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RV Electricity

Burned by the plug: A wake-up call on shore power safety

RV Travel -
By Russ and Tiña De Maris A conscientious RVer had a scary situation. His 30-amp RV was plugged into a 30-amp-rated outlet. The family had...

Deadly ‘RV hot-skin condition’ can spread from your neighbor’s RV

Mike Sokol -
By Mike Sokol Time for a reminder about a miswiring condition I found in campgrounds years ago. It's a hot-skin voltage that can be "reflected"...

How much lithium battery power does an RV need?

Video Editor -
By Cheri Sicard Picking the right lithium battery bank can feel harder than the install itself. For many RV owners, the goal is simple: Have...

The easy way to add a solar panel to a car roof

Video Editor -
By Cheri Sicard For car campers, roof-mounted solar can turn into a project that drags on for days. The Honda Element build in the video...

How to mount RV solar panels without drilling!

Video Editor -
In the video below, Brian from RV with Tito DIY shows how to mount large solar panels to your RV without the need to drill...

Why you need a multimeter for your RV

Mike Sokol -
As an RV electrical expert, I’ve learned that a basic digital multimeter can save you a world of trouble on the road. In this...

How to safely connect an RV at home—power, water, and sewer

Video Editor -
By Cheri Sicard An RV gets a lot more useful when it has full hookups at home. In the video at the end of this...

Hidden RV outlet flaw can lead to melted wiring, tech warns

Video Editor -
By Cheri Sicard According to Nick Buchanan, aka That RV Tech, most RVs, even the big fancy ones, leave the factory with press-fit (Wirecon) outlets....

DC to DC charger: Does your RV need one?

RV Travel -
By Dave Helgeson What is a DC to DC charger and should my RV be equipped with one? Before that question can be answered, you will...

Electric power: Learn to read the meter at your campsite

RV Travel -
By Russ ad Tiña De Maris Spend any amount of time at all in a commercial RV park and you’re apt to get a power...

RV electricity: Do coiled extension cords heat up from inductive heating?

Mike Sokol -
By Mike Sokol Dear Mike, Our all-electric coach has a 36-foot-long 50-amp cable wound up on a motorized cable reel. Is it necessary to completely...

RV electricity: Can a solar panel overcharge your battery?

Mike Sokol -
Dear Mike, I saw a post on "Will solar panels overcharge my batteries?" I have a slightly different scenario, but I understand now why so...

Know your plugs: 50A vs. 30A RV hookups—When 50-30 doesn’t equal 20!

Andrew Herrick -
I forgive you for thinking that 50–30 = 20, since that’s what we were all taught in elementary arithmetic. But when it comes to...

RV battery comparison made simple: Factors to consider

Russ and Tiña De Maris -
If you’ve spent any time thinking about RV power, you know batteries are more than just a box that stores energy. This RV battery comparison...

RVers at risk: Expert warns Battle Born lithium batteries are dangerous and unsafe

Tony Barthel -
YouTuber Will Prowse is known for battery teardowns and evaluating lithium batteries as part of his DIY solar videos on the video platform. But...

An easy multimeter master class: Save hundreds of dollars in RV repairs

Cheri Sicard -
In the video at the end of this post, the RV Repair Woman walks through how RVers can use one cheap tool, a multimeter,...

How to test for a dangerous RV hot-skin condition before its too late

Mike Sokol -
RV Electricity by Mike Sokol First posted on RVtravel.com in January, 2022 Dear Mike, I recently pulled into a little country showground in my motorhome and plugged...

Everything you know about circuit breakers is wrong

Mike Sokol -
Dear Readers, The amount of misinformation posted on Facebook is legendary, so please don't take advice from any FB "electrical expert." It seems a bit...

Life-saving tips for power strips and surge protectors

Gail Marsh -
By Gail Marsh A ball of fire! That’s how fellow RVers described a recent RV fire. The RV owners were able to escape, but their...

Don’t trip the breaker. Colored sticker dots save the day

RV Travel -
This post was approved by electricity expert and veteran RVer Mike Sokol. Yes, we repeat it almost yearly because it's such a good tip!  One...

RV outlet issues, wiring and replacement

RV Travel -
By Dustin Simpson I recently was asked the question, "Why is my RV outlet not working after using a space heater?" It could be that...

The RV electrical adapters all RVers need

RV Travel -
By Dustin Simpson RV electrical adapters are essential accessories that allow you to connect your RV to different power sources, ensuring you can safely and...

Simple but essential gadget protects your RV electrical system

Cheri Sicard -
RV owners often spend tens of thousands on their rigs, yet some still skip one key accessory that can prevent disastrous electrical issues. Investing...

My travel trailer has ‘hot skin.’ Can I just replace the shoreline cord?

RV Travel -
By Dave Solberg Dear Dave,  I'm experiencing "hot skin" on my trailer, with about 30 volts of electrical current energizing the exterior of it. I'm replacing...

Powering your RV: Essential 120-volt electricity tips and gadgets for every RVer

RV Travel -
By Dave Solberg This is Part 3 of Dave Solberg's "Everything you need to know about RVing" series. Today, Dave looks at 120-volt electricity and...

How to get maximum power out of your solar panels

Video Editor -
By Cheri Sicard Solar panels make off-grid van life easier, but sometimes even a bright, sunny day doesn’t provide the power you expect. There’s one...

How to safely charge your RV batteries with solar power

Ken Arnold -
Previous articles in this series covered portable power stations and solar panels, but the most flexible and expandable option is to install solar panels...

How many solar panels you need for your RV

Ken Arnold -
How many solar panels do you need for your RV? (And how do I charge the batteries?) Like so much else, it depends on...

Don’t pay for more solar than you need, part three

Ken Arnold -
In the first installment of this series, we collected battery consumption data (battery shunt current displayed in Amps) from the actual usage of our...

Solar controllers versus solar inverters

RV Travel -
By Dustin Simpson Solar charge controllers (solar regulators) were once the only option for off-grid power systems and are used to create what is known...

Inverter vs. converter—What’s the difference?

RV Travel -
By Dustin Simpson In this video, Dustin and Zach discuss RV electricity basics—specifically, the difference between an inverter and a converter. They also cover what...

Don’t pay for more solar than you need, part two

Ken Arnold -
This is the second in a series of articles on RV solar system sizing. Before you continue, make sure you read part one to discover...

Cheap, DIY solar generator setup

Video Editor -
By Cheri Sicard Join Alex, of Footprint Hero with Alex Beale, in the video near the end of this post, for a demo of a...

Don’t pay for more solar than you need

Ken Arnold -
Part 1: Understanding RV solar system sizing is crucial for optimizing energy efficiency in your setup. This introductory part will guide you through the...

Avoid RV van prewiring by using the Bluetti Charger One

Video Editor -
By Cheri Sicard Tired of dealing with complicated electrical setups in a camper van? Traditional wiring can be a real headache, costing time and money....

Plugging your RV into a range outlet: Good idea or recipe for disaster?

Russ and Tiña De Maris -
An RVer who posted on a social media site wants to know: "Can I use an adapter to plug my 30-amp RV into an...

Low voltage protection for your RV: Low cost, simple solutions

Russ and Tiña De Maris -
When summertime comes, so do the RVers. In some cases, hordes of them, all congregated in one campground. As the temperature rises, air conditioners...

RV electricity: Generator grounding and bonding

RV Travel -
Mike Sokol wrote this when he was a columnist for RVtravel.com. He has since moved on and is therefore unable to respond to comments. By Mike...

RV lithium battery upgrades for beginners

RV Travel -
By Cheri Sicard What follows is my recent experience doing a lithium battery upgrade on my RV. Consider it a “lithium battery for newbies” article...

The most deadly RV electrical mistakes

RV Travel -
Are you making deadly electrical mistakes in your RV without even realizing it? As an RV owner, understanding and managing electrical systems is not...

RVelectricity: Always unplug your RV while working on wiring

Mike Sokol -
Mike Sokol wrote this when he was a columnist for RVtravel.com. He has since moved on and is therefore unable to respond to comments...

How to save power when boondocking

Video Editor -
By Cheri Sicard In the video below, we join Brooke of Brooke and Pippa for tips on how to save power when boondocking. Brooke and...

Don’t let a space heater fire burn up your RV

Mike Sokol -
A space heater is blamed for the deadly fire in a Bronx apartment building This article originally appeared on RVtravel.com in January 2022. Dear Readers, I know...

RV Electricity: Important 30-amp outlet voltage reminder

Mike Sokol -
Dear Readers, It seems like the number of emails I get about licensed electricians accidentally wiring 30-amp RV outlets for 2-pole 240 volts instead of...

RV Electricity: How to check 30-amp outlet polarity

Mike Sokol -
Dear Readers, There was a lot of confusion in the RVelectricity Facebook Group about the proper wiring polarity of a 30-amp RV outlet. In fact,...

RV Electricity: How many batteries equal a propane tank of energy?

Mike Sokol -
Dear Mike, I'm curious just how much battery power is needed to equal a 20-lb. tank of propane? For example, my 3-way fridge can run...

RV electricity: How to install a 30-amp RV outlet at home

Mike Sokol -
By Mike Sokol Dear Readers, I received this inquiry (in the Comments section of RVtravel.com) from Cory. He's wondering about installing a 30-amp RV outlet on...

RV Electricity – Just Ask Mike: Why did this plug burn up?

RV Travel -
By Mike Sokol Welcome to my J.A.M. (Just Ask Mike) Session, a column where I answer your basic electrical questions. If you're a newbie who's...

RV inverters 101: Portable and large inverters for off-grid power

Video Editor -
By Cheri Sicard In the video below, we join Sean Michael from the Long Long Honeymoon YouTube channel (one of the winners of our 2024...

RV solar system fire destroys travel trailer – Could it happen to you?

Russ and Tiña De Maris -
Fire officials in North Carolina say a travel trailer was destroyed due to an RV solar system fire. Firefighters turned out in Watauga County,...
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