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Last Updated on August 24, 2024 by Paul Clayton
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Is It Bad To Leave Your RV Plugged In All The Time?
This concern primarily stems from the potential impact on the vehicle’s battery life and overall electrical system. Keeping the RV plugged in constantly might seem like a convenient solution to maintain power, but it can also lead to some complications.
- Constant Power Supply: Ensures power for refrigeration or air conditioning systems.
- Battery Maintenance: Helps keep batteries fully charged for optimal performance.
- Use a Surge Protector: Safeguard against damaging power surges.
- Monitor Your Battery: Regular checks prevent battery overcharging issues.
If you are new to RVing or have never been to an RV park, RVs might be standalone vehicles that roam free. However, the proliferation of state parks and campgrounds beg to differ.
If you were to drive into an RV campground, you would discover that every RV is plugged in. This might make you wonder if RVs have to be plugged in constantly. They don’t need to be continuously connected, but they usually are.
When an RV is plugged in, it can offer supplementary functionality. There are numerous, varying sources to which an RV can be connected. Most RVers ensure their RV is connected to shore power and an input hose for water.
What is an RV Plugged Into?
There are a couple of outlets that an RV can be plugged into at a campground:
- A power cable to connect to shore power/grid power
- A water input hose to provide fresh water to the RV’s freshwater tank
- A sewer output hose to drain your waste into the municipal system
- A cable hook-up can be connected to the camper to provide cable tv
When you ask people what it means to plug your RV in, most of them would consider the power cable first. A power cable enables an RV to use the electrical grid at a campsite via an electric meter.
A sewer and water hose can also be connected from an RV. When plugged in, the water hose provides an endless freshwater supply for the RV, and the sewer hose connection means that wastewater can be eliminated without going to a dump station.
Specific campsites and RV parks also have cable hook-ups that can be connected to RVs that come with TVs.
While having a TV might seem strange to sure campers, having a cable hook-up can be great for those vacation days that get rained out and for full-time RVers who don’t want to spend every moment outside.
How is an RV Plugged Into the Grid?
RVs typically run on a 30 or 50-amp power system. A 30 amp-rated system provides a maximum of 3,600 watts, while a 50 amp-rated system provides over three times that amount at 12,000 watts.
To connect your RV to shore power, you will ideally use a 30 amp rated plug to connect to a 30 amp rated electric meter, which then connects to a 30 amp rated electrical system. It is the same process for a 50 amp-rated electrical system.
Nevertheless, this is not always the case, as you might discover that the RV park does not have a similar setup to your RV. You might have an RV that runs on 50 amps, and the meter at the RV park runs on 30 amps or vice versa.
Should this happen, you won’t be able to connect to your RV directly. You must get an adapter that enables you to run the necessary amp. It is important to note that using an adapter does not affect your system’s wattage.
Connecting your RV’s 50 amp-rated electrical system to a 30 amp-rated meter will not get more wattage than 3,600 watts.
The lower amp’s wattage will always be the norm. You should also note that an RV park does not typically have an adapter, so you must always purchase your own and have it with you.
Plugging into the electrical grid is not the only way your RV can be powered. Your batteries, so long as they are not flat, can power your RV and its appliances.
Additionally, you can charge your RV’s batteries in ways other than connecting to the grid. Wind turbines, generators, and solar panels can all be used to assess the batteries.
An Extension Can Come in Handy
If, for some reason, you are unable to plug your RV at a campsite, you can try to find out if the meter has a standard outlet. Depending on the meter, it is possible to use an extension cord to connect to the power grid.
A regular home extension cord typically is either 20 or 15 amps.
Additionally, having an extension cord on hand can be a great way to use electricity without connecting your RV.
Connecting at Home
The RV park is not the only place you can connect an RV. This can be done at your home or someone else’s. You will require a different adapter to connect using their 20- or 15-amp outlet.
One thing to note is that while it is possible to directly adapt your RV’s 30 amp rated to a home’s 15 amps system, the 50 amp rated system has to be connected first to an adapter rated 30 amps. That adapter is then connected to a 15 amp rate adapter.
Doing this might be OK to get some power in your RV, but you would be severely limited in what you can do or use in your RV. Your RV’s 30 or 50-amp rated system will only be able to run the maximum amp of the house’s system.
This is OK if it is a temporary measure; however, if it is something you aim to do long-term, you might want to have an electrician put in a 30-amp outlet in your home.
A simple way to know if a home outlet is rated 20 or 15 maps is by going to the circuit breaker to find out what the outlet is labeled as.
Notes on Connecting your RV to Shore Power
- It is essential to remember that connecting your RV to the municipal grid does not mean you get unlimited power flowing through your RV. Moreover, it does not mean you can operate any appliance. For example, the campground provides 110 volts, while dryers and washing machines operate on 220 volts. This means you cannot use your laundry appliances while connected this way.
- The watts are another factor that might limit the amount of power you can use in your RV. It is important to remember that a 30 amp-rated system can only work with 3,600 watts. That means you have 3,600 watts available for the whole RV. If you were to concurrently run a microwave, an electric heater, and other high energy-consuming items, you could go over your 3,600 watts limit.
- You should also know that every circuit can only handle a set number of amps. Running too many gadgets and appliances on one circuit while connected to the grid could cause your circuit breaker to trip. If you need to run certain high-energy-consuming appliances such as toasters, microwaves, and blow dryers, ensure they are not run on the same circuit.
- A great way to know what outlets are connected to which circuit is by looking at the map on the circuit breaker box. If the breaker panel is not mapped, you can use the process of elimination to map out the outlets. This can be done by turning one breaker on at a time to discover which outlets it powers.
How is an RV Plugged into the Water and Sewage System?
The majority of RVs come with three tanks that all serve unique purposes. The freshwater tank holds fresh water, while the black and grey tank holds wastewater.
As efficient as these systems can be, they are still inconvenient as they can only store a finite volume of water before you have to get rid of the waste via a dump station.
For these reasons, several campgrounds, RV parks, and national and state parks have hook-up sewage and municipal water outlets.
That being said, not every park comes with a sewage connection. You will, however, find several water-only campgrounds.
To connect your RV to these outlets at a campground, you will require a freshwater hose and a hose for wastewater. You will also need a pressure regulator for your freshwater hose to help regulate the water you get from the municipal outlet.
How is an RV Plugged Into the Cable Outlet?
Few RVers talk about this process, but it is just as crucial as an RV’s other three connections.
To do this, your RV has to have a cable jack. It will typically be situated on the exterior. It would be best to run a cable wire from here to the jack attached to the campground. The campground’s cable jack is generally near the electric meter.
There are instances of certain RV parks providing wired internet. Should the park and your RV have the capability, you must connect your ethernet cable to the outlet near the cable jack.
Should you prefer to connect your TV and gain access to the internet wirelessly, you will have to bring a wireless router and an antenna.
Additionally, you could decide to bring along signal extenders or boosters. These devices help to extend the limited range of satellite television, cellular, and wireless internet.
How Long Can an RV Run Without Being Plugged In?
All recreational vehicles (RVs) come furnished with an auxiliary battery system designed to power the electrical systems when disconnected from a power source.
The question of “How long can an RV run without being plugged in?” depends on several factors, including the battery’s capacity and energy usage.
Generally, an RV can run for 24 hours without being plugged in, extending up to 48 hours with mindful electricity usage.
The auxiliary battery’s charge is replenished by running the engine, ensuring a consistent power supply for the RV’s electrical systems.
Wrapping Up
Leaving your RV plugged in all the time can be a subject of debate among RV owners. However, it may not be necessarily bad when considering the constant power supply, battery maintenance, use of a surge protector, and regular battery monitoring.
A constant power supply is crucial to keep systems such as air conditioning or refrigeration running smoothly. This can especially be beneficial in harsh weather conditions, ensuring comfort within the RV.
Battery maintenance is another critical aspect. Leaving your RV plugged in helps maintain the batteries at full charge, supporting their optimal performance.
However, it’s essential to be mindful of potential overcharging issues, which can damage the batteries. Hence, regular checks are recommended.
Furthermore, power surges can pose a significant risk to your RV’s electrical system. A surge protector can safeguard the system from any potential damage caused by unexpected power surges.
With proper care and precautions, keeping your RV plugged in can offer certain benefits without causing harm to the vehicle’s systems.
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