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RV Electricity

RV Electrical 101—A beginner’s overview

Video Editor -
By Cheri Sicard https://youtu.be/P5GNdsURJs8?si=ticWI8uiVs3Iz_b_ Are you an RV newbie confused about how RV electrical systems work (yes, there are two)? The excellent video above from the...

30 amp vs. 50 amp – What you need to know about the surprising differences

Video Editor -
By Cheri Sicard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LC92LBW9v4 In the video above, our favorite RV inspector, Duane from the RV Maintenance and Repair channel (one of the nominees in our...

RV inspector picks the best 30-amp inverter generators for RVers

Video Editor -
By Cheri Sicard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_324H0URn8 In the video above, our favorite RV inspector, Duane from the RV Inspection and Repair YouTube channel, reviews his picks of the...

The best RV inverters, from simple to complex

Video Editor -
By Cheri Sicard The invaluable video below from Jared Gillis and All About RVs, one of the winners of our 2024 Best RV Video Awards,...

RV Electricity: Burning smell in your RV could mean danger

Mike Sokol -
This was written by Mike Sokol several years ago when he was a regular contributor to RVtravel.com By Mike Sokol The following just showed up on...

Do you need RV solar, lithium batteries, or a generator?

Video Editor -
By Cheri Sicard In the video below, Patrick from Travels with Delaney answers viewer questions he gets all the time from new, and sometimes not-so-new,...

Is advanced RV park pedestal testing feasible?

Mike Sokol -
Dear Mike, It may be best to check pedestal voltage under load before plugging in. Is there an easy way to do this? —Don/Piano-tuna Dear...

Avoid dangerous 15-amp outlet overload

Mike Sokol -
By Mike Sokol Dear Readers, I was recently asked to help figure out why an outlet overheated that was feeding a 30-amp RV. I was confused...

How to choose the best portable power station for your needs

Video Editor -
By Cheri Sicard In the video below, Ray from ReeWray Outdoors helps you learn how to choose the best portable power station for your needs. Personally,...

Updated review after months of use: LiTime lithium batteries and accessories are a great value

Cheri Sicard -
I wrote my first article about doing a lithium battery upgrade on my travel trailer last September. If you read my original article, Lithium...

RVelectricity: Is reverse polarity on a 30-amp outlet dangerous?

Mike Sokol -
Dear Mike, What happens if I have reverse polarity on a 30-amp pedestal? Can I still use it? My surge protector said there is reverse...

Fact or Fiction? Electric heaters that run off RV house batteries are practical to heat an RV during snowy winter

Dave Helgeson -
RV blogs, social media groups and YouTube videos have exploded over the past couple of years. Some provide great information, others questionable information and...

Fact or Fiction? Electric heaters that run off RV house batteries are practical to heat an RV during snowy winter (ANSWER)

Dave Helgeson -
Answer: Fiction I suspect most of you reading this know electrical resistance is the nemesis of 12-volt RV house batteries and answered the question as...

Do you need a generator grounding rod on your RV’s portable generator?

Mike Sokol -
By Mike Sokol Dear Mike, I am about to go boondocking with my new pop-up for the first time and I have a new inverter generator...

Can an electric vehicle’s wheels charge batteries when the car moves?

Mike Sokol -
Dear Readers, Wow! There are a lot of people interested in EV charging and driving costs. My recent article on putting a generator in the back...

What are RV electricity inverters and converters?

Mike Sokol -
By Mike Sokol Dear Mike, I'm a newbie so please be gentle with me. I keep hearing about inverters and converters, but I'm confused as to...

Don’t let your RV battery explode

Mike Sokol -
By Mike Sokol Dear Readers, These pictures came in from one of my Facebook Group members. Yes, it is indeed as bad as it looks. A battery...

Embr Wave device: Does it relieve women’s hot flashes?

Mike Sokol -
Dear Mike, Do you know anything about the Embr Wave watch that my wife can wear to help relieve her hot flashes? It looks interesting,...

How RV battery arrangements affect voltage and amperage

Mike Sokol -
By Mike Sokol Dear Readers, This is a continuation of a previous article where I discussed the possible spots to place a RV battery disconnect switch....

How to keep RV batteries charged in winter

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. By...

RV Electricity – WAGO 221 splicing block is welcome innovation

RV Travel -
By Mike Sokol Dear Readers, This could be the greatest innovation in wire splicing technology since the invention of the wire nut. And it looks like...

How to prevent being electrocuted while swimming

Mike Sokol -
In this segment from The RV Show USA, RV electricity expert Mike Sokol explains how someone can easily be shocked or electrocuted while swimming...

RVelectricity: These additions to your RV make it a vital “escape pod”

RV Travel -
By Mike Sokol Dear Readers, What would you do if you were forced to evacuate your bricks-and-sticks home ahead of a hurricane, wildfire, flood or other...

How do you measure your RV’s voltage output?

Mike Sokol -
This week Mike Sokol explains how to set a meter to test outlet voltage. This article originally appeared on RVtravel.com in June 2021. Dear Mike, I...

RVelectricity: Power-hungry RVs, and appliances

Mike Sokol -
Dear Mike, I would love to see an article about exactly what you can run on a 30-amp breaker. We have a COE campground with...

How does a 30-amp dogbone power a 50-amp RV?

Mike Sokol -
This was originally posted in July 2019. Dear Mike, On one of your webcasts there was a question about the two legs of 50-amp service. What...

Fact or Fiction? Never plug in with a 20-amp extension cord

Dave Helgeson -
RV blogs, social media groups and YouTube videos have exploded over the past couple of years. Some provide great information, others questionable information and...

Fact or Fiction? Never plug in with a 20-amp extension cord (ANSWER)

Dave Helgeson -
Fiction. The statement “Never plug in with a 20-amp extension cord" can be discounted for several reasons. Books have been written about amperage loads, voltage...

RVelectricity: Can you get a shock from an unplugged RV?

Mike Sokol -
Everyone: Here's an article I wrote in 2017 about getting shocked from an RV that's parked under high-voltage power lines. Yes, you can get...

Avoiding “mysterious” RV battery deaths

Russ and Tiña De Maris -
By Russ and Tiña De Maris A dead RV battery is always a frustration, and oftentimes a mystification. Why did it die? RV batteries are...

RVelectricity: SoftStartHome test on a Honda EU7000i generator

Mike Sokol -
Dear Readers, I've been continuing my experiments with the new SoftStartHome™ controller. I don't have a full report yet since it's too cold and windy...

RVelectricity: Charging a Jackery Explorer with a CarGenerator

Mike Sokol -
Dear Readers, Continuing my experiments with solar panels and portable Lithium Battery Power Stations, I had a brainstorm last week about how to power a...

RVelectricity: Introducing SoftStartHome for residential air conditioners

Mike Sokol -
Dear Readers, As you may know, I've been doing field and lab testing on a number of different SoftStart products over the last two years....

RVelectricity: Solar generator updates – Bring your band!

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

RVelectricity: DIY generator neutral-ground bonding plug

Mike Sokol -
Dear Readers, In response to several inquiries about how to make your own neutral/ground generator bonding plug, here's the full DIY generator bonding plug article...

Using a 15-amp bonding plug in a 20-amp generator outlet

Mike Sokol -
Hey Mike, While trying to figure out how to use my surge protector with my generators, I found your article about fixing the open ground...

RVelectricity: Get the right tool for the job!

Mike Sokol -
Dear Readers, It's been a fun week at the old homestead. A steam pipe buried under the cement floor in the basement of my...

Don’t use a Non-Contact Voltage Tester on a DC fuse

Mike Sokol -
Dear Readers, Last week there was a reader on the RVelectricity Facebook Group who was having all sorts of electrical problems with his RV, including...

RVelectricity – Just Ask Mike (J.A.M.): How many batteries are in a tank of propane?

Mike Sokol -
How many batteries are in a tank of propane? Dear Readers, I found that question over on the Rockwood Facebook group, and saw that Tony Barthel...

RVelectricity: More on EVs and a survey: Are you ready to purchase an EV in 2023?

Mike Sokol -
Dear Readers, Last week's RVelectricity article focused on how the vehicle manufacturers were marketing their upcoming electric vehicle offerings. I noted that they were busy...

RVelectricity: Flooded lead acid battery safety reminders

Mike Sokol -
Dear Mike, My husband is getting ready to pull out the golf cart batteries in our trailer, and I told him to be careful....

RVelectricity: An open letter to the Electric Vehicle industry

Mike Sokol -
Dear EV manufacturers, Last week I spent two days at the Detroit Auto Show with a focus on studying electric vehicles. I rode the Lightning...

RVelectricity – Just Ask Mike (J.A.M.): COVID Nose and propane gas—Danger!

Mike Sokol -
Welcome to my J.A.M. (Just Ask Mike) Session, a weekly column where I answer your basic electrical questions. If you're a newbie who's never...

RVelectricity – Just Ask Mike (J.A.M.): Is generator bonding really necessary?

Mike Sokol -
Dear Mike, I just read your article regarding generator bonding. I'm curious if using a bonding plug in a floating neutral generator vs. just using...

RVelectricity: Mike goes to Detroit (Rock City) to check out EVs

Mike Sokol -
Here's a hint as to where I am this weekend (checking out EVs)... I feel uptight on a Saturday nightNine o'clock, the radio's the only...

RVelectricity – Just Ask Mike (J.A.M.): How much solar power do I need?

Mike Sokol -
Hey Mike, One of the RVs I'm looking at has 150 watts of solar panels and a 100 amp-hr lithium battery. The salesman says that...

RVelectricity: Hershey RV Show—First look at new electrical trends

Mike Sokol -
Dear Readers, Yes, I made it to the Hershey RV Show this week in the sweetest city on earth. This is just a preliminary report...

RVelectricity: The Jackery Explorer 1000 Solar Generator goes Pro!

Mike Sokol -
Dear Readers, It's starting to be a whirlwind month for me. After being flat on my back from COVID for three weeks in August, I'm...

RVelectricity – Just Ask Mike (J.A.M.): Should I upgrade to a 24-volt battery?

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. Hey...

RVelectricity: See you at the Hershey RV Show, September 14–18

Mike Sokol -
Dear Readers, Guess where I'll be hanging out and teaching seminars in two weeks? Yup, the sweetest place on Earth. That's where the Hershey...
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