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Finding the best extension cord for your generator can be easy if you know what you are looking for and can be hard if you are not a seasonal electrician.
Extension cords are often overlooked but essential tools for powering electrical devices in places where wall sockets are not readily available, such as construction sites, outdoor events, and camping trips. However, when it comes to connecting an extension cord to a generator, it’s important to choose the right one.
Using an improper cord can result in reduced power output, overheating, and even fires. Choosing the correct gauge of wire is critical to avoid these hazards, but it’s not always easy to determine the right size for your needs. Without the proper knowledge, even experienced DIYers may struggle to find the right cord for their generator.
It is not only the length and gauge that define how good the extension cord is when used in combination with a portable generator. You’d better look for a trusted brand and pick a specific model compatible with your generator’s output amperage and also have a decent review rating.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the 10 best extension cords for generators and provide some tips to help you choose the right one for your needs.
10 Best extension cords for a portable generator
The best extension cord for your portable generator requires consideration of a number of factors. The length, wire gauge, and type of insulation of the cord are crucial considerations. Also, look for durable, long-lasting cords with features like water and weather resistance.
Whether you’re looking for a strong cord for your construction site a lightweight extender for powering home appliances or a weather-resistant RV extension cord, the list below will meet your demands. So let’s look more closely at our top picks for the best extension cords for portable generators.
Conntek 20602
This extension cord is a recommended choice if you are planning to use it with your portable generator as backup power for home power outages. It is a 30A cord that can work with both 120V and 240V power outlets. There are 4 prongs and the plug supports locking when turning it clockwise, which protects from accidental unplugging. Make sure your generator has a compatible NEMA L14-30R receptacle.
- Configuration: NEMA L14-30P (30 Amps 125/250 Volts, Locking)
- Cable: STW 10/4 (STW Jacket provides up to 600 Volts of Protection)
- UL Listed
- Length: 50 Feet
- Max rating: 7, 500 Watts
The Conntek 20602 extension cord is expensive but extremely sturdy. It is made of all-weather materials that remain flexible during low temperatures. It is also heat-resistant to up to 221° F.
The wires of this cord are made of 100% pure copper. The latter is the best choice for high-efficient electric cables and is very flexible.
Last but not least, Conntek 20602 is really long extension cord. It is 50 feet and can withstand 3,600 to 7,500W of electricity. This makes it a recommended choice for home backup power and RV travel.
RVINGPRO 50 Amp
Another powerful extension cord for use with a home backup generator. This cord can withstand a 50A 250V current, which is 50×250 = 12,500W. Make sure your generator is powerful enough (a 12,500W generator is recommended) so you will utilize the full potential of this extension cord.
This extension cord comes in variable lengths from 15 to 50 feet and is made of pure copper. The cord itself is really sturdy and the NEMA 14-50P features a handy grip for easy unplugging it from a generator’s socket. The other end of the cord features an SS2-50R plug that you will put into your house’s power inlet.
- Heavy Duty 50 Amp Generator Cord: RVINGPRO 50 amp generator cord is made of 100% copper conductor with flame retardant coating and PVC jacket....
- Pre-Drilled 50 Amp Generator Inlet Box: RVINGPRO NEMA SS2-50P 50 amp inlet box for generator is designed with 4 pre-drilled holes distributing in...
- ETL Listed: Both of RVINGPRO 50 amp generator cord and power inlet box have passed ETL certification, which are safe enough for outdoor use. Our...
- Use with Ease: The twist locking ring on the female plug of the 50-amp generator cord helps to keep dust and rain out of plug connection while...
- What You’ll Get: 1 x 50 Amp Generator Cord (15FT) + 1 x 50 Amp Generator Inlet Box (Pre-Drilled) + 1 x Cable Tie + 1 x Storage Bag. Besides, we...
The good news is, the RVINGPRO 50A extension cord comes as a set of the actual cord and a house backup power inlet. The inlet is pre-drilled, which makes installation easier, and it has a green LED power indicator. You don’t have to buy a cord and an inlet separately now, which is very convenient.
Online review praise this extension cord + power inlet set for its sturdy design, convenient storage bag, and grip handle, and overall the RINGPRO 50A works as advertised.
It is an all-weather extension cord for a generator with a wide range of usage. You can use it for home backup power, RV camping, and when working with high-power draw tools like an electric welder or a circular saw.
Watt’s Wire 12 Gauge Heavy Duty Outdoor Extension Cord 15A
This extension cord is designed for up to 15 amperes of power load under 125 volts. You can use it safely outdoors as it is fully waterproof and flexible enough to work in different temperatures. It is also made of copper, which minimizes the loss of power. Made in yellow color, Watt’s Wire extension cord is very visible when used outside.
You can’t use this cord for providing backup power for your house. It is also not suitable for use with an RV. If you need to power up your appliances or even small power tools out of your generator, then this extension cord is a very nice and affordable solution.
- 12 Gauge Extension Cord by Watt's Wire: Designed to safely handle up to 15 amps, this 15 amp extension cord is perfect for high-powered tools and...
- Outdoor Extension Cord SJTW: Our heavy duty power cords are made with an SJTW jacket which is suitable to temperatures from -40°F to 130°F....
- Flexible & Heavy Duty: Our cords use 12-Gauge soft-drawn copper to give 120V 15-amps with minimal voltage drop providing all the power you...
- Strong & Reliable: Crafted as an outdoor extension cord, our cords include strength-adding poly strands to make them handle heavy day-after-day...
- Safety: Designed to OSHA and UL 817 requirements, our outdoor extension cord is corrosion, fire, & moisture resistant; with built-in...
One amazing feature of this cord is the ability to power up to 3 appliances with just one cord. This is thanks to its triple socket design on the second end. You can even use bulky plugs if you need to.
This extension cord can also be used as a replacement for a surge protector with your home outlets, however, it is not recommended as it does not provide any surge protection.
The ideal usage of this cord would be to feed fridges, heaters, small power tools, teapots, TVs, or music players. If you want to provide power for your house or an RV, it’s best to also get a thicker cord for 30 or 50 amps in addition to this one.
Generac 6112 20-Foot 30-Amp Portable Generator Cord with 4-NEMA 5-20R Outlets
Here is another amazing extension cord for small appliances but with a convenient design. Generac offers their own 20 ft extension cord with 4 outlets allowing you to power up 4 electrical devices simultaneously. Just be sure to not have the total power exceed 30 amperes.
This extension cord is well protected from different weather conditions and is made of Thermoset rubber. In addition to that, all 4 outlets come with rubber covers that protect them from liquids or dust. It uses a 10-gauge wire inside.
- Reliable Power Transfer: Safely connects your generator to your transfer switch or power inlet box, ensuring a stable and secure power transfer
- Weather-Resistant Design: Made of thermoset weather-resistant rubber, this cord remains flexible even in extreme cold weather, ensuring...
- Versatile Outlets: Includes a male NEMA configuration 14-30 and female (4) 5-20 twist-lock ends, providing convenient connectivity for a variety...
- Wide Generator Compatibility: Compatible with a wide range of generators equipped with 30-Amp outlets, such as GP3250, LP3250, XG4000, XP4000,...
- UL Listed Assurance: The Generac 6112 20-Foot 30-Amp Generator Cord is UL Listed, meeting the highest safety and quality standards
The downside of this cord, it comes in a black color so it is not easy to find if you’re in a dark room or during the night the outdoors. However, this Generac 6112 does its job pretty well and is praised in online reviews. Be advised, this is not the kind of extension cord that you can use to install backup power from your generator to your home. But it works great when powering up small appliances and power tools indoors and outdoors.
One interesting fact, this extension cord acts as a replacement for your original Generac cord that comes with your generator. Having said that, you can use it with any other brand of generators as long as those have an L14-30 outlet.
Best brose 50 ft 50 Amp Generator Extension Cord
This is a sturdy extension cord that can power your RV or be utilized as a backup power source. It is long and substantial, and it can handle 50 A at 125 to 250 Volts. Multiplying these amperes and volts yields up to 12,500W, which is enough power to run all the appliances in your house.
The Best Brose Cord is composed of dependable STW cord that may be used outside for lengthy periods of time. This rope is easy to carry and store because it has an adjustable carrying strap. Pure copper STW 6/3 + 8/1 AWG wire was used to construct it.
- 【DURABLE MATERIAL】- The resistant STW cord is made for heavy duty construction, it is built to the highest quality standards.
- 【N14-50P & CS6364 】- Plug (Male): 14-50P with handle, elbow plug style for strain-relief; Receptacle (Female): SS2-50R, Locking Style
- 【50' CORD LENGTH】- Extending the power cord up to 50ft away so as to protect your and others from standing too close to the hazardous...
- 【PORTABLE STRAP】- Adjustable power cord organizer which is a carrying strap. It can make the product easy to storage and carry.
- 【WIDE APPLICATION】- This cord is perfectly suitable for camping, tailgating, outdoor and sporting in spite of hurricane season and other bad...
This extension cord is praised on the Internet for its ease of use, reliability with its lockable plug, heat and cold resistance, and sturdy connecter with a UL Certificate. There is a nice handle on the plug that makes it convenient when you want to unplug it.
Overall, it’s one of the best extension cords for backup power or RV camping.
TOOLIOM L14-30P/L14-30R Generator Extension Cord
A smaller and thinner but still quite capable extension cord from a Canadian brand TOOLIOM. Rated for 30A under 125 and 250V, it is a basic home backup cord that you can use with your generator. It can power a total of up to 7,500W electrical consumption. This means you can run most of the home appliances during a power outage. You can also run your camper if needed using this cord.
The good news is, this cable is also weather resistant and is suitable for all seasons. TOOLIOM extension cord is flexible, it has a heat and cold-resistant PVC jacket marked with SJTW. And it is a UL listed. The output plug has a convenient LED for easy indication of whether the power is on or not. The input plug has a locking mechanism for a reliable connection.
Besides the cable, you are also getting a cable organizer for convenient storing of the cable when not in use.
- Powerful: 30A 125/250V with Red Light. NEMA L14-30P and NEMA L14-30R connectors, suitable for home electrical system.
- Reliable: UL listed, is constructed from a high quality PVC jacket (SJTW) that's both heat and cold resistant, flexible.
- Equipped with a LED Power Indicator, light up when cord is connected to power supply, it's easy to tell you when the power is on.
- Twist & Lock: Designed with twist lock to avoid cord slipping from holster and lock tight for secure of operate.
- Storage: Comes with cable organizer, to storage the generator extension cord more conveniently and efficiently.
This extension cord comes in variable lengths and each of them grants you 10 AWG wires that grant you 30A of capacity. This is already enough to organize a home backup or RV power.
Even though you will not have the same power capacity as with thicker and more expensive 50A extension cords, in case your home’s electrical system does not consume more than 7,500W, this cord will be enough for different usage scenarios.
RVGUARD 50 Amp 50 Foot RV Power Cord
This extension cord is best suited for RV camping thanks to its high capacity and convenient grip on its input plug. Having said that, it can as well be used for the home backup system when combined with a powerful 12,500W generator.
Although quite expensive, it is a sturdy and very well-made cable. The only downside, is you need to keep the cable in a warm place before rolling it out during cold seasons. Keep that in mind. Though, it is expected from a cable that is that thick to not be the same flexible as its thinner counterparts.
The best thing is this cable does not get warm not to say hot from a heavy load. It is a professional 50A cable that’s made out of quality materials and with all technical standards met. It is actually quite heavy so you can immediately notice high quality.
- Electrical Rating: 50 amp RV power cord, with 50A male (NEMA 14-50P) & 50A female (NEMA SS2-50R) locking connectors, rated for 6250 Watt (125V)...
- Superior Durability: constructed from durable and weather resistant 6/3+8/1 Gauge STW jacket. ETL/cETL approved.
- Disconnect Handle: Easier to plug in and plug out without damaging the cable, and it keeps your fingers away from the power source to avoid...
- Easy to Organize: Come with a storage bag and plastic strap to make the cord neat when not in use. Easy to store in your RV or garage.
- Safe Construction: There is a threaded ring on the locking connector for regulating and waterproofing.
Besides the cable, there is also a plastic strap and a bag included. This lets you store this cord conveniently with no need to buy additional accessories.
The output end of this cable has a green LED indicator that allows you to easily check that the power is on. The plug features a locking mechanism and a threaded ring that you can tighten on top of the plug for even better water resistance. You should not be afraid of rain or snow causing short circuits when using this cable with a proper inlet box that is sold separately.
While this extension cord is obviously one of the most expensive on the market, you only buy it once and for many years of usage. Keep in mind that besides all the other cool features of this cord, it is also made of 100% copper wiring and weather resistant 6/3+8/1 gauge STW jacket.
I consider this RVGUARD product one of the top extension cords for house backup and RV camping. Its price pays off well. No wonder why it keeps getting overwhelmingly positive reviews for a long time.
S7 50 Amp Generator Extension Cord
This one has an amazing price-to-quality ratio and is a great extension cord for use with your generator for house backup power. It is also suitable for use with an RV.
The S7 50A extension cord provides a capacity of up to 12,500W and is all-weather cold and heat resistant. It has a twisted plug on the output end and this works very reliably during heavy winds or storms and it is impossible to accidentally unplug it.
- 🔔【 Extended 13ft Length With Certified UL】Connect To Distant Power Outlets To Power Up Your RV And Enjoy A Great Family Campout! S7 Power...
- 🔔【Uses And Compatibility 】S7 RV Extension Cord Is Ideal For Use At Campsites For RV, Trailers And Campers.NEMA 14-50P(Male) And SS2-50R...
- 🔔【 Robust Beast 】Heavy Duty Chord, Constructed With 100% Copper Wiring Coated With Flame Retardant, Heat Resistant PVC, The Cord Is Super...
- 🔔【50 AMP GENERATOR EXTENSION CORD】NEMA 14-50P Male Plug Into Generator Power Socket, CS6364 Connects To 50 Amp Generator Inlet Box....
It does include a plug protector, plastic strap, and a storage bag for easy storage when not in use.
The wires are 6AWG/3C + 8AWG/1C and are made of pure copper for maximum efficiency.
In summary, an S7 50 amp generator extension cord can be a good choice for providing backup power for an RV or a home. It is sturdy and well-made. It withstands even the most severe weather conditions and it is very affordable.
S7 30 Amp 4 Sockets Extension Cord
Another amazing extension cord with four NEMA 5-20 receptacles with a total capacity of 30A or up to 7,500W under 250V that can be used to feed various small and medium appliances and/or power tools. This extension cord is built with 5.26mm² thick pure copper wires, which makes it less possible to overheat.
It can be safely used with your generator outdoors even if it is raining or snowing or during the hot weather. The jacket of this extension cord is made of heat and cold-resistant PVC with FT-1 level fire resistance.
- 🛡️4 Prong 10 Gauge Cable,NEMA L14-30P/Four 5-20R 30Amp 7500 Watts 125/250 Volts
- 🛡️Heavy Duty The Big Gauge And Pure Copper Can Avoid ,The Cable Getting Overheating From Long -Time Use.Larger Gauge Wiring Is Well Built To...
- 🛡️Weather And Fire Resistance,This Generator Cable Can Be Used Indoor/Outdoor For All Weather And All Season.We Choose The Good Quality Of...
- 🛡️Twist Locking Design, The Plugs Was Design With The Lock Structure.When The Plug Is Inserted And Twisted To Lock Place,It Will Not...
The input plug is twist-lock so it will not slip out of the generator accidentally or during heavy winds and hurricanes.
Although it is not for providing backup power or uses with an RV it can be a very convenient extension cord for conventional camping or for using it with power tools when working on your DIY projects away from the power grid or even as a power grid extender from your home to your garage.
Overall, if you need an extension cord to power your appliances or power tools from a generator, this one is going to be just enough. It is also a very affordable cord.
GearIT 30-Amp Generator Extension Cord
Short and very affordable although capable to provide a home backup or RV power for up to 7,500W. GearIT 30A 10 feet extension cord is a sturdily made electric cable that can be used inside and outside in all seasons.
It delivers faultless performance in challenging weather conditions. It is able to tolerate extended sun, rain, snow, and temperature changes. Additionally, it functions properly in temperatures as low as 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius).
This generator extension cord is intended specifically for connecting portable generators to manual transfer switches so that your home or RV may be powered.
- GearIT Generator Extension Cord - With multiple length options up to 100 feet, this heavy-duty generator extension cord is the perfect choice for...
- Consistent Power Over Distance - This generator extension cord transfers power up to 30 Amps / 120 Volts / 7500 Watts over premium 100%...
- Weather Resistant Design - When using your generator for emergency power, weather is often a major factor. That is why this generator extension...
- Twist Lock Plug for Secure Connection - When you are powering a home or business, losing power for even a moment can be a huge disruption. This...
- Easy to See in the Dark - The bright green jacket helps this generator extension cord stick out from grass, bushes or other obstructions, even at...
This cord is produced by a California-based business that offers top-notch electronic gadgets to keep you always connected. They also provide a range of technology networking solutions for your home, workplace, commercial enterprise, and leisure.
GearIT 30A extension cord is made of 100% copper wires, it is sturdy, weather resistant, and a very nice looking cord in its green color. This also makes it easy to find in dark. For such an affordable price, I highly recommend this cable if it is long enough for your electrical system. And if not, this same extension cord is available in higher lengths too (up to 100 feet).
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