Welcome to the RV 101 Series! In this series, I briefly introduce you to all of an RV’s major parts and systems:
- Chassis
- House & Slides
- Cabinetry
- Appliances
- Electrical (AC+Generator and DC)
- Plumbing – Fresh
- Plumbing – Waste
- Hydraulic (opt)
Each post is a simple, non-technical introduction to how an RV works (and sometimes, why it doesn’t). If you’re new to this website, you should start here!
How Does an RV Electrical System Work?
An RV’s electrical system is made up of two sub-systems: 120-volt* alternating current (120VAC) and 12-volt direct current (12VDC). You can think of these as “shore power” and “battery power,” respectively. In general, 120VAC electricity is used for “big” electrical loads, like air conditioners, and 12VDC electricity is used for “small” electrical loads, like ceiling lights.
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