RV Power: Shore, Generator & Transfer Switch Services
Your RV power system links campground power pedestals (shore), generator power, and the coach. A safe setup uses a sealed power inlet, a quality power cord, an automatic transfer switch (ATS), and real surge protection from an energy management system (EMS). If you notice flicker, hot plugs, low 120 volts, or frequent breaker trips, something in the chain needs service.
Traveling RV Technicians (TRVT) provides mobile RV power diagnostics, repair, and upgrades—cords, inlets, cord reels, adapters, ATS units, and EMS—plus labeling at the breaker panel/power distribution centers for reliable power supply across your rv electrical systems.
Shore Power Basics & Pedestal Testing
Before you plug in, we test the pedestal for correct 120 volts, frequency, open neutral, open ground, and reverse polarity. We confirm the outlet format—30 amp (TT-30), 50 amp (NEMA 14-50), or NEMA 5-15/5-20—and verify a tight connection. Catching bad power pedestals early protects compressors, chargers, and sensitive electrical devices from spikes and higher voltages that cause failures.
30 Amp vs 50 Amp Capacity & Load Management
A 30 amp coach has about 3,600 watts total at 120 volts. A 50 amp service has two 120V legs and far more headroom, but loads still need balance. We map branch circuits, stage the air conditioner, microwave, and water heater, and configure EMS load-shedding so the main breaker stays calm during high power demand.
Adapters, Dogbones & Safe Use
Adapters help, but they can mask weak pedestals. We inspect TT-30 ↔ 14-50 dogbones, household adapters, and extension cables for heat and drop. We explain when an adapter is a good idea and when to skip it—preventing nuisance trips, scorched connectors, and downstream electrical issues.
Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) Service
The ATS selects shore or generator power and passes it to the coach. Pitted contacts cause brownouts, chatter, and heat. We service and replace ATS units (ESCO, Southwire, Go Power!, Xantrex), confirm delay timing, neutral routing, and bonding rules so ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) devices behave and inverter/charger pass-through is smooth.
EMS & Surge Protection That Actually Works
An RV surge protector / EMS watches for under-voltage, over-voltage, frequency errors, reverse polarity, and open neutral—disconnecting unsafe power before damage occurs. We install portable and hardwired units (Progressive Industries, Hughes Power Watchdog, Southwire Surge Guard) and show you how to read codes and reconnect safely. Real surge protection prevents ruined electrical equipment and expensive downtime.
Inverter/Charger Pass-Through & Subpanel Setup
If you use an inverter/charger, layout matters. We build an inverter subpanel for the outlets you want live off-grid, verify transfer switch order, and confirm neutral/ground bonding. We coordinate AC with 12-volt dc power sources (converter/charger and batteries) so devices cooperate rather than fight—steady power supply, fewer alarms.
Generator Integration, Soft-Start & High Voltage
For onboard units (Cummins Onan and others), we test output, frequency, and wiring to the ATS. On tight 30 amp sites, soft-start modules (Micro-Air EasyStart, SoftStartRV) tame A/C inrush to reduce breaker trips. We also check for unsafe higher voltages and explain why anything above 50 volts on exposed circuits is a hazard threshold in many standards.
Common RV Power Problems We Fix
Melted plugs or hot inlets at the power cord
Random outages or flicker when the air conditioner starts
EMS codes for low voltage or open neutral
Short circuit or GFCI trips on wet days
ATS “chatter” or no pass-through on shore power
Voltage drop from long runs or undersized wire gauge
We measure, thermal-scan, and correct the root cause—not just the symptom.