RV Electrical 101: RV Shore Power and RV Battery Basics (Part 1)

Рет қаралды 14,559

2 жыл бұрын

In todays video, we’re going to cover the basics of RV electrical hookups and RV batteries. We talk about RV hookups, shore power, RV adapters, and 12 Volt RV battery systems and the different types of RV batteries, including lead acid batteries, AGM batteries, and Lithium batteries. We also discuss some of the differences of a 30 amp RV vs a 50 amp RV, as well as introduce the concept of an RV surge protector and how important an RV surge protector is.
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Пікірлер: 27

@kathymolberg6893 2 жыл бұрын

Informative! I could hear the funny bird that lives in the neighbor’s palm tree!

@this-mobile-life 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, those birds are crazy loud!

@graylenlimme1099 2 ай бұрын

Just watched your video on RV electrical systems and surge protector. I hit the like button and also subscribed to your channel. The odd thing was I noticed was I'm your 666 subscriber 👹 LOL!!

@this-mobile-life 5 күн бұрын

Welcome aboard and thanks for subscribing!!

@AD-xr4bv 2 ай бұрын

Trying to understand if I need an inverter or converter in my trailer. It will be hooked up to a generator 90% of the time. At night I’ll turn the generator off and still need some interior lights, outlet for a phone charger etc. The trailer will need AC and DC power but I would like to charge the batteries while the generator is running and when driving down the road through the trailer/truck plug if that’s possible. Does this require an inverter or converter? Thank you 👍

@_DivineTruth_is_Home_ 9 ай бұрын

Thank you ❤ Question: when I’m plugged into shore power, what do I need to know about my batteries? I assumed, the batteries would not be used at all and just the power from the park. What battery maintenance do I do when plugged in? 😊

@this-mobile-life 5 ай бұрын

Hello! The answer to this question somewhat depends on how your RV’s electrical system is setup. In general, whether you have a converter or inverter, when hooked up to shore power your batteries will be charging or kept topped off. Certain things in your RV will always run from your batteries, like your lights for example (12 volt). But, when hooked up to shore power, the use of 12 volt electrical devices such as lights will either pull from your batteries or from your converter. Either way, the shore power will normally replenish the power pulled from the batteries and/or just convert the shore power to 12 volt to run these devices. As far as maintenance goes, this also depends on what type of batteries you have. If you have lithium batteries, they are pretty much maintenance free, outside of checking the connections from time to time to make sure they are clean and tight on the batteries. If you have more traditional lead acid batteries, you’ll also need to top off the distilled water in the batteries from time to time.

@warped7724 2 ай бұрын

You didn’t show how you plugged the van the 30 amp cord

@rebeccahuffman5978 Жыл бұрын

16ft RV motorhome, would be a 30amp?

@this-mobile-life Жыл бұрын

Hello! I would say that is more likely to be a 30 AMP RV than a 50 AMP RV, just due to the size. A really easy way to tell, or at least get a general idea is how many air conditioners are on the roof. If more than one, almost guaranteed to be a 50 AMP RV.

@alanbarlow5653 3 ай бұрын

Do you need batteries, or can I disconnect them while on shore power??

@this-mobile-life 3 ай бұрын

Hey. This really depends on how your RV is built. The batteries often run your low voltage (12V) devices such as lights, control panels, etc. Some RVs have a convertor that converts shore power into 12V while plugged in, while also charging the battery. Normally, the battery(s) are left connected all the time while using the RV in most RVs.

@brandoncox5734 Жыл бұрын

? Is do u have to have battery if u have sore line

@this-mobile-life Жыл бұрын

Hello! You don't have to have batteries if you're always connected to shore power, but you would need a DC converter to run the DC electronics in the RV if you have no batteries. Most RVs are going to have either at least one battery from the factory, or at least an AC to DC converter.

@jo-annewilkinson5663 3 ай бұрын

What if I have a 15 amp, is there an adapter to a 30?

@this-mobile-life 3 ай бұрын

Hey, yes. They make a 15 amp (regular household plug) to 30 amp adapter. Here is a link: amzn.to/3vA4Ahs and a 15 to 50 amp here: amzn.to/4apoJpy Just make sure to adjust your battery charger down to work with the 15 amp outlet.

@jo-annewilkinson5663 3 ай бұрын

@@this-mobile-life thank you so much.

@this-mobile-life 3 ай бұрын

You're welcome!

@uncledave287 Жыл бұрын

Is it's o k to have a battery charger hooked to your Camper battery and have it plugged into shore power?

@this-mobile-life Жыл бұрын

Hey, do you mean to have a battery charger plugged into shore power to charge your batteries because you don’t have an onboard charger/inverter? Or do you mean to have your battery charging through your onboard charger/inverter and to have an extra battery charger hooked up at the same time? You shouldn’t need a battery charger if your RV is plugged into shore power. What problem are you trying to solve?

@uncledave287 Жыл бұрын

@This Mobile Life thanks for your reply. So I have the inverter built in but I didn't have the 30amp to 15amp adapter at the time to plug into my house so I hooked a deep cycle charger to my battery and I can't remember if I disconnected my battery charger before I plugged my camper into shore power and I wanted to make sure I didn't damage anything in the camper or accidentally backfeed power back into my house by having it plugged into my house and a external charger on the battery.

@this-mobile-life Жыл бұрын

Hey @Uncle Dave. I’m not an electrician or electrical engineer so I can’t 100% say I know the answer to your question. However, I would assume you’re not going to be back feeding power to your house. Here’s my reasoning….on our system, we have multiple items providing power/charge to our batteries (shore power, generator, solar, etc). Each of thee power inputs will turn off and stop putting power into the batteries when the batteries reach a full charge. Also, when full, our solar does not feed power back to the shore power hookup and the batteries do not put power back out to any of the devices that charge them. That being said, I have no idea how your deep cycle charger works, if it turns off once the batteries reach a full charge, or what safety measures it has in place. My guess is you’re fine, but might want to check your charger specs and details. If anyone else reading this has input for Uncle Dave, please chime in! Thanks!

@uncledave287 Жыл бұрын

@This Mobile Life Thanks sooo much for taking the time to help me out and your advice is definitely assuring and helpful! I will definitely be asking you more questions since I am new to campers.

@this-mobile-life Жыл бұрын

We look forward to your future questions and comments! Thanks!

@cottonwood4935 28 күн бұрын

You do not get 100 amps from a 50 amp breaker.

@this-mobile-life Күн бұрын

Correct….well sort of….with a 50 amp RV hookup, you are pulling two hot legs (line 1 and line 2) connected to double pole 50 amp breaker (two 50 amp breakers switched together). These then share one common neutral and one ground. In effect, an RV setup with 50 amp hookups, has two 50 amp legs or lines. These legs are spilt in the RV’s breaker box to serve different loads in the RV, such as multiple air conditioners and appliances. In effect there is 100 amps of total electrical service available on a properly setup 50 amp RV hookup, but it up to the distribution panel and wiring configuration in the RV to properly distribute.