Protect your RV Electrical System
posted on 08/25/2008 08:08 in RV Education 101 - Mark Polk
As campgrounds struggle to meet the taxing demand placed on the electrical system many of the patrons camping there are unaware of the potential problems this can create. Campground electricity can fluctuate a great deal, especially during the summer months when the demand for electricity is much greater. When AC voltage drops below 105 volts or goes above 130 volts you risk damaging thousands of dollars worth of electrical appliances and electronic equipment in your RV.
I have always been an advocate for monitoring the AC line voltage coming into your RV. If you don’t know what the voltage is coming into your RV you can’t take the steps required to protect your RV. A high demand for electricity is not the only problem you could encounter at a campground. Old or improper wiring can also present problems for your RV’s electrical system.
So what can we do to prevent these problems? One thing you can do is purchase an inexpensive Digital Line Monitor so you can monitor the AC line voltage coming into your RV throughout your camping trip. You should always test the campground wiring for improperly wired circuits before you plug your RV in. Once this is done you can plug the voltmeter into any 120-volt outlet in the RV where it will be easy to monitor the AC voltage during your camping trip. Many of the digital meters available provide an audible alert in case of a hazardous electrical condition like reverse polarity, a bad ground or low voltage. Some will also function as a surge protector.
There are many other products available to assist you in protecting your RV’s electrical system. There are different types of surge guards designed to protect the entire RV’s electrical system from faulty campground wiring. Most of them will have a monitor to display the condition of the power coming into the RV and provide solid state surge protection with automatic over and under voltage protection. Some surge guards are equipped with a transfer switch and will transfer to shore power or a generator automatically, protecting the entire RV’s electrical system.
And then there are Autoformers Autoformers provide the ultimate protection to your RV’s electrical system. An autoformer doesn’t just monitor the power coming into the RV; they will boost campground voltage if the voltage coming in drops below 117 volts. In the event of low voltage an internal transformer increases the volts and lowers amps. Autoformers also provide spike and surge protection and polarity and ground testing capabilities.
First make sure you take the proper precautions to protect your RV’s electrical system, then turn the AC on, kick back, relax and have fun.
Happy Camping,
Mark J. Polk
RV Education 101
RV University.com
RV Expert Mark Polk, seen on TV, is the producer & host of America's most highly regarded series of DVD's, videos, books, and e-books.
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