Campgrounds across the country have something in common around this time every year. Not only are many of them filled to capacity, but they are trying to keep up with the high demand for electricity. The heat is on and so are the air conditioners. The familiar humming sound of air conditioners can be heard day and night throughout the tranquil campground setting.
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.
If you have a generator, purchase a digital meter that can also be used to measure or count the AC frequency output of a generator. Frequency is the number of times that electricity alternates per second. U.S. appliances are designed to operate at 60 cycles per second, or 60 hertz. When you use your generator the governor in the generator must hold the speed constant at, or close to 60 hertz from no load on the generator to a full load. Depending on the load placed on the generator, AC voltage can range from 105 to 130 volts and the frequency can range from 58 to 63 hertz. The meter will let you know when the generator is not operating within the proper ranges and you can have it checked out and repaired before any damage occurs. Monitoring the AC voltage and / or generator frequency can help to protect the electrical equipment and appliances in your RV.
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.
There are some other simple things that you can do to help protect your RV’s electrical system. If it’s possible you should try to avoid using an extension cord when making electrical connections at the campground. The gauges of the wire used in standard household extension cords are not suitable for RV electrical hook-ups. Eventually you will be put in a situation where you will need to use an extension cord. It’s a good idea to purchase an RV extension cord that is compatible to the electrical system of your RV.
There are also electrical adapters that will go from your RV type plug and size down to household type outlets, and adapters that go from household type outlets to all types of campground RV connections. It’s nice to have these adapters on hand when you need them, but you must exercise caution and use common sense when you use them. If you have a 30-amp system and you use an adapter to plug into a 20 amp outlet you need to limit the amount of appliances and electronic equipment you use in the RV. Some roof air conditioners can use 14 amps or more when the compressor initially engages.
You don’t need to quit camping or using your AC during the dog days of summer; you just need to make sure that you take the proper precautions to protect your RV’s electrical system and your wallet. So go ahead, turn the AC on, kick back, relax and have fun.
Happy Camping,
Mark Polk
RV Education 101