What You Need to Know: RV & LQ Tips From a Camp Host

When it comes to the electrical system in your RV, there are some essential things to know and consider before you hit the road. As a camp host, I’ve seen what can go wrong when people connect without knowing the basics. 

What you need to know: 

• What are the AMPs your RV is set up for? 
• Are your batteries in good condition? 
• Do you have the correct adapters and cords to connect your RV to power properly? 

Electrical Hook-Ups: Certain RVs are designed for a certain level of power. You need to plug into what their RV has been designed for and not use adapters unless it is 100% necessary. 

It’s much safer to adapt up than to adapt down.

A person should not adapt down from a 50 AMP to a 30 AMP or 30 AMP to a 20 AMP. 

Adapting down can cause some serious issues. 

For instance, on a 50 to 30, only half of the electrical (like appliances or outlets) will have enough power if you’ve adapted down. On a 50 AMP, your RV has two circuits (2 and 25 AMPs), so only one will work if you are connected to a 30 AMP.  Adapting a 30 AMP to a 20 AMP is when you can have a lot more problems. 

When adapting down, you’ll need to cut the power use down in the unit. If you run the air conditioner and then try to run a coffee pot, it won’t work. It can trip a breaker or melt the weakest link in the circuit, which could cause a fire.

From a camp host's point of view, it can also damage the outlet on the pole, and then we have to replace it. 

If adapting from a 30 to a 20 AMP is your only option, you’ll need only to use one appliance at a time. For example, don’t run the air conditioner while using the microwave. 

• 20 AMP: looks like a regular outlet in your home. 
• 30 AMP: Round with three terminals 
• 50 AMP: Round with four terminals

Examples:

When your trailer is 20 AMP, you need to use a cord that is heavy enough to power your RV. You should have, at minimum, a 12-gauge cord. The lower the number, the heavier the gauge. 

Adapting up doesn’t hurt a thing. It’s much easier to adapt up than adapt down. 

Food for thought: When you arrive at a campground, before plugging in, turn off everything inside the RV, then turn off the breaker on the pole. Next, plug in your trailer and turn on the breaker. This helps prevent excess electricity from entering the system. If everything is on while plugging in, it can cause a significant surge of power to the RV, potentially damaging it. 

Batteries & Plugging In

When you are plugged in, your batteries are being charged. The items that run on batteries are interior lights, refrigerators, furnaces, and water heaters, which still require 12 volts to operate on propane. 

Before you go on a trip, check your batteries and ensure they are charging correctly. They can be undercharged and overcharged in certain conditions. Undercharging would make your lights not work. Overcharging can cause the battery to EXPLODE. 

If your battery does explode, carefully disconnect the batteries (don’t get acid on your hands), remove them, clean excess acid off the trailer, and trade out your old batteries for new ones. You can’t just put new batteries in; you’ll need to get the RV checked and find out why they are overcharging. 

Safety tips: Every RV should have a working carbon monoxide detector. Typically, these are powered by an RV 12-volt battery system. 

Always have a fire extinguisher in an easily accessible place. 

Occasionally, inspect your cords and plugs for damage and replace any frayed cords or damaged plugs. 

Understanding the electrical system of your RV is critical for a safe and enjoyable camping experience. 

• Familiarize yourself with the power requirements of your RV
• Ensure your batteries are in good condition
• Use the correct adapters so you can avoid potential hazards and damage
• Adapt up when necessary
• Monitor your power usage,
• Take precautions when plugging in at campgrounds

Keep these tips in mind and you'll be better equipped to enjoy your RV or LQ and keep your electrical system in good condition. 

Happy camping!