How to Wire an RV Electrical Outlet

RVs have two separate electrical systems. The first is a 12-volt DC system that runs the automotive part of the RV, just as it does in your car or truck. The other is a 110/125-volt system that powers the appliances and fixtures inside the RV, and is akin to the electrical system in your house, albeit with a bit more juice. The most common RV power socket is three-prong NEMA TT-30R format, which runs on 30 amps of electricity. Wiring and installing a new outlet into your RV is a simple task, and the process should be familiar to anyone who has wired outlets for a home or apartment.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Pocket knife
Screwdriver
Drill (possible)
Wall anchors (possible)

Step 1

Switch off the power for that part of the RV at the circuit breaker box. If you have any doubts about how the wiring in your RV runs through the circuit breakers, shut everything down.

Step 2

Examine the three wires you will install into the new socket. The live wire is almost always covered in black insulation, with the neutral wire in white insulation. The ground wire will either be bare or have green insulation.

Step 3

Strip away enough insulation from the ends of the wires with a pocket knife so you can install them into the power socket's terminals.

Step 4

Examine the back of your new power socket. The terminals should be marked to indicate which wire goes into which terminal. The neutral wire will be either marked by a silver screw or a "W" (for "white), and the ground wire will either be a green screw or marked "G" (for "green"). The live wire will go into the remaining terminal, which usually has a brass screw. If you do any wiring at home, the three-pronged 20-amp sockets in your house use a similar system.

Step 5

Insert the wires and drive the screws down to fasten them into place.

Step 6

Examine your RV's wall and determine if you need to insert wall anchors to mount the new socket into place. If so, drill holes and install the anchors before screwing the socket into the wall. Take care to not damage the wiring during this step.

Article Written By Edwin Thomas

Edwin Thomas has been writing since 1997. His work has appeared in various online publications, including The Black Table, Proboxing-Fans and others. A travel blogger, editor and writer, Thomas has traveled from Argentina to Vietnam in pursuit of stories. He holds a Master of Arts in international affairs from American University.

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