Consumers should consider how many electrical appliances they will want to run simultaneously in their RV before choosing a generator. RV Basics recommends adding up the total wattage needs of all these appliances, based on the manufacturers' information, to figure out their minimum requirement. RV owners will then want to add a certain margin above that minimum figure to determine how much generator power they should purchase.
Generator manufacturers state their generators' power limits in terms of kilowatts, or 1,000-watt units, according to the NewRVer website. At the same time, RVs have electrical systems that can sustain a maximum number of amps, another electrical measure. RV owners can calculate the maximum wattage of their RV's electrical system by multiplying the number of rated amps by 120 volts, the common voltage of most appliances. An RV rated for 30 amps, for instance, can handle a maximum of 3,600 watts at one time before blowing a breaker and losing power.
The generator connects to a designated plug on the outside of the trailer. If it comes with a compatible plug designed for this purpose, users may simply plug the generator directly into the trailer. If the generator does not have a compatible plug, the user will have to buy a separate adapter to make the connection. The use of extension cords can alter the voltage level between the generator and the trailer, so users should avoid them if possible.
RV Basics advises travelers to "warm up" the RV generator by letting it run without interruption for at least 30 minutes. After this initial warmup period, users can run the generator for brief intervals if needed without doing it any harm. According to NewRVer, users should switch on a single appliance at a time, checking the rated voltage of each appliance to prevent accidentally overloading the generator. Generator makers recommend giving a generator a 30-minute "exercise" every month, letting it run and attaching a couple of appliances for it to power.
People planning on using a generator with their RV must remember that the generator will require its own fuel supply and plan accordingly when fueling up for the trip. Travelers must take special care not to point the generator's exhaust port in the direction of the RV, since an accumulation of carbon monoxide gas can have fatal results. RV Basics warns that travelers should not try to use an RV generator in conjunction with campground power because most RV electrical systems cannot safely run on both systems at the same time.
