One of the most common questions and concerns I receive is about the RV electrical system. Most people ask if I can explain the RV electrical system in simple to understand terms. The electrical system in your RV can seem complex and confusing until you have a basic understanding of how it works. Your RV actually has three separate electrical systems. It has a 12-volt DC automotive system, a 12-volt DC coach system, and a 120 volt AC coach system. We are primarily concerned with the 12-volt DC and 120 volt AC coach systems.

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2. What Kind Of Outlet Is At Full Hookup Rv Site Images
3. What Kind Of Outlet Is At Full Hookup Rv Sites

The majority of campgrounds you go to will provide you with an external 120 volt electric source to plug into. Your RV has a heavy-duty power cord that is normally about 25 feet long. Depending on the type of RV you have, or purchase, it will either be a 30 Amp or 50 Amp system. When you plug into the proper campground electrical source it will supply power throughout your RV. You must have a 120 Volt AC power source if you are going to use the microwave, roof air conditioner, the refrigerator in the electric mode and the 120 Volt electrical outlets. For the most part everything else in the camper works off of 12-volt DC power. When you are plugged in at the campground a portion of the 120 volt AC current is converted to 12-volt DC current for the items in the RV that work off of 12 volts. Some of these items are the overhead lights, the furnace fan, and the fan over the range, the vent fan in the bathroom, the water pump, LP gas leak detector, stereo, and the refrigerator when it’s in the LP gas mode. If you look at the RV’s power distribution panel you will see circuit breakers like you have in your house for the 120-volt AC side, and automotive style blade fuses for the 12-volt DC side.

For DIY electricians to those who don't know 30 from 50 Amp plugs. We cover into RV electricty, from 30A, 50A, adapters, wiring and camping. What kind of 'camping' are you doing that you. Later on I bought an RV with a built-in generator, and that's been my plan B ever since - I keep it full. You will most likely need to set your RV up to be able to connect to the standard 3-prong household plug you use at home. Since your RV will need at least a 30/50 Amp hookup to power the rig, you'll be limited in what you can run connected to a home's 15/20 Amp electrical outlet. Through Facebook, I have found thousands of cool places to park my RV with full RV hookups. Some have been offered for free or in exchange for some type of easy chore. I usually never pay more than $250 for my monthly RV Hookups, and I even stayed for two months in Mesa Arizona one winter for only $100 living the cheap RV lifestyle.

If you are not plugged into an external power source you can still use the 12-volt DC system if you have a 12-volt deep cycle marine battery on your unit. As long as the battery or batteries are charged you can use everything in the RV except the microwave, roof air conditioner, the refrigerator in the electric mode and the electrical outlets. If you have a motorhome, or you’re going to purchase a motorhome, it will have a battery for the automotive system and an auxiliary battery for the coach system. The coach battery is charged whenever the motorhome is running; the generator is running, or when it’s plugged into an external electrical source.

Before we go any further I would like to offer a few basic battery maintenance tips to keep your RV batteries in top operating condition.

First of all never work around batteries with an open flame. Vapors from the batteries can ignite, causing serious damage. To prevent the possibility of arcing turn off any 12 Volt power sources and disconnect the negative battery cable before working on or around the batteries. If you have a maintenance free battery you will not be able to perform some of these checks. The color of the eye on the battery will indicate the condition of a maintenance free battery. Consult your owner’s manual for more information on maintenance free batteries.

Constant charging depletes electrolyte levels in batteries. Inspect electrolyte levels and add distilled water as required. Add water until it reaches the split-level marker in each cell. Do not overfill.

Inspect all battery cable and terminal connections. Keep all connections clean and tight. Do not over tighten. When battery terminals are clean and tight on the battery post spray the terminals with a battery terminal protector to prevent corrosion.

To clean the battery itself use a diluted baking soda and water solution. After cleaning the battery flush it thoroughly with water.

Check the state of charge and keep batteries fully charged. Specific gravity readings for a charged battery should be between 1.215 & 1.250. If you remove the batteries for storage charge them to a full charge and check them periodically during storage. Re-charge as necessary. Follow proper charging instructions for the type of battery. Deep cycle batteries require a lower amp charge over a longer period of time.

There are numerous electronic devices and equipment in your RV that can drain the coach battery when you’re not using the RV. Some examples are; the TV antenna booster, the LP gas leak detector, clocks in radios, or just leaving a 12-volt light on by accident. If your RV is not equipped with a battery disconnect switch you can purchase a battery disconnect, from an RV dealer, that can be installed directly on the battery post. When you aren’t using the RV or have no requirement for the coach battery you simply raise a lever and disconnect the battery. A battery disconnect can be installed on the chassis battery too.

Lastly, if you are not comfortable performing the maintenance on your RV batteries have it done by a qualified service center.

Motorhomes also provide an additional source of 120 volt AC power with an onboard power generator. This unique feature offers you the convenience of 120-volt AC power whenever you need it, making the unit fully self-contained. The fuel supply for the generator comes directly from the motor home fuel tank. The system is designed so that when the fuel tank gets to 1/4 tank full the generator will stop running so it doesn’t use all of the fuel in the motor home. Some motor homes have an automatic switch over from an external power supply to the generator. Other motor homes require you to plug the motor home power cord into a generator receptacle on the motor home to use the generator.

I would also like to give you a few tips about RV electricity. To start with a 30 Amp system is the most common on RV’s. The plug on your RV is a large three-prong, heavy duty 30 Amp, 120-volt plug.

Most campgrounds you go to will provide you with a 30 Amp outlet that your RV power cord will plug directly into. If you go to a campground that has a regular house type outlet there are adapters that you can use to go from your RV plug to the house type outlet. When you do this you are plugging into a 15 Amp or 20 Amp power source. This means you will be limited as to what appliances you can run in your RV. It is even possible to damage some appliances if they are not getting the required amperage to operate properly. Let’s say for example you plug into a 15 Amp outlet and you are using a small appliance that is drawing 5 Amps, that leaves you with 10 Amps. Now you turn the roof air conditioner on and when the air conditioner compressor engages it needs about 13 Amps, but it’s not available, and it damages the air conditioner compressor.

Even with a 30 Amp service you need to be selective about what you are using. If you try to use too much the RV will let you know by tripping a breaker in the distribution box and hopefully no harm will be done. There is a short formula that may help you with this. 30 Amps X 120 Volts = 3600 watts. This is the total amount of power you can use before you overload the system. Think of it like this, with 3600 watts you could use 36 one hundred watt light bulbs. When you turn on the 37th light you will probably trip a breaker.

It is also a good idea to take a voltmeter along with you that you can plug right into one of the outlets. Campground electricity varies depending on the demand placed on it. If everybody is running his or her air conditioner the voltage may drop below an acceptable level, and it would be wise to wait until it is restored back to normal. You can glance at the voltmeter every time you walk by it and save yourself untimely and costly repairs to your RV appliances. Voltage below 105 volts or above 135 volts can damage electronic equipment and appliances.

Most appliances will tell you what the required wattage or amperage is to run the appliance. Here is the amperage draw for some common RV appliances and electronics.

• Coffee maker - 8.3 amps
• Converter - 8 amps
• Hair dryer - 9 to 12 amps
• Microwave - 13 amps
• Refrigerator - 2.8 amps
• Roof a/c 13.5 amps
• TV - 1.5 amps
• Toaster - 8 to 10 amps
• VCR - 2 amps
• Electric skillet- 6 to 12 amps

Hopefully this will provide you with a better basic understanding of how your RV electrical system works.

Happy Camping

GeneratorGrid.com is an independent review business. I am not affiliated with any manufacturers and do not accept paid reviews. When you buy through my links, I may earn a commission which helps me purchase more generators for testing. - Scott Krager

Last Updated on August 22, 2020 by

This calculator will help you estimate what size generator you need for your house, RV, camper, or AC unit so you know what kind of generator to purchase.

Table of Contents

• Starting Watts Vs Running Watts
• What Are Other Factors That May Affect Wattage Demands?

The numbers I used are averages, they may vary depending on your equipment.

To calculate what size generator wattage you need, change the “How many?” field

When shopping for a generator, one of the most important factors is going to be the wattage capacity. After all, you are buying a generator to handle a certain amount of appliances or electronics plugged into it. To ensure that you are getting the right size generator for your specific application, you will need to calculate the wattage you will need.

Today, we are going to break down how many watts you will need for different scenarios, as well as educate you on a few things you will need to know when purchasing a generator.

How Do I Calculate My Wattage Needs?

Calculating the wattage needs of your generator is easy with our generator wattage calculator. Simply make a list of all of the appliances you plan on using with your generator to start adding up the wattage demands.

You can find out how many watts each appliance will use by looking for a manufacturer decal on the appliance, or by contacting the manufacturer. Once you have these wattages, you can add them into our calculator to find out exactly how many starting watts and surge watts you will need.

It is always a good idea to find a generator that has more wattage than you need. This allows you to not use your generator at full capacity which can increase wear and tear, but it also allows for increased usage from older appliances. As appliances grow older, they become less efficient, meaning they are going to start using more watts. A refrigerator that may have once used 800 watts could possibly be using 900-1000 watts, depending on it’s condition.

How Many Watts Do I Need For Home Back Up Power?

One of the most popular uses for a portable generator is home back up power. In the event of a power outage from a storm or blackout, one of your only options for powering up your home appliances is a generator. Since each home is different, finding a generator that can power your needed appliances may vary, but we can give you a general idea of what to look for.

If you have gone through power outages before from a severe storm, you may know how long it takes to normally restore power. For those who are prone to more devastating storms such as a hurricane or tornado, your needs may differ as you will need a longer lasting generator or maybe even a dual fuel if gasoline gets hard to find.

The first thing that you are going to want to do is to figure out which appliances you are going to want to power during a blackout. This is usually going to include a radio or TV, a small refrigerator, and a microwave to get you through a few hours or even one day. If you think you are going to need to power up an A/C unit or furnace, you are going to need to look into a higher wattage generator.

Once you have all of those appliances listed out, figure out how many watts they use and plug them into our calculator. For most applications a generator with 2,000-5,000 watts should be sufficient enough to get you through a couple of days of power loss.

How Many Watts Do I Need For A Job Site?

Another common use for a portable generator is using them on a job site. Many job sites can go for months without electricity being set up. This requires the use of a portable generator to get power to tools, lights, and other electronics you may need. The best part of using a generator on a job site is that the noise level is usually not a deciding factor.

However, there are two huge factors you want to take into consideration when purchasing a portable generator for your job site: wattage rating and build quality.

Looking at power ratings first, you are going to want to take into consideration the type of tools or lights that will be used with your generator. For light duty tools such as drills, saws, and small lights, a 2,000-3,000 watt generator should be more than enough. If you plan on using multiple tools at once or some heavier duty tools, a 3,000-6,000 watt generator may be more useful.

As far as build quality goes, there are going to be certain features you will want if you are going to be using your generator outdoors on a job site. With generators having multiple outlets integrated onto the side of the generator, you will want to find one that has plastic outlet covers. These covers act as a seal for the outlet which protect them from dirt, debris, and moisture. You may also want to take a look at the wheels as well. Rubber, inflatable wheels will be easier to maneuver over harsher terrains when compared to solid plastic wheels. Lastly, finding a generator with a rugged roll cage will keep it protected from falling debris.

How Many Watts Do I Need For Recreational Use?

Using a portable generator for recreational use can fall under many different categories. They can be used for camping, RV power, tailgating and more. To help give you a better idea of what you may need, let’s look at each of these a little closer.

For camping, not in an RV, you may need a generator that is going to power a griddle, radio, TV, or any other electronic that you may want to take with you. For this type of use, you can usually get by with a 1,000-2,000 watt generator. You will want to look for one that is quiet and has USB outlets to charge up cell phones, cameras, and other small electronics you have brought with you.

If you choose to go camping with an RV, you are going to most likely need a larger generator. An RV is going to need enough power for running appliances, AC or heating, lights, and other items built into the RV. For this setup, I would suggest anywhere from 2,000-8,000 watts depending on the size of the RV.

Lastly, tailgating with a generator may be something some have never thought of, but if you plan on powering a TV or radio for pregame shows, you are going to need a generator. Now the size of the generator that you will need will ultimately depend on how much you plan on powering up but for the most part, a 2,500 watt generator should be more than enough.

Using A Parallel Capable Generator

If you are unsure if you need a larger generator at this time, you can look for a generator that has parallel capabilities. A generator that is parallel capable means that you can hook up another generator of the same model for twice the power. In some instances, a parallel cable is sold that has larger outlets that can be powered with both generators such as a 30 or 50 amp outlet.

This allows you to purchase say a 2,200 watt generator for now and when you are needing more power, you can purchase another similar generator that can hook up in parallel for 4,400 watts. This is also great for those who would rather have two smaller generators to use in different places but have the ability to use them together to power something larger.

Not all generators are parallel capable, so it is important to look for this feature if you plan on going this route. You will also want to double check to see if the generator comes with the parallel cable or if you have to purchase it separately.

Dual Fuel Capabilities

Another great feature when it comes to portable generators is dual fuel, or hybrid generators. These generators are able to run off of gasoline or propane as their source of fuel. This allows you to have the versatility to use either or if you run out of your primary fuel source.

For example, if you are using gasoline and your run time is 8 hours, you can switch over to propane when you run out. This will allow for longer run times between refueling and is a great way to be versatile during a natural disaster when gasoline may be hard to find.

It is important to take note of the different run times and wattage capabilities when using each power source. Propane does have a longer run time when using a 40 lb bottle, but the wattage capacities are going to be lower.

All in all, a hybrid generator is going to give you great benefits, especially for those who are looking at running their generators for an extended period of time.

Starting Watts Vs Running Watts

When purchasing a generator, it is also important to know the difference between starting watts and running watts. Oftentimes, these are confused, causing people to overload and damage their generators. The last thing you want to do is spend a lot of money on a new generator only to have it not be able to power up the things you need. Let’s take a look at the two and dive into the differences.

Starting Watts

Starting watts are exactly what they are named to be, the watts needed for the 2-3 seconds of extra wattage needs from motor driven appliances. This is going to be for items such as refrigerators, large tools, and other big appliances. This is going to be the higher number on the generator’s wattage ratings due to more wattage needs when an appliance starts up.

Many appliances are going to have this rating on their wattage decal, but for others, you may need to call the manufacturer to find out the exact wattage number. You will not want to guess if you don’t have to as you can easily overload your generator if you are not careful.

Running Watts

Running watts are going to be pretty self explanatory as well. It is going to be the maximum number of watts that your generator can provide when your appliances are running. This will of course be after the first couple of seconds peak watts (starting watts).

This is going to be the most common rating that most appliances will have listed on the appliance as it is the most important. When appliances advertise their wattage rating, you can guarantee that they will be referring to the running watts.

What Are Other Factors That May Affect Wattage Demands?

Although you may have gotten everything figured out and planned out, there are a few things you may want to take into consideration that could affect wattage demands.

Age Of Appliances

As appliances get older, they become less efficient. Whether it’s electronic breakdown, unmaintained wear items, or simply getting old, appliances can start to use more energy over the years. This needs to be taken into consideration when purchasing a generator for specific larger appliances.

Heavier Than Expected Loads

While this shouldn’t be too big of a problem, for items such as a/c systems and furnaces, they may need to use more power in extreme weather conditions. Most appliances these days will not have that problem, but it is something you may want to look at.

Improper Extension Cord Usage

Last but not least, using the wrong type of extension cord can cause damage to your generator. Be sure to check with your generator manufacturer to ensure you are using the recommended extension cord to prevent overload or damage.

What Kind Of Outlet Is At Full Hookup Rv Site Near

Conclusion

What Kind Of Outlet Is At Full Hookup Rv Site Images

I hope that this generator wattage calculator guide has helped you get a better understanding of what size generator you may need. It is important to remember that you need to take the time to research each appliance and tool that you will be using on your generator to ensure that they are all calculated to prevent overloading your generator.

What Kind Of Outlet Is At Full Hookup Rv Sites

Now that you have got all of your watts calculated, you should feel confident enough to make a smart purchasing decision. Get out there and enjoy your new generator!