Camper Electrical Hookup: Diy Guide For A Safe Connection

If you're looking to hook up your camper's electrical system to your house, there are a few things you should know. Firstly, you won't be able to run all your appliances or use electricity 24/7. Your camper will likely need a 30/50 amp hookup, but your home's standard outlet is probably only 15/20 amp. This means you'll be limited in what you can power.

You have two options for hooking up your camper to your house: you can either ensure your camper is fitted with the right hookup when you buy it, or you can install a 30/50 amp hookup at home. If you're visiting a place often, it may be worth installing a hookup at your destination.

If you're hooking up to a standard outlet, you'll need an outdoor extension cord and a 15/20 amp adapter for your camper's electrical hookups. Make sure the extension cord is as short as possible to prevent overheating. Before plugging in, turn off all electrical appliances in your camper and your home's breakers. Then, plug the extension cord into your camper via the adapter, and reset your home's breakers.

If your breaker trips, unplug everything and check that all appliances are off in your camper. Try again, and if it still doesn't work, refer to your camper's manual or contact the manufacturer.

Remember, you'll only be able to use one appliance at a time to avoid overloading your electrical system. Electric-heavy appliances like TVs, DVD players, laptops, and refrigerators can be used simultaneously without overloading a 15/20 amp connection.

Know the difference between 30 and 50 amp systems

The amp service of your RV tells you the maximum amount of current flow your vehicle is designed to handle. 30-amp RVs are built to consume up to 30 amps of current flow, while 50-amp RVs can consume up to 50 amps. If you exceed the current flow, you will trip the breaker or blow a fuse.

The Key Differences

• The Plugs: 30-amp services require a three-pronged plug, while 50-amp services require a four-pronged plug.
• Maximum Wattage: 30-amp services supply up to 3,600 watts of power, while 50-amp services can provide up to 12,000 watts.
• Number of Outlets: 30-amp RVs tend to have fewer outlets than 50-amp RVs.
• The Breaker Panel: 30-amp RVs have a single row of breakers, while 50-amp RVs have a split breaker panel, allowing heavy amp draw components to be split between the two sides of the panel.

Average Amp Draw of RV Appliances

It is important to understand the average amp draw of your RV appliances to avoid overloading a circuit. Here are the average amp draws for some major RV appliances:

• Air Conditioner: ~15 amps
• Electric Heating Element for Water Heater: ~10 amps
• Refrigerator: ~5 amps

Other appliances that draw amperage include televisions, space heaters, coffee makers, hair dryers, and onboard converters. Appliances with heating elements, such as hair dryers and coffee makers, will consume large amounts of power and may require you to shut off other devices to operate safely.

30-Amp vs 50-Amp RV Service and Generator Use

If your RV has a generator, or you are using a portable generator, you need to consider its amperage rating. When running RV appliances on a generator, you may not be able to consume the same amperage as when connected to a power pedestal. For example, a 50-amp RV with a 5,500-watt generator can supply up to 45.83 amps.

30-Amp vs 50-Amp RV Electrical Adapters

There are compatible electrical adapters that allow you to connect a 30-amp RV to a 50-amp pedestal and vice versa. However, there are some limitations:

• A 30-amp RV connected to a 50-amp plug using an adapter will not receive more than 3,600 watts.
• A 50-amp RV using an adapter to connect to a 30-amp service will be limited to 3,600 watts.

Get an adapter

Adapters are available at hardware stores like Home Depot, Lowes, and RV stores, as well as on Amazon. Adapters typically cost between $10 and $30. Be sure to buy an adapter that is specific for a 30 or 50 amp plug, depending on which you have.

If you have a 30 amp RV, you will need a 30 amp to 15 amp adapter to plug into a standard household outlet. If you have a 50 amp RV, you will need a 50 amp to 30 amp adapter to plug into a standard household outlet.

If you are plugging into a standard household outlet, you will also need a heavy-duty extension cord that is long enough to stretch from your RV to the outlet. The safest and most reliable extension cords are the thick ones designed for RVs.

Using the adapter

First, make sure all power is off in your RV. If you accidentally left your RV’s air-conditioner, heater, or other energy-hungry appliances on before plugging into your house, you’ll suck a big amount of power when you plug in. This usually results in a circuit breaker getting tripped and all power getting cut off to your RV.

Next, pick the house outlet you want to use. It is vital that you pick an outlet with a high amp rating to best handle your camper being plugged into it. To figure this out, you’ll need to go to your house’s circuit breaker and find the switch for the outlet you want to plug your RV into. On the switch, you should see a number. That number is the maximum number of amps that that outlet can handle before the breaker trips and you lose power. Be sure the number on that switch is 10 amps or higher. Many household circuits are only 5 amps, which usually won’t provide enough power for your RV.

Now, plug your RV cord or extension cord into the adapter. 30/50 amp RV plugs are much larger than a household outlet, so that’s why we need the adapter to make the connection.

Finally, plug the adapter into your household outlet. Simply plug your RV cord into the female end of the adapter and then plug the male end of the adapter into your house outlet.

Limitations

When you plug your RV into a standard household outlet, you will be limited in the appliances you can use in your RV.

Plugging your camper into your house is great for running small appliances like most RV fridges, the converter that charges your RV batteries, interior lights, and small plug-in electronics (e.g. phone or computer chargers).

Generally speaking, when your camper is plugged into your house, you could run a space heater or a hairdryer or your microwave. But never try to run two power-hungry devices at the same time when your travel trailer is plugged in at home.

If you do, you’ll likely trip your home circuit breaker and cut power to your entire RV.

Plugging your camper into your house generally won’t allow you to simultaneously run power-hungry appliances like space heaters, hairdryers, and microwaves. You can get around this by only running one power-sucking appliance at a time.

That said, you will rarely—if ever—be able to run your air-conditioner while plugged into your house. Air-conditioners usually hog so much power that they’ll trip most household breakers even if they’re the only thing running in your RV.

Turn off all appliances

Turning off all appliances is the first step in hooking up your camper's electrical system to your home. This is crucial because if you accidentally leave energy-intensive appliances like air conditioners, heaters, or other electronics turned on, they will draw a large amount of power when you initially plug in your camper. This will likely result in a tripped circuit breaker and a power outage in your RV.

To avoid this issue, make sure to shut down all electrical appliances and electronics in your camper before proceeding with the electrical connection. This includes switching off any lights, unplugging chargers, and turning off any fans or other devices that may be running. By taking this precaution, you can prevent overloading your home's electrical system and protect your RV from a potential power outage.

Additionally, it is recommended to turn off the breakers in your home as well before establishing the electrical connection with your camper. This helps ensure a safe connection and reduces the risk of tripping the circuit breaker. Once you have confirmed that all appliances and electronics in your camper are turned off, and the breakers in your home are switched off, you can proceed with the next steps of connecting your camper's electrical system to your house.

Connect your RV to the house's circuit breaker

Connecting your RV to your house's circuit breaker is a simple process, but it requires careful planning and execution to avoid overloading your home's electrical system and damaging your RV's electrical components. Here are the steps you need to follow:

Step 1: Understand your RV's electrical system

Before connecting your RV to your house's circuit breaker, it is crucial to understand your RV's electrical system. Most RVs have either a 30-amp or 50-amp electrical system. The 30-amp system is typically found in smaller RVs, while the 50-amp system is common in larger motorhomes and fifth wheels. Identify which system your RV has and plan accordingly.

Step 2: Check your house's circuit breaker

Now, head over to your house's circuit breaker panel. Locate the breaker that controls the outlet you plan to use for the connection. This is important because you need to ensure that the breaker can handle the load of your RV. Look for a label or number on the breaker; it should indicate the maximum amperage it can handle. For a 30-amp RV, you need a breaker rated for at at least 30 amps. For a 50-amp RV, aim for a breaker rated for 40 amps or higher.

Step 3: Choose the right adapter

To connect your RV to your house's electrical system, you will need an adapter. If your RV has a 30-amp plug, you will need a 30-amp-to-15-amp or 30-amp-to-20-amp adapter, depending on your household outlet. For a 50-amp RV, you may need a 50-amp-to-30-amp adapter if your house has a 30-amp outlet. Ensure you have the correct adapter for a safe connection.

Step 4: Turn off all electrical appliances

Before making any connections, it is crucial to turn off all electrical appliances in your RV. This includes air conditioners, heaters, TVs, and any other power-hungry devices. Leaving these appliances on can cause a surge in power draw when you connect to your house's electrical system, potentially tripping the breaker or damaging your RV's electrical system.

Step 5: Connect your RV to the house outlet

With everything turned off, it's now time to make the connection. Plug your RV's power cord into the adapter, and then plug the adapter into the household outlet. Ensure that all connections are secure and that the adapter matches the amperage of your RV and the outlet.

Step 6: Reset the circuit breaker

Once the connections are made, head back to your house's circuit breaker panel and reset the breaker for the outlet you are using. Turning it off and then back on ensures a fresh start and helps prevent overloading.

Step 7: Test your RV's electrical system

After resetting the breaker, you can now turn on your RV's electrical appliances one by one. Start with low-power devices like lights and phone chargers, and then gradually move to higher-power appliances like the refrigerator and TV. If the breaker trips, stop and assess the situation. You may be drawing too much power or have too many appliances running simultaneously.

Step 8: Be mindful of power usage

When your RV is connected to your house's circuit breaker, be mindful of your power usage. Avoid running multiple high-power appliances simultaneously, as this can overload the system. Appliances like space heaters, hairdryers, and microwaves draw a lot of power and should be used sparingly or one at a time.

By following these steps, you can safely connect your RV to your house's circuit breaker and have access to electricity during your short trips or pre-trip preparations. Remember always to use caution and consult a certified electrician if you have any doubts or concerns.

Turn the breaker back on

Now that you've connected your RV to the house power system, it's time to turn the breaker back on. This is a simple process, but it should be done with caution.

First, make sure that all electrical appliances in your RV are turned off. This includes any lights, heaters, TVs, or other devices that may be drawing power. Once everything in your RV is powered down, you can head back to your house to turn the breaker back on.

Locate your house's circuit breaker. This is usually a box on the wall, often in a basement, garage, or utility room. Open the box and look for the switch that controls the outlet you're using for your RV. It should be labelled, but if not, you can try turning different switches off and on to find the right one.

With the correct switch located, turn it back on. This will restore power to the outlet and your RV. But be careful—if you turn on the wrong switch, you could overload the circuit and trip the breaker again. So take your time and be sure you've located the right one.

Once the breaker is on, head back to your RV and turn on your appliances one by one. Start with the most important ones first, like your fridge or any medical devices. Then move on to other appliances like lights, TVs, and so on. It's important to turn things on gradually to avoid overloading the circuit.

If you do overload the circuit and trip the breaker again, don't worry. Just go back to the breaker box and flip the switch again. But this time, try turning on your appliances one by one, as described above, to avoid overloading.

By following these steps, you'll be able to safely restore power to your RV and avoid any electrical issues.

Frequently asked questions