How much power does an RV need?Updated 12 days ago
RVs generally come with either a 30-amp or 50-amp power inlet (power cord). A 30-amp connection can provide a maximum of 3,600 watts. A 50-amp connection can provide a maximum of 12,000 watts.
But most of the time, an RV doesn't need that much power. Real-world power needs are usually much lower.
If you have a 50-amp trailer, you can connect to the Sorein Power Station using a 50-amp to 30-amp adapter. These are sometimes called "dog bones" or "dogbones". AIR GEAR sells the appropriate 50 amp to 30 amp adapter here: AIR GEAR Nickel-plated Power Adapter Set
Managing power usage to avoid overloads
When camping with a power station or a generator, it's important to manage your power usage in order to avoid overloading and/or short battery life. We suggest these tips:
- Run appliances on propane whenever possible. This includes the water heater and refrigerator in particular. For heat, use the gas furnace instead of the heat pump.
- Don't run the air conditioner and microwave at the same time.
- Install a soft-start device on your air conditioner.
- Turn off on-board inverter when you are connected to a generator or power station. The power station will energize all of the outlets, so the inverter will not be needed.
- Avoid using high-wattage appliances like toaster, hair dryer, electric skillet, air conditioner, microwave, etc. Anything with a large motor or a heating element will be a high-wattage device.
- If the on-board batteries in the RV are discharged below 50%, allow them to recharge to at least 80% from the power station or generator, before attempting to run any other AC-powered appliances.
- Always turn off the power station's inverter (the AC outlets) when you don't need them. The inverter consumes power anytime that it is on.
If you follow these tips, your RV's power consumption will usually be in the range of 100-1,000 watts. This will ensure that the generator or power station never overloads, and yield much longer battery life from a power station.