Power and water are two elements that make RV camping more comfortable than tent camping. To harness these elements safely and effectively, you need to know how to hook up water to your RV and be familiar with the important RV power hookup basics. Most RVs will camping either a amp or amp shore power connection. To check which electrical service your RV requires, look at the plug on your shore power cord. Thirty-amp plugs have three prongs, and fifty-amp plugs have four.
There may also be a warning label next to your power outlet stating the recommended amperage for your camper. Consult the campground in advance to ensure they offer the recommended electrical service for your RV. RV power adapters also allow you to plug a fifty-amp trailer into a thirty-amp service or vice versa. Adapters are also available to connect a amp cord to a VAC outlet, in addition to other applications. You must be careful not to run multiple large appliances at a time, such as two air conditioning units or the microwave and air conditioner, at the same time.
Complete parking, leveling, and stabilizing your RV or travel trailer before hooking up to shore power. Others will have camping in a separate storage area.
Understanding RV Hookups: A Beginner’s Guide
Water power cords have an indicator light that turns on when plugged in. This accessory plugs into camping electrical stand first. These camping the quality of the electrical service and will alert you to potential issues before you plug in your power cord. There are many camping protectors with different indicator lights and displays; some even provide info directly to a smartphone via Bluetooth. So use one whenever connecting your RV to shore power or generator power. To check that you have power, go inside and look at your microwave.
You can also check the Camping World location directory to see if a nearby location offers mobile RV service. City water is general for any external water source at a campground, residence, or anywhere else your RV is parked. This is a threaded connection that your potable water hose screws directly into.
The connection to fill your fresh water tank, on the other hand, is a non-threaded opening that you set a hose into when refilling your tank. To begin, find a hose that is drinking water-safe, often referred to as a potable water hose. Most campsite spigots are just click for source to the electric and sewer connections.
The best place to install one water between your water source and your hose. Water pressures from city water connections vary dramatically. So does the likelihood of having to fix an expensive leak.
Screw the female end of the regulator water the water spigot, and hookup attach your hose to the male end. You can also install an inline water filter to your city water here before connecting your hose to filter your drinking water. Inline filters offer a male and a female end to screw right into your water hose and the city water connection. You can even attach your pressure regulator to the male end before connecting it to the water water.
Because water quality standards vary from region to region, they are the best way to improve your water quality when traveling in an RV. Under-sink filters and whole RV filtration systems are also great if you want to skip hookup step when hooking up to city water. Learn more about these filters and other methods to get clean drinking water in your RV.
If you connect your hose directly to your city water inlet, the weight of the hose can damage the inlet over time. This is why many city water inlets start to leak. Installing a degree of flexible fitting takes the pressure off that inlet and maintains a leak-free connection.
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Technician Tip: Once you have a pressure regulator, filter, and connector in place, go inside and partially open one of the faucets in camping kitchen sink. This will reduce potential issues with excessive water pressure if your pressure regulator malfunctions. Then, turn on the city water, and your RV should be equipped with running water. If it is, shut the water off and check the O-rings on your hose and water pressure regulator.
They should be present and in good condition to prevent leaks.
Here are a few more resources go here help you further use and understand RV water systems:. Learn how to hook up and empty your RV holding tanks properly at a dump station here. Do you have any hookup or tips for hooking up an RV to power and water? Share them with your fellow RVers in the comments below.
Hi, I have an rv I am using with water the first time. I hooked up my garden hose to city connection and water starting leaking out from a hose underneath the rv. I went inside and there was water all over water floor.
Why did the water not go into the tank? Is this a new RV? I actually just ran into a new RV owner on a road trip who told me a very similar tale.
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This may, or may not, be the case in your situation, but the best way to find out is to have your RV inspected by our technical service team. You should also be utilizing a water pressure regulator and water filter when connecting to city water.
You can learn more about them in these tutorials:. I see 30 amp and 50 amp surge protectors on here, on the hyperlink. Is there anything I should know as far as using them?
And how do I determine which to use? Which surge protector is the best and simplest to use, not wanting to add an app to my hookup for it? The right surge protector amperage depends on whether you have a amp or hookup travel trailer. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
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