problem.
I vote for a potential heat buildup issue.

..

[BirdbyBird]

What Mitch said......It has to do with the electrical resistance in the cord and potential of heat build up while in use.... Having been told that at seminars...I have yet to ask anyone the question regarding what if I am working off my generator. In order to use my generator, my electric cord has to be plug into the socket that is inside my cord storage "box". I can turn the generator switch on from inside the coach but if I haven't plugged the cord into the generator "Socket" I can hear the generator working but have no power. Which means that any time I am using the generator, my cord is coiled up inside that small box...... The plus of this arrangement is that if I need to use the generator only to help in an electrical power break down. I can plug directly into the generator.

[VickieP]

Amy, I may be wrong, but was it you that had an extra switch in the bathroom that you couldn't figure what it went to? Did the manual say anything about that?

[Ladyhawk]

Amy, I may be wrong, but was it you that had an extra switch in the bathroom that you couldn't figure what it went to? Did the manual say anything about that?

Nope. Nothing about the mystery switch. I'm wondering if it's one of the tank heaters. I have a switch labeled "tank heaters," but maybe (since it's next to the tank heater switch) it's one of the heaters. I'm planning to test it out next time. (Switch off, feel the pad, switch on, feel the pad) Should be fun....

[Carolinagal]

This is something I will be very interested in finding some answers too. I have a '94 Jayco, in reading all of the literature several years ago, I don't remember a thing about uncoiling the electrical cord. I have several electricians in my family and none have ever brought this up. I just take out what is needed to reach the box. Of course, the rest in not coiled nicely, either, it goes in under one of the seats of my dinette and however it goes, when I shove it back in, is how it is

Safe and Happy travels,
Carol

[mitch5252]

My email was screwed up and Blake (my genius friend) didn't receive my query until today. Here is his response (he's talking about his sailboat - same difference, except his floats, ours doesn't!):

When the boat is connected to shore power, it draws about 20 amps just to run all the systems. When and if the AC kicks on the current draw jumps to around 30 or 40 amps. I have never noticed the cable even getting a little warm. The thing about coiling the cable is related to the the inductance that is present when wire is formed into a coil. Now throw in a little capacitence caused by the space between the wires in the cable and it can form a L/C circuit, (Inductor/ Capacitor) and you have a "tuned circuit" which can, depending on alot of other factors cause additional resistance.....In other words... don't worry about it..

If you want me to have him write that in plain English, I will...but knowing him, I'm satisfied with "don't worry about it.."

..

[VickieP]

Here I am concentrating, thinking about each phrase, letting it sink in before going on to the next, thinking I'd have to look up that word to comprehend it exactly, then I get to the last part where he says don't worry about it! Now I've got more wrinkles in my brow for nothin!

[mitch5252]

Here I am concentrating, thinking about each phrase, letting it sink in before going on to the next, thinking I'd have to look up that word to comprehend it exactly, then I get to the last part where he says don't worry about it! Now I've got more wrinkles in my brow for nothin!

LOL! He's too smart for his own good. One time, he said he could make a light bulb light by just holding it in his hands. We told him he was full of it. Well, dang, if he didn't take a fluorescent bulb, stand directly under my low-band ham radio antenna out in the yard, and the bulb lit up!! WEIRD, I tell ya, weird.

He builds these little trains (from scratch) that humans can ride on...



He's also a pilot and took me up to get this picture of our house...



One time, he was doing some sound work for Paul McCartney's Wings in Mexico City. He called me up during their performance and held the phone out to the stage while they were singing MIchelle and let me listen to the whole thing! I love that guy!!

[Sparkle]

What an interesting person to know, and so many talents!