An RV’s electrical system is pretty straightforward. Even if you’ve never done much with electricity before, you will be able to use an RV electrical hookup without a problem. Still, it is a good idea to know what you’re doing before you dive in.
Below, we’ve outlined the ins and outs of using a camper electrical hookup. These tips will get you started and should keep you going for many years to come.
Topics covered include:
- Steps to Use Your RV Electric Hookup
- More Tips for Hooking Up to an RV Power Source
- Troubleshooting RV Electrical Problems
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6 Steps to Use Your RV Electric Hookup
First things first, let’s talk about how to use an RV electric hookup. Fortunately, this is incredibly easy to do, but it is important to follow the correct steps in order to prevent damage to your rig or injury.
- Back or pull into your campsite, making sure to park close enough to the power pedestal for your RV power cord to reach.
- Check that all electric appliances in the RV are off.
- Locate the correct outlet (see more on 50 amp vs 30 amp below) and flip the corresponding breaker to the “off” position.
- Plug in a surge protector with diagnostic information, flip the breaker back on, and check that all is well with the outlet using the information given.
- If everything checks out, plug the RV cable into the surge protector.
- Turn on the AC and any other needed appliances.
To unplug your RV follow the steps below.
- Turn off all electric appliances in the RV.
- Flip the breaker for the outlet your RV is plugged into to the “off” position.
- Unplug the RV from the surge protector and the surge protector from the outlet.
- Put the surge protector and power cord away.
More Tips for Hooking Up to a Camper Electrical Hookup
The steps above should get you started using an RV electrical hookup. That said, you might find you still have some questions. Let’s tackle those in this section!
50-amp vs 30-amp
Before you can connect to an RV power hookup, you will need to know whether you have a 50-amp or 30-amp RV. Those with 50 amps will be able to run more things in the RV at once without flipping a breaker—that is, as long as they are able to plug into a 50-amp power source. Meanwhile, those with 30-amp rigs will likely have to be a bit more careful about what they run simultaneously.
Which type of power system you have will determine the type of RV electrical hookup you use. Many campgrounds offer both 50- and 30-amp hookups at every site. In these cases, you’ll simply choose the outlet that matches your plug (hint: a 50-amp plug cannot fit a 30-amp outlet, and vice versa).
If the pedestal at your site doesn’t have the type of outlet you need, you will need an adapter. There are adapters for both 30-to-50-amp and 50-to-30-amp, and it’s a good idea to carry one with you for situations like these. It is safe to plug a 30-amp rig into a 50-amp outlet, but you will still only have 30 amps to work with. Likewise, 50-amp rigs can plug into a 30-amp outlet, but as mentioned before, they will be limited to 30 amps of power at any given time.
Using a 20-amp Outlet
Occasionally, you might find yourself in a situation that requires you to plug into a 20-amp outlet rather than a 30 or 50-amp RV electrical hookup. This is fine, but you will need an adapter to do so. You will also need to be very careful that you don’t run too many things at one time.
As an example, you probably won’t be able to run a microwave on 20 amps. You also won’t be able to run the A/C safely unless you invest in a soft starter, which makes the electrical load on startup a more gradual process rather than kicking on all at once. Even with the soft starter, you will only be able to run a single air conditioner, and you won’t be able to have anything else running at the same time.
Surge Protectors
We mentioned using a surge protector in the section above. This is key. No matter where you plug your RV in, you will definitely want to plug a good surge protector in first.
This will help preserve your rig’s electrical system should there be a surge of electricity for any reason. We prefer the surge protectors that offer diagnostic information on the outlet itself. This has saved us from plugging into pedestals with poor wiring on many occasions.
Extension Cords
Besides adapters and a surge protector, you will also want to keep a shore power extension cord on hand. This comes in very handy when the power pedestal is placed far away from the campsite.
Keep in mind that you can’t just use a regular extension cord, as these can’t handle the amount of power an RV needs and are likely to overheat. Instead, you’ll need a heavy duty RV-specific cord.
Troubleshooting RV Electrical Problems
As is the case with any RV system, it is possible (and even probable) that you will eventually run into issues with your RV electrical system. Below are some of the things you’ll want to check when the power isn’t working properly after you plug into a campground electrical hookup.
Breakers and Fuses
If the power goes out suddenly, the first thing to check is the breaker on the pedestal outside. If that seems okay, be sure to check the fuses in the fuse box inside of your RV. You might also want to check your surge protector, as the breaker inside your surge protector can flip, causing the power supply to be cut off.
GFCI Outlets
Outlets placed near sources of water (sinks, faucets, etc) will likely be GFCI outlets. Sometimes in RVs, the breakers attached to these outlets are also attached to nearby outlets and/or lights. If the power doesn’t seem to be working in only one section of your RV, check the GFCI outlet buttons.
Aux Battery Switch
If you are plugged into an RV electrical hookup and your batteries are not charging, you may need to flip the aux battery switch. Not all RVs have these, but many do, and if the switch is flipped it will disconnect the RV batteries, meaning they won’t be receiving a charge (or sending power out to the DC appliances when you unplug).
RV Plug
Another thing to look for if you lose power—or if your power comes and goes—is a bad shore power plug or a bad connection at the plug. Sometimes the wires inside the plug head will become loose or frayed over time. Other times the plug might become fried from a loose connection, a bad outlet, or a variety of other reasons. In these cases, the plug must be replaced right away.
Converter
If you notice your lights flickering or dimming randomly, or if your batteries aren’t charging fully or as quickly as they used to while plugged into power, you might be looking at a bad converter. Believe it or not, this is relatively easy to replace yourself.
By now, you have a pretty good understanding of how to use an RV electric hookup and even how to troubleshoot the electricity in your RV once plugged in. We’d say you‘re pretty well equipped to hit the road and start taking advantage of having power wherever you roam.
Why not start by renting an RV to try out your newfound knowledge?
