The Basics of RV Electrical Hookup
When you arrive at an RV site within an RV park, you’ll likely want to connect your RV to power first thing – after parking, leveling, and stabilizing, of course. This will allow your appliances like your refrigerator and air conditioner to cool while you get the rest of your RV site set up.
First, you’ll need to know a bit about your RV’s electrical system. The electrical hookup for your RV is referred to as shore power, which is any power source provided by the RV park or campground. Read this article on AC vs DC Power Supply and Your RV’s Electrical System written by an RV expert at Camping World for a deeper understanding of how your trailer or RV electrical system works.
30-Amp vs. 50-Amp Shore Power Connection
Next, determine whether you have a 30-amp or 50-amp shore power connection. The majority of RVs require a 30-amp or 50-amp connection. To determine which electrical service your RV needs, look on the shore power cord at the number of prongs; 30-amp plugs have three prongs, and 50-amp plugs have four prongs.
It is possible to connect a 50-amp RV into a 30-amp plug or a 30-amp RV into a 110 VAC outlet, but you’ll need to be strategic and limit your power usage to ensure you don’t trip a breaker or an outlet, or, at worst, damage the electrical system in your RV.
RV adapters are available, but you won’t get the full amperage your RV is intended to run on if you connect to a lower-rated power source. Check with the RV park or trailer park first to determine what type of shore power connection they offer.
How to Hook Up Your RV to Electricity at an RV Site
Now comes the fun part: connecting your RV to the power source at your site. There are a few steps we mentioned earlier you’ll want to tick off your checklist prior to connecting your RV to electricity (steps 1-3):
- Park, Level, and Stabilize Your RV: Ensure you’ve parked your RV where you want it and that the power cord can reach the power source (skip ahead to step two if you don’t know the length of your power cord). Here is an additional resource on How to Back a Trailer into Your Campsite. Then, level and stabilize the RV. Here is an article on how to level and stabilize your RV.
- Locate Your Surge Protector and Power Cord: Next, locate your surge protector and power cord. If you are not sure where these are, consult your owner’s manual. You can connect to power without a surge protector, but we recommend you use one so you can know the quality of the electrical hookup.
- Ensure Appliances Are Turned Off: Go through your RV or trailer and check to be sure all the appliances are turned off.
- Turn off Breaker and Connect the Surge Protector: First, check to make sure the breaker for your corresponding (50-amp or 30-amp) electrical service is switched off. Then, plug in the surge protector to the site’s electrical stand and turn on the breaker. The display on the surge protector will inform you about the quality of the electrical service and any issues that might be present.
- Plug in the Power Cord: Once the surge protector is connected and there are no issues detected, you can then plug in the power cord. In some RVs the cord is hardwired and so you just pull it out and plug it in. If the cord is not hardwired, plug it into the surge protector first, then to your RV.
- Check to See If It Is Working: Turn on an appliance, like the microwave, to see if the electricity is working. If it’s not working, check another appliance and if that too does not work, take a look at your RV’s internal circut breakers. If you are still having issues connecting to power, ask the park’s staff to assist.
For more tips on connecting your RV to electrical service and for steps on how to disconnect electricity from your RV, read this article by RVShare.
RV Sites for Rent With 30-Amp and 50-Amp Services
If you are looking for your next RV site – whether you’ll be calling it home for the long haul, using it as a launch pad for adventure, or posting up in a location close to new work – check out our available RV sites for rent here. Our RV Parks offer long-term stays and some also offer short-term stays. Monte Christo Communities operates RV parks on the West Coast of the U.S.
Notable RV Parks in the West with Available RV Sites for Rent*
Pepper Ridge RV Park in Reno, NV
Driftwood RV Park in Brookings, OR
Parkway Lakes RV Park in Morgan Hill, CA
Vallejo MHC and RV Park in Vallejo, CA
Pleasant Valley MHC and RV Park in Oroville, CA
*At the time of publishing this article, the RV parks listed had RV spaces available for rent. RV site availability is subject to change.
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