For example, you may only have a 50-amp cord at a campground that only offers 30-amp hookups. Fortunately, by learning more about the difference between 30-amp RV plugs vs. 50-amp and what your RV needs, you can ensure you know the right electrical choices for your RV wherever your travels may take you.
-WHAT ARE AMPS?
Amperes or amps are a way to measure an electrical current. An electrical current is the speed at which electrons flow through a conductor. Another way to think of current is as water flowing through a hose. Amps measure the flow of electrons through this conductor at any given time.
-THE ELECTRICAL HOOKUP PROCESS
When you connect your RV to the hookup at a campground or shore power, you plug it into an outlet that provides electricity to the camper. The most common hookup options at campgrounds are 30 and 50 amps. Larger RVs generally need more power, whereas smaller RVs require less power.
-WHAT IS A 30-AMP VS. 50-AMP RV SERVICE?
The main difference between 30 and 50-amp RVs is the plug and wiring. A 50-amp RV has more outlets and wiring, so more power goes to each outlet. Since a 50-amp RV has access to more energy, it can run a different set of appliances. For example, 30-amp RVs typically cannot operate a fridge as it requires large amounts of electricity.
If your RV has multiple air conditioners, it will also need to be a 50-amp RV. While a 30-amp RV can operate an air conditioner, it can only run one at a time because of the required power. If you use an adapter to run a 50-amp RV from a pedestal that only offers 30 amps, you can only run one air conditioner. If you try to operate more than one air conditioner, you will trip the breaker due to insufficient power from the pedestal.
-AVERAGE AMP USAGE OF MAJOR RV APPLIANCES
Unlike your home, where you can run multiple appliances simultaneously, your RV can likely only handle a set number of devices. Understanding the energy draw of specific appliances and which ones draw more energy than others can prevent overloading the circuits and causing the breakers to trip or a fuse to blow.
Some of the average amp draws for your RV appliances include:
5 amps: Refrigerators
10 amps: Microwave
10 amps: Electric heating element for water heater
15 amps: Air conditioner
Some other appliances that may result in significant amp usage include televisions, space heaters, hair dryers and onboard converters. Any items with heating elements, like curling irons and electric skillets, also draw large amounts of power and may require you to turn something else off to operate them without tripping the circuit.
When you add all of these amps together, it is easy to see you are quickly approaching 30 amps, which is the threshold for many RVs. Knowing the average electrical usage of major appliances is vital to help you avoid completely overloading your circuits.
-HOW TO TELL IF YOU HAVE A 30 VS. 50-AMP RV
The easiest way to tell if you have a 30 or 50-amp RV is by looking at the RV plug. A 30-amp plug will have three prongs, with one prong for the 120-volt wire, one for the neutral wire and one for the ground wire. With a 50-amp plug, you will see four prongs, with two for the 120-volt cables, one for the neutral wire and one for the ground wire.
Knowing the difference between these two plug types is essential, as the pedestal where you plug in your RV may have multiple outlets or only one unlabeled outlet. By knowing which amp type your RV needs, you can quickly gauge if the pedestal will work for your RV.
-WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO KNOW HOW MANY AMPS YOUR RV NEEDS?
Understanding how much amperage your RV can run is vital for staying safe while camping. If you run more amps from your rig than you have coming in from your power source, then you can trip the breaker which is a protection fail-safe that keeps your wires from catching on fire. Once a breaker trips once, it will be more likely to trip again, and if it trips too often, it can damage the wires and put you at a greater risk for fire. The breaker can also stop working, which is an even more dangerous fire hazard.
-WHY CAN I USE MORE ELECTRICITY IN A 50-AMP RV?
A 30-amp outlet supplies your RV with 3,600 watts. Appliances like air conditioners require 1,000 to 3,500 watts to start the machine and an additional 1,200 to 1,700 watts to run the machine. Other standard devices, such as a microwave, require 600 to 1,500 watts, and a laptop may need 220 watts. Once you combine all these watts, a 30-amp RV offers some limitations on the number of electrical devices you can use simultaneously.
A 50-amp outlet, however, provides an RV with 12,000 watts through the two 120-volt wires. Since the 50-amp outlet offers more energy, it can operate multiple devices simultaneously, like air conditioners, a television and a microwave, without putting the circuit breaker in danger of tripping.
-WHAT HAPPENS IF I EXCEED MY RV’S AMPERAGE?
While it is essential to know the average amp draws for appliances in your RV, it is also important to understand mistakes happen. Say you have the air conditioner running while you turn on the microwave, and your child decides to watch television. Everything turns off when they turn on the television due to the breaker tripping.
If this is the first time this happens, you do not need to worry. However, if you consistently trip the breaker, you should reconsider your electricity usage habits, as tripping the breaker too much can lead to severe damage.
