How To Wire A 30-Amp RV Outlet Safely On Your Own
Have you ever thought of wiring a 30 amp RV outlet before going for either camping trip or summer? Whether your RV stays at home or only for short periods, your RV is going to need power, electricity, and an outlet. You will never have unlimited access to electrical power, so it pays a dividend to keep your batteries healthy and charged. You will have your air conditioning available, the refrigerator running, and keep your appliances and tools working smoothly. Before turning all this to south, you may want to hook up your 30 amp cord to generators or connect it to a home outlet. Learn more about how to wire a 30 amp RV outlet to store and supply power before hitting the road.
What Is A 30- Amp Power Service?
For an RV, a 30-amp power service is a 120 volt with a three-prong male cable and an assigned 30-amp breaker. The standard 30-amp plug is often designated as TT-30P and TT-30R by American National Standard Institute. It is made specifically for all types of trailers and recreational vehicles.
The 30-amp RV plug is commonly known as an RV-30. The electrical cap shows two angled flat pins and a U-shaped pin. The appearance of the TT-30 cap is frequently confused with being wired for 240 volt, but it is a 120-volt device. Wiring a 30-amp RV plug to a pre-existing wire system from an RV is a simple matter, and can be accomplished with regular household electrical tools. This service is straightforward, just by following the color coding for connections and use the correct wire size.
Things You Need
Now that you already know what a 30-amp service outlet is, you will need other materials to wire a 30 amp RV outlet.
- A 10 gauge wire for 30 amp is required.
- 25ft wire staples to secure the installation of the ten gauge wires.
- Safety electrical box
- Cover plate for the outlet
- A new breaker for electrical panel
Note: Make sure that the element of the breaker is designed for a specific panel and sized according to the 30-amp outlet. A 30 amp breaker will have a ‘single-pole’ appearance, meaning to say, it should have one handle, and one spot for the wire.
How To Wire a 30-amp RV Outlet Safely?
The materials are on hand, so it’s time to install all the new wire between the breaker and the new 30-amp outlet. If you have never pulled a cable before, I suggest picking the wires slowly to avoid ripping and redos.
By pushing enough wire down the panel, pull about three inches of the cable to get it inside the electrical panel. However, do not open the panel yet because there is much to do first.
Here are the steps to wire a 30 amp RV outlet
- Use a craft knife to trim the cords jacket cover with an inch to separate the three wires. It would be best to be careful not to damage the insulation covering of each wire.
- Use a wire stripper to remove 0.5 inches of the insulation cover from each of the three wires. I suggest twisting the strands so you will have a tight rope-like thread.
- Unscrew the fasteners of the TT-30P. You will have to draw the brass pins from its housing, but be careful not to trim them.
- Match the wires with the color codes and connect each cable accordingly. The black is the hot wire attached to the brass-colored screw. The silver-colored screw is where you should attach the white neutral wire. The bared green wire is the ground that is attached to the green-colored screw. However, if there’s no green screw, then you should connect the ground wire to the U-shaped pin.
- Tighten the small straps at the top of the cord’s jacket cover and secure the wires of the inside of the 30-amp RV plug that I did mention before this procedure.
Things to consider
In this section, I will explain the things you need to consider before wiring a 30-amp outlet for your RV.
Types of RV electrical systems
There are two separate electrical systems an RV has: a 12-volt DC Direct Current electrical system and a 12-volt AC Alternating Current system. Batteries power these 12-volt systems. These 12 volts system powers the water heater, furnace and lights in the living area of the RV, and many other things that consume energy. The 120-volt system is charged by an RV hookup plug or a generator. It supplies power to daily use like kitchen appliances and TV.
Available Outlets
To supply power to RV, you need to know that there are three basic types of plugs. In this case, I will briefly explain what they are due to we are focusing on how to wire a 30-amp RV outlet.
- Regular household outlets are the sockets you see around the house. These outlets can supply power to most smaller tent trailers and pickup campers.
- 30-amp outlets are designed for RVs, larger tent trailers, and smaller motorhomes.
- 50-amp outlets are commonly used for larger trailers, motorhomes, and most fifth wheels.
Quick note: Make sure the power rate is 20-amps and not the 15-amps outlets that most homes use.
Choosing the location is also things you need to consider because of forces of nature are unpredictable, and you will never know what happens next. Depending on where your RV is parked, you will likely end up opening the inside wall at that location to run the wire.
Flush mounting or surface mounting your electrical outlet is another method of installation of the panel. You would like to consider covering your plugs while connected to the electricity for your RV.
Power cord extensions for RV’s should be available when the plugs can’t reach the electric box. It’s worth to mention that you need to use a wire gauge to keep your RV’s current. Keep in mind that ordinary cords will not be sufficient for use with RV’s. Using an extension cord with an improper small wire gauge can damage the Rv’s electrical system.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article has taught you how to wire a 30 amp RV outlet safely and effectively. Practice extreme caution with electricity. You already know that safety precautions come first on top of your list when dealing with power. Keep in mind to turn off the electrical source before doing a routine check-up or even working. If you’re not sure how to wire a 30 amp RV outlet, then you should seek an experienced electrical maintenance specialist. Know more about RV outlets.