what is the longest i can run a power cord

Your extension chord can be as long as you want, provided 2 things: Amps will go down OR gauge of wire must be increased the longer further you run the chord. Technically.... 30 amp socket requires 10 gauge chord and is fully rated (to 30 amps output) out to about 50 feet. 20 amp socket requres 12 gauge chord and is fully rated (to 20 amps output) out to about 50-75 feet You can go to 150 feet or so by increasing the 30 amp cable to 8 gauge and the 20 amp cable to 10 gauge. IF YOU DON'T increase the size of the wire (cable/extension chord) you will have a loss of amps at the other end and won't power all of your appliances or tools.

The 120 volt sockets are rated at 20 amps, while the 240-volt socket is 30-amps. A 120 volt power chord MUST have 12 gauge wire to supply 20 amps to about 50-feet and the 240volt chord must be 10 gauge to supply a full 30 amps at about 40-50 feet. To go further, you MUST increase the gauge of wire to make up for the loss. Gauge of wire goes down in number to be larger in size, I know.. silly right? Anyway, to carry the 12o volts a full 20-amps 200 feet or so, you must increase the size from 12 gauge to 10 gauge wire. You can go 1000 feet, but you need to go with even larger wire.. to maybe a number 4 and so on. I personally connect my Generac xg8000e to my service panel with a 25-foot 240v 30-amp cable that Lowes sells for $107 and my house is happy and Boz is very happy.

We recommend that you keep extension cords as short as possible, preferably less than 15 feet long, to prevent voltage drop and possible overheating of wires.