How much power does an RV need?Updated 3 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.

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.

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.