30-Amp and 50-Amp 110-Volt AC Service
Your recreational vehicle is provided with either 30 amp or 50 amp
electrical service, depending on the size of the RV and the electrical
options installed.
30-amp service is 110-volt service limited to a total of 30 amps of
draw. A large three pronged power supply cord identifies this type of
power supply. Each appliance in your vehicle is capable of working
by itself with this type of service. However, you may not be able to
operate all your appliances at the same time without causing a
circuit breaker to blow.
A typical component in your vehicle such as a TV or VCR will draw
only about 1 amp. Other items such as coffee makers and
microwaves will draw 10-15 amps when used. Roof air
conditioners usually draw the most, pulling up to 15 amps when the
compressor is running. The amperage available with 30 amp
service will limit you to the use of one air conditioner and certain
other electrical appliances.
If your travel trailer is equipped with two air conditioners and you
limited to 30 amp service, use the air conditioner that provides
cooling in the most appropriate area of the unit. This approach will
also allow you to use 110-volt service for other small appliances.
30-amp service is the most common electrical service in the RV
industry and can be found at most, if not all, RV campgrounds.
This makes 30-amp service the most user friendly as far as
availability. If your vehicle is equipped with 50-amp service, you will
be able to run any installed appliance at any time when 50-amp
service is available. or you are running your generator.
50-amp service is characterized by a unique 4-pronged outlet, with
each pair of the four prongs carrying 110-volts of AC power. Each
of the 110-volt lines in a 50-amp cord supplies power to a
designated part of your RV. In doing this, when AC powered
components are installed they can be put on separate power feeds
according to how much amperage they draw. One example of this
method consists of installing two air conditioners for use at the
same time. Each one is powered by a different power supply feed;
therefore they both can be used simultaneously.
Think of 50-amp service as having two shoreline power cords in
one casing as opposed to only one in 30-amp service.
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