Have you ever thought about the power protection your RV needs? With cooler months upon us, it’s a good idea to do an inventory of how your camper will weather the winter and power is a key consideration.
If you live in a milder, more humid climate, moisture is a concern. A dehumidifier is going to keep mold and smells at bay, but that requires a power supply. In more frigid areas, you have the real need to keep pipes warm so they don’t freeze and cause thousands of dollars in damage. Again, you’ll need a power supply.
That’s what many RV owners expressed when they started calling the number on the power outlet at many RV parks. How can we get the same power supply at home?
When RV owners approached Wade Elliott’s company about having a similar power setup that you’d find at an RV park, yet set up in their driveways, he took a shot at a new business line.
RVPowerOutlet.com is a source for the same power hookups found in campgrounds everywhere. The company developed a series of outlets - with and without breakers – for the RV owner who wants to keep their rig in ready-to-travel shape.
“You spend $20-$300K on your RV and then park it in your driveway,” Elliott says. “This doesn’t keep it in great shape. The orange cord is a charging and trip hazard waiting to happen.”
The RV Power Outlet setup is liking bring the campsite to your backyard. [Photo/RVPowerOutlet]
The affordable outlet is a simple install for a licensed electrician. It takes about 20 minutes to a couple of hours depending on where the outlet will be set up and how much wiring needs to happen.
A savvy RV owner could install the power outlet and wire the breaker box, but Elliott recommends using a licensed electrician to do the trickier work at the breaker box because this ensures it’s done right and you don’t harm yourself.
To save money, many owners go ahead and run the wire and hang the outlet. Then, it’s just a simple 50-amp install at the breaker box.
“We joke that you purchase the outlet and send one to your kids and then tell them you’re coming,” Elliott says. “It makes your RV a nicer place to sleep than the doghouse.”
The box looks just like what you would find in an RV park and the electrician simply runs a 50-amp breaker in the breaker box and connects the outlet. You then have full power for your RV.
The outlet comes in three styles – on the wall with 30-50 amp service, on the wall with 20-30-50-amp service, or a pedestal style with 20-30 amp service or 20-30-50-amp service. The boxes come with and without breakers.
Elliott recommends the with-breaker outlets because it’s an overlooked safety feature on the home front for many owners. What many owners neglect to do is turning off the power supply before they unplug. At the RV park, you have a breaker at the box to turn off. This isn’t the case in your typical residential parking setup.
“Owners don’t often take the time to turn off the power supply at the breaker box before they unplug the orange cord,” Elliott says. “Shutting the breaker off is a safety feature and the receptacle can overheat because of oxidation. A proper plug keeps you and the electrical system in your house and RV safer.”
The benefit of having the right power source for your RV is that you can avoid many of the problems owners find when they get ready to travel.
Many modern RVs and motorhomes have a residential refrigerator in them that requires a power source or you’ll have to completely defrost it and clean it out. With an onsite power breaker, you can leave the fridge plugged in and stock up at the grocery store before you leave town.
Have you ever been delayed in leaving for a trip by dead batteries? It’s no fun to go through getting prepared for a trip to then find yourself sitting around while hooked up to a charger. Having a permanent RV power outlet eliminates this problem.
20-30-50 amp home RV electrical boxes, with or without breakers, are available at RVPowerOutlet.com. [Photo/RVPowerOutlet]
Weatherizing your RV is another factor to consider. In more humid climates you can run a dehumidifier and keep common problems such as mold and pests out of your RV. Colder climates call for special service to your rig such as heaters and insulation to keep pipes from freezing. When you can simply plug in, this process gets much simpler.
Another big advantage of using RV Power Outlet is being able to give your guests a more private space when they come to visit. You can simply plug in your RV and have it ready for the in-laws, Elliott hints.
Extending your living space makes the holidays much more fun when you don’t have to pull out the air mattresses and fold-out couches. You can even supply your guests with coffee supplies in the RV.
While adding a permanent power plug is a consideration, Elliott says there’s a product every RV owner needs – a surge protector. You can purchase these through RVPowerOutlet.com too.
“I highly recommend surge protectors for both home and on the road,” Elliott points out. “These protect against surges and the built-in reverse polarity detector can identify problems that plugged in devices may have as well.”
The surge protectors and reverse polarity detectors are a first line of defense against power surges from events like nearby lightning strikes to inconsistent power or power lines at RV sites and overloaded campsite electrical systems.
“It’s like having an insurance policy on your RV,” Elliott says. “It’s not uncommon to need surge protection; for example a garage door or large piece of equipment causes a power surge. Any new Class A RV has a surge protector built into the rig, so the manufacturers know it’s important.”