For an avid RVer, the RV is either a moving home or a permanent one. For any place to be a home, it would need to have all the amenities that make living in it convenient.
For one, you will require a nice heater to ensure that it remains warm and provides you with a wonderful warm shower when the temperature outside is chilling, a microwave, a fridge for your needs, an air conditioner as well as any other appliance that can make your life easier and better.
One of the highest recurring costs associated with owning and living in an RV is utility costs. For this reason, you must take a deeper look at how much you could be spending. The aim of this article is to discover just how much electricity an RV uses up in a month.
Having the aforementioned amenities all in an RV can be good, however, they also require power. The majority of these appliances can run using electric power. The electric power in this regard can come from a generator, battery, or directly from the electrical hook-ups available on campgrounds.
What are the electrical requirements of an RV?
Utilizing electricity regardless of being in an RV or in a traditional home should be seen as a responsible duty.
You will have to pay close attention to your usage, given that electricity as a utility comes at a cost, however, the manner in which it is used, depends on you.
The majority of appliances in an RV would require quite a bit of energy and when you choose to use them for an extended period of time, it could cause your utility bill to climb up.
This is why you have to be extremely careful about how much electricity you use in your RV.
Typically, an RV has two electrical systems operating, with one being a 120V and the other being a 12V.
The 12V is powered by a DC battery which can be used to run a few of the appliances. The battery gets charged once it is connected to an electrical system.
The 120V in this situation is either a direct electrical connection or the generator. it is also possible to utilize an inverter that can transform the 12V gotten from the battery into 120V.
When doing this, however, it is important to note just how your battery is discharging.
Generally, RVs have 30 amp or 50-amp power cables. In most campgrounds, RVers are like to find the two power cable ratings, however, a select few might utilize on the 30 amps.
In the event that you are in such a campground, it would be best to utilize an adapter. This adapter can be purchased for about $35. One thing to note is that while staying at campgrounds provides you access to electricity, the privilege isn’t without cost.
Are there charges incurred for using electricity at RV parks?
When you aren’t parked at a private or public campground, you will have to source for your own electricity.
There are numerous options you can select from, however, these would require careful planning and special attention. When you are parked at a campground, you don’t have to worry about sourcing for electricity, however, this can cause your electricity bill to rise.
This happens because the campground charges the local rate for electricity and these charges are classified as commercial usage, not residential.
The amount of electricity you use in your RV typically depends on your appliances in your RV, as well as how heavy or light your usage is.
If your electrical appliances are heavily used, then you should adjust your electricity estimate accordingly.
As stated earlier, campgrounds tend to use local rates, so the amount you will pay for electricity varies from the campground to campground. That being said, paying close attention to your usage can help you save money.
What is the average electricity usage of an RV on a campground?
An RV parked on a campground is likely to be metered and the charges would largely depend on the Rv’s size, the usage of appliances, and the number of appliances used.
The average cost of electricity incurred through average usage, shouldn’t be more than $100, however, if you do not pay attention to your usage, it is possible to spend more than $200.
This means you will have to make your mind upon the amount you can afford to spend on electricity. Doing this will involve conducting some research on the costs of electricity in that area, as well as search for ways to limit your electricity usage.
For instance, an RV that utilizes a tv, 2 air conditioning units and microwave in an area with averaged priced electricity, the complete cot might be $110.
That same RV with the same appliances might cost more than $150 in the wintertime seeing as there will be an increase in the need for heating.
That being said, it also is dependent on the weather of the day, as cold weather could cause you to use your air conditioning system a lot more.
The same is also true for warm weather, as parking and hooking your electrical systems to a campground in the middle of a heatwave could cause you to use your air conditioning unit a lot more, raising your average electrical expense.
A way to ensure that you know your limit is to take down the reading from the campground’s meter as soon as you arrive.
Ensure that you keep an eye on it. This can help provide accurate information to ensure that you are only paying for what you have used.
This is because some RVers have been charged higher electricity fees at a campground. This typically happens when a bill is sent to the RVer. Monitoring the meter can help you steer clear of this problem.
How many kWh or Kilowatt hours per day?
One of the most asked questions that people new to RVing ask is that they want to know how many kilowatt-hours an RV uses every day.
While most people would like a definite number, the truth is, the number of kWh you use depends not just on your usage, but your location and the appliances available in your RV. The season is an important factor to consider.
There is a sure-fire way to know how many kWh your RV could use per day. The formula is ohms law, with W=A*V or Watts = Amperage multiplied by Volts.
Those individuals new to RVing might discover that they have been spending quite a lot of money on electricity. This is because the RV newbie hasn’t learned to minimize their electricity spend.
Things such as air conditioning, heat usage, and heavy appliance use can mean a monthly electricity bill of around $200. The average experienced RVer is unlikely to incur that large an amount in electricity charges.
When it comes to electricity bills for an RV, any amount between $60 to $90 can be perfect for a small family RV parked in a locality with average electricity costs.
This translates to the average kWh of around 14 to 20 kWh is charged at a rate of $0.12 for every kWh.
That being said, there are individuals with RVs that do not incur a charge as large as that on their electricity bills. This because they have chosen to live a lifestyle that requires as little electricity as possible.
What is the average rate of electricity consumption by an RV?
Now we have come to perhaps the most important question of this article; what the average electricity consumption rate of an RV is.
For those interested in the answer, you simply have to calculate your kWh per day and multiply it by a month.
This means if you have, for instance, a 30 kWh per day usage rating, it would mean that your monthly rate should be 900 kWh every month.
With an average kWh price of $0.12, that translates to $108. It is important to note that this is an average and actual usage would depend on the factors listed above such as your appliances, your usage, and the prevailing weather condition.
How does one save electricity in an RV?
Choosing to save electricity, is not something quite a lot of people do, especially people new to the RV lifestyle.
There are so many reasons why saving electricity is the right thing to do. Not only does it help you keep more of your money, but you also do your part to help cut down emissions.
If you are interested in how to cut down the amount of electricity you use, which has the added benefit of saving you money in the long run, you simply have to frequently read the meter at the campground to ensure that you verify the numbers when payment is due.
While not widespread, mistakes are possible and it is always best to verify.
