Whether you are renting an RV on Outdoorsy for the first time or purchasing an RV for travel or to rent out to others, it’s important to learn the basics of RV electrical systems. Read on for a basic understanding of your RV electricity systems, how they work, and what to be aware of in terms of safety. If you become an RV owner, long-term care and maintenance is a more complicated subject.

1. Rv Outside Hookup Site Box Storage
2. Rv Outside Hookup Site Box Storage

In this guide, we’ll cover:

Rv Outside Hookup Site Box Storage

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Let’s get to it!

Understanding AC vs. DC

The majority of rigs have two electrical RV systems. There is an AC (alternating current) system that is similar to the one in a typical home. There is also a DC (direct current) system that works similarly to the one in a car. The AC system is powered by plugging your trailer into an external AC power source, while the DC system runs off one or more battery systems installed in your RV. Big appliances like the air conditioning, microwave, and power outlets, run off the AC power system. Your lights, water pump, fans, TV, and radio run off the DC power system. The AC system is capable of generating a lot more power than the DC system, which is limited by your RV batteries.

The two RV electrical systems are connected so that if you have AC power coming into your RV, it will charge up the batteries for the DC system. The device that does this is called a converter. Along with the RV power converter, many rigs also have an inverter, which is a device that turns DC power into AC power. RVs with an inverter will have specially marked wall outlets that run on the DC battery system but provide AC power.

Most RVs are set up so that if you have RV shore power (more about that later), you can run pretty much everything in the RV. If you don’t have shore power, then you are running off the DC system, which can run the essentials like the lights and water pump for a few days.

TIP: Use your RV electricity sparingly when unplugged

In short, if you’re plugged into a power source, feel free to enjoy and indulge in all the comforts of home. BUT if you are running off a battery, say while boondocking, use just the basics, and use them sparingly!

Power Sources

Let’s take a quick look at each of the sources of power for an RV.

Let’s take a quick look at each of the sources of power for an RV. Reference our RV electrical system schematic above as well.

RV batteries

Most RVs have one or more batteries. The batteries provide your RV with a source of power when no external power is available. The amount of power the batteries can provide on their own is fairly low — they can run the lights, water pump, and small appliances for the better part of the day, but that is about it. They can’t drive the air conditioning or heating systems either.

Your battery is charging any time an external power source is connected and providing power to your RV. Power sources include shore power, a generator, a vehicle engine, or a solar panel. When you are in motion, if you are plugged into a vehicle using the trailer adapter, the vehicle engine should charge your battery.

Shore power

RV shore power is when you can plug your RV into an AC electrical grid. The available power you can draw on is measured in amps. The most common RV connections are 30 amps and 50 amps. You can connect your RV to a line running from someone’s house, but use caution. To charge an RV from a house, the RV would need to connect to the home system using either an adapter or the house would need a designated 30 or 50 amp connection.

Your RV will be set up to either use 50 amps or 30 amps depending on the size of the RV. You can connect your RV to a lower amp power source, but if you aren’t careful, it can be dangerous; you can damage the electrical systems if you try to draw more power than the shore power line is rated for. Typically, the worst that happens is you blow fuses, but you could damage the power source or your trailer.

When you connect to shore power at an RV park, there will be a circuit breaker on the pedestal. Remember to turn that on after you hook up to electricity, and turn it off when you disconnect to leave.

Generators

Generators work like RV shore power as they plug into your AC system and provide AC power. Typically, they don’t provide as much RV power as shore power does, but that really depends on the size of the generator.

Generators are rated in watts rather than amps. A 1000-watt generator is about right for a small RV or if you don’t need to run major systems like air conditioning. A 3500-watt generator is usually the next step up and can run most RV systems on most RVs.

Overdrawing a generator is not as risky as overdrawing shore power. If you try to overdraw a generator, you simply won’t get enough power to make everything run properly. Overloading your generator might damage some appliances, though it is not likely.

Some motorhomes have a built-in generator, which is separate from the main engine and usually located in an outside bay. These can be especially handy as they are insulated and thus not very noisy.

External generators are prohibited during quiet hours, especially at night. The most important safety rule for external generators is never to use them indoors since they produce a lot of carbon monoxide gas, and it can become fatal very quickly in an enclosed space.

Note: If you must use an external generator, you should never operate the generator indoors since carbon monoxide gas can build up in enclosed spaces.

Solar and wind

The important thing to understand about renewable energy sources is that they are designed to charge your battery, not to provide you with on-demand power.

They generate DC current rather than the AC power you get from shore power and generators. Thus, you are still limited by the amount of power your battery can provide, but you can keep using it far longer since you can recharge it over time. Solar power gives you a renewable source of power off-the-grid, which is perfect for boondocking adventures.

The advantage of solar power is that when there is sun, your batteries are constantly being charged; the disadvantage is that you can’t run anything more demanding than you could normally run off the battery system alone.

Typically that rules out the air conditioning system, electric heaters, the microwave, and other high-draw appliances.

Fuses

Just like your house and car, RVs have fuses that help protect the RV electrical system from overdrawing or power surges. If you lose power somewhere in your RV, chances are a fuse has blown somewhere.

Chances are also good it blew because you were trying to draw too much power at once. You should make sure you know where the fuse panel is before taking out an RV.

Most RVs will have resettable fuses like those in your house; others may have fuses you must replace like those commonly found in cars. If you have the replaceable kind, it’s a good idea to keep a few spares on hand in case you blow a fuse.

RV Electricity vs propane

Your RV may have some appliances that can either run on electricity or propane. Heaters, water heaters, and refrigerators that can switch between the two are common.

The rule of thumb with these is that if you are connected to RV shore power, you should use the electricity option — or a hybrid electric and propane option if your rig comes with a hybrid system.

If you are boondocking —or camping off the grid — use the propane option. It really comes down to what you have more of and what operates your system best — propane or electricity.

Surge protectors

Rv Outside Hookup Site Box Storage

Some RVs have a built-in surge protector, and some have none at all, so you will have to buy an external portable surge protector.

The purpose of using a surge protector is to make sure the RV shore power is clean and steady before letting the electricity into the trailer; the surge protector acts as a guard from power surges both natural and unnatural.

Surge protectors are not essential, but they do help preserve the integrity of the RV’s electrical systems.

If you use a surge protector, be aware that there is usually a short delay from when you connect power to when the surge protector allows power to the RV. Typically it is around 20 to 60 seconds. This delay can be confusing if you are not aware of it.

Before you go

Generally, operating an RV electrical system is a no-hassle situation, but it is important to know the basics so you can have a trouble-free adventure. If you want to learn more about the basics of RV electricity, check out Learning Your Way Around an RV. If you want to dig a little deeper into electricity, you can read more about it here.

Are you feeling charged up? Ready to zap boredom with a grand RV Adventure?

For most people, the number one reason to own an RV is to travel. Whether they travel locally or all over the country, people like these tiny homes-on-wheels because they allow them to pack up and see new things whenever the mood strikes.

That said, there are instances when it’s nice to be able to use your RV on your own land. Maybe you have friends coming to visit and would like to give them their own place to stay. Perhaps you’d like to use your trailer or motorhome as an office. For this reason, it’s recommended that those RV owners who have land give some thought to installing RV hookups on that land.

Of course, it does cost to install RV hookups, and the investment won’t necessarily be a small one. Therefore, it’s a good idea to budget for this kind of project. Knowing the average cost of installing RV hookups will help when it comes to this budgeting.

We will use this article to give you an idea of what kinds of costs to expect, and help you understand how to install your hookups.

Cost to Install RV Hookups on Land

First, let’s talk about money. The cost to install RV hookups on land can vary quite a bit. In the end, the total will depend on 1) how much work you’re able and willing to do on your own, 2) how many amps your RV requires, 3) the type of sewer system you’re working with, and 4) how far from your house you’d like your hookups to be.

• Cost to Install an RV Water Hookup — $30 if DIY; $700 if not.

• Cost to Install an RV Electric Hookup — Around $1,200 for a professional install.

• Cost to Install an RV Sewer Hookup — Free or extremely cheap for use of current sewage disposal system. $2,000–$3,000 for RV-specific septic tank.

So how much does it cost to install RV hookups? The true answer is that the cost can vary wildly, but you’ll be looking at an investment of anywhere from $200–$300 for a DIY job, to a few thousand dollars for a professional to do the work.

How to Install RV Hookups at Home (Step-by-Step)

Want to save a few bucks on RV hookup installation cost by doing the work yourself? Good plan! Most of this project is pretty straightforward and can be done by any moderately handy individual with a good bag of tools.

Here is our RV hookup DIY installation guide.

Create a Parking Pad

The first step is to create a parking pad for your RV. The goal is to have a level surface that can support the weight of your RV should the ground become very wet. Gravel and cement both work well.

Your pad should be at least 4 feet wide and long enough to comfortably accommodate your rig and then some. Make sure there are no low-hanging branches or power lines over your pad, and consider the distance to your house and how that will affect your water and electric hookup installation.

Install a Post

Once your pad is in place, a hole should be dug to hold a post securely in place. The hole should be about 8 inches wide and 30 inches deep. Place a 4’x4’ post into the hole and pour concrete around it to hold it in place.

This pole will hold your electric and water hookups, so it should be placed on the driver’s side of the RV.

Put In Your Water Hookup

Putting in a water hookup is a relatively straightforward process. Dig a trench below the frost line from your water source to your post, then run a high-rated CPVC pipe through the trench, connecting it to the water supply and securing it well.

Wrap the exposed waterline with heat tape to prevent freezing, secure the water line to your post using pipe clamps, fill the trench with cement, and cover the trench with dirt. Add your faucet to your water line, and now you have a water hookup!

Note: It’s important to contact utility companies before digging in your yard. This will ensure you avoid gas, water, and power lines, saving you money and possibly your life.

Turn to the Electricity

Next, you’ll need to consider the electric hookup. While this can be done by a very knowledgeable individual who has experience working with electricity, this isn’t a job for the average joe. Therefore, we recommend calling an electrician if you don’t already have the know-how to get this step done.

Whoever installs this hookup will need to be aware of what type of plug your rig uses: 30-amp or 50-amp. The ‘heads’ of these cables have different and specific prong layouts, so you’ll want to make sure a compatible one is put in place.

Finish with Sewer

Last but not least, you will need a sewer hookup. In some cases, you may not need to install anything at all. If your home is connected to a public sewer system, you likely have a cleanout in your yard. As long as it’s legal in your area, you can pop the cap off this cleanout and hook your RV up to that—though if you’re far away from it, you might need a really long hose and a macerator pump to move the sewage along.

If you have a septic tank, the process could be just the same. However, you may find that there isn’t a cleanout to dump into. In this case, you may need to install a 4-inch pipe upward and out from the septic tank in order to give yourself something to dump into.

The final option is to add an RV-specific in-ground septic tank. This is both expensive and much more difficult. Therefore, we only recommend it as a last resort. If this is what you need to do, you will likely want to bring in a contractor to bury the tank, and you will definitely need to bring someone in to pump that tank from time to time.

Don’t love any of these sewer options? You might consider switching to a composting toilet. Learn more about composting toilets here.

Need to know more about what RV hookups are and how they work? This post covers all the RV hookup basics so you can go into this project knowing your stuff.

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