I believe now – more than ever, that people are fascinated with the fact that folks can exist living the ‘good life’  in an RV. The freedom and adventure -  one would have doing this full-time or not full-time is certainly intriguing. Here are the topics that were covered in this article.

1. Massage therapist
2. Creative services
3. RV – Related sales
4. RV repairs
5. Teacher or trainer

Do you dream of buying an RV, traveling the country, and staying at beautiful campsites every night? You don’t have to retire — or wait until you’ve saved enough money to quit your job — to make that happen. Here are five portable businesses that you can operate completely from the road, no matter where you go. Read more of the articles by clicking HERE!

30 Amp vs. 50 Amp Power Cords – Which One is Yours?

Why is it you can only run one air conditioner at a time on the  30 Amp power cord but if you have the 50 Amp power cord you can operate both air conditioners?

Then we hear other RVers use the terms Amps? Volts? Watts? What does all this mean?  You just want to sit and enjoy the scenery but instead you are sitting in the dark?  How can you determine the limits of your RV electrical systems?

There are 3 electrical systems in your RV

• 12 Volt DC (direct current - automotive type battery) that runs the exterior running lights, stop lights and turn signals of your coach.  On a trailer they are powered through the 7 way pin connector from your tow vehicle. On a motorized unit they are powered by your chassis alternator and battery just like your car.
• 12 Volt DC (direct current - deep cycle battery type) that powers all the 12 volt lights, fresh water pump, circuit boards for your appliances, propane detector, room slide outs and powered leveling jacks. The converter (fancy battery charger) that takes 120 volts AC like we have at home wall receptacles and changes it to 12 volts DC for this deep cycle battery.
• 120 Volts AC (alternating current like we have at home) that powers the air conditioner, microwave, electric element in the water heater, ceiling fans and wall receptacles and the AC to DC converter.  This 120 Volts AC gets its power from the 30 or 50 amp power cord we plug into the pedestal shore power or generator.

Most electrical products have a label or plate on them that list voltage, amperage and sometimes the watts it will use.  What does all that mean?

Voltage – is the “push” that the electricity has.  Voltage is the same to electricity that water pressure is to a water system.  Voltage is either 12 volts DC (direct current) or 120 volts AC.

Amperage - is the flow of electricity.  Amperage is the same to electricity as gallons of water flow is to a water system.  The size and length of the wire carrying the amperage or current determines how much flow we can have.

Wattage or Watts – is the power of the work that can be done.  Watts is figured by taking the voltage and multiplying it by the amperage.

Every electrical device has a wattage or power rating.  For example: We rate our generators by the wattage they produce.

Recreational Vehicles come with one of two power cords.  The power cord is either rated at 30 amp or 50 amp at 120 volts AC.

50 amp & 30 amp Power Cord

So if you Rig has a 30 Amp power cord, you will have a 3,600 Watts or 3.6 KW (kilowatts) to run all your 120 volt AC appliances.

The 30 Amp power cord has a black wire as it power leg, white wire as its neutral leg and a green ground wire.

If you Rig has a 50 Amp power cord, you will have 12,000 Watts or 12 KW (kilowatts). Yes you read that correctly….12,000 Watts of Power available to use.

The 50 Amp power cord has 2 hot or power legs.  One is black and the other is red.  Each hot leg is capable of carrying 50 Amps.  One white wire is the neutral and the other wire is the green ground wire.

Typically, motor homes and 5th wheels will have the 50 amp power cord to handle their power requirements.  It is the ‘extra’ power that allows you to operate that 2nd air conditioner.

It is surprising how fast your AMPS add up which cause your circuit breaker to trip. Sometimes the individual circuit breaker for those powers appliances will trip other times it is the main circuit breaker that goes.  When you locate that tripped ciricuit breaker you flip it to the OFF position then back to the ON position.

Typical Power Requirements for your RV Devices

Air Condition – 15,000 BTU                       12.5 amps x 120 volts= 1,500 watts

(your air conditioner will somtimes pull 20 to 30 amps to get started)

Electric Water Heater – 6 gallon               12.5 amps x 120 volts= 1,500 watts

Microwave Oven                                             12.8 amps x 120 volts= 1,536 watts

Electric Coffee Pot                                                9 amps x 120 volts= 1,080 watts

Toaster                                                                   10 amps x 120 volts= 1,200 watts

Hair Dryer                                                             10 amps x 120 volts= 1,200 watts

TV                                                                               2 amps x 120 volts=     240 watts

Dirt Devil hand vacuum                                    2 amps x 120 volts=     240 watts

Electric Frying pan                                          10 amps x 120 volts=  1,200 watts

Iron                                                                        10 amps x 120 volts=1,200 watts

Food Processor                                                     6 amps x 120 volts=  720 watts

Crock Pot                                                              1.5 amps x 120 volts=   180 watts

Heating Pad                                                           .5 amps x 120 volts=      60 watts

Take a minute and  figure how much power you are using. It is suprising how fast it adds up. You can trip your breaker and be in the dark.

We must become good managers of our power usage so we can enjoy the RVing Lifestyle.

It’s our job to help you keep your wheels rolling…we’ll see you down the highway!!!

Order the 6 hour Electrical Course by clicking here!

Thanks,

Janet

Greenwood, SC

 Mark Lucht 

 -

 Sioux Falls, SD

We now have all 8 - RV Maintenance Take Home Technician Series Courses available in our store for purchase in one bundle. These are the course title included in this bundle.

• RV Electrical
• RV Plumbing
• RV Propane
• RV Refrigerators
• RV Air Conditioners
• RV Water Heaters
• RV Furnace
• RV Exterior

Regular price for all these courses if you purchased separately would be  $576.00 but in this bundle you are receiving almost a 50% discount taking the sale price to $297.00  This is a set you will want for your library so you can do the work yourself.

RV Inspector Course

Looking to buy an RV? Or have you one you need to maintain?  Take a look at the Professor’s library of new products on DIY that are now available in the STORE.  Remembering that 80% of the work that is done on your RV can be done by YOU if someone will just show you how.

So let the Professor guide you step-by-step from buying your RV to maintaining your rig. 

•  *RV Inspector
• *Knowing Your RV Electrical Systems
• * Becoming an Certified RV Walk Through Technician
• * RV Appliance Maintenance (4 pack DVDs)
• * Know Your RV – A Guided Tour
• * Texas RV Professor Shows You How
• * Atwood Water Heater Repair

RVing is one of the most enjoyable lifestyles you can have. To make it more fulfilling you need to take a few minutes and do an inventory of your needs, lifestyle and how you plan on using your unit.

2) 15 Minute Make Over for Your RV Air Conditioner

The Air Conditioner on top of a Recreational Vehicle is one of the most overworked and under serviced appliances on the coach. A few simple procedures will help keep your unit operating at its peak performance.

3) 30 Amp vs. 50 Amp Power Cords – Which One is Yours?

Did You Know? – More Facts from America’s RV Expert   30 Amp vs. 50 Amp Power Cords – Which One is Yours?

http://mobilervacademy.com/topics/did-you-know-facts-from-the-professor/

www.workamper.com/rvprofessor/takehometech

• Water Systems for the RV 
• Recreational Vehicle Exterior Inspections and Repairs
• Propane Systems
• Servicing Your RV Air Conditioner
• Maintaining the RV Furnace
• Recreational Vehicle Water Heaters 
• Recreational Vehicle Absorption type Refrigerators
•  Maintaining the RV Furnace
• Electrical Systems
• Becoming an RV Inspector 
• Becoming a Certified Walk – Through Technician

Roady RV Dog

 ”NO…I’m not Woofing!” Says Roady, the RV Dog.

“Did you really SAVE a lot of money when now……your gonna have to replace  some major appliances?  Well, I tell you ….Don’t replace them, fix them yourself and I’m not just woofing.”

“You can get my Professor, TERRY COOPER, who is a Master Certified Technician, to stand beside you to trouble shoot  with you… by taking you step-by-step through the getting it right process. It’s like having a Master Certified Technician looking over your shoulder…getting ‘er done.”

“Yep…it’s true.  My Professor has been working hard to put together some super DVDs on 4 major appliances. These DVDs cover all the trouble shooting techniques, repairs and he has a few tricks up his sleeve so you can give new life to your unit’s appliances. Here’s the names of each DVD:  1) Water Heaters  2) Furnaces  3)Air/Conditioners   4) Refrigerators.”

“I’ll take some of the credit because I worked hard too…laying at my Professor’s feet as he guided Ken Greening on trouble shooting his newly acquired auction FEMA trailer.  You will find that these DVD’s are just what YOU need to get your tail waggin … once again.”

“So, this is all you have to do. Click on the link below and it will take you right to the Professor’s store where he has lots of DVD’s to choose from.  Look for the ones that has FEMA on them. You might need just one…or all 4 but whatever you do…don’t wait. The Professor will get your tail wagging again, that’s for sure.”

“Oh, by the way…the Professor has a video right here on this page for you to listen to…which gives you more information about these DVDs. Go ahead! Take a look.”

Here’s your link: http://www.shop.everythingrvtv.com/RV-Maintenance-Educational-DVDS-DIY-Repair_c4.htm

“Remember: This is….Roady the RV Dog.  We’ll see you on down the highway!”

Has there been someone on your staff you have been watching and they show promise? Do you have a sharp young man or lady that would make a great RV technician if you could just get them some training?

 Here is your chance to develop their skills and talents that will help grow your business.

 Hi, I am Terry Cooper, a Master Certified RV Technician and recipient of the RVIA Scholastic Achievement Award.

Why pay travel expenses, hotel bills and have your technician away from the shop and their family for 2 to 3 days at some off site training location.

Now you can have your technicians take their training via a live 2 way interactive Webinar from your location.

These Webinars will be held on Saturday mornings from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM starting May 8, 2010 for a period of 5 weeks, for a total of 10 hours (May 8^th, 15^th, 22^nd, 29^th and June 5^th).

The student will be able to access these live classes via a computer whether it is at your shop, their home or some designated location you chose.

Your technician will be able to raise their hand to ask questions, talk and interact with the Professor just like they would if they were sitting in a classroom at some tech training center.

Each course will have the following:

• Skills Evaluation Exam – 125 questions in the format of a Pre-Test (a $100 value)
• 10 hours of online instruction via a 2 way internet connected webinar
• 5 sessions of at least 2 hours in length
• Lecture and discussion of various electrical topics
• Downloadable handouts in pdf format
• Homework – hands on assignments
• Quizzes and Video segments to view
• Copy of the Professor’s DVD “Know Your RV – A Guided Tour of a 5^th wheel and Travel Trailer”
• Post Test
• Access to recorded material for up to 30 days after course completion
• Certificate of Completion from the Mobile RV Academy

RV Electrical Systems for the RV Technician Course Overview

Session 1 – Saturday,  May 8, 2010 – 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Overview of the 3 RV Electrical Systems

• What is electricity? Where does it come from?
• Learn about the 3 electrical systems found in today’s RV
• Voltage, Resistance and Current, the 3 items that make up the electrical systems
• Ohm’s Law, Watts Law and
• The difference between AC voltage and DC voltage.

Session 2 – Saturday,  May 15, 2010 – 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

DC Voltage

• What is DC voltage and where does it come from?
• Converters  are more than just fancy battery chargers
• Why you need a fully functional battery to properly operate your appliances, water pump, slide outs and other devices.
• Fuses and DC protective devices.
• Going Green – Solar panels and wind generators – what they can and cannot do for you

Session 3 – Saturday,  May 22, 2010 –  8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

AC Voltage

• What is AC voltage and where does it come from?
• Why you need AC voltage for the air conditioning, microwave and heating element of your water heater.
• Shore (pedestal) power and generators
• Inverters – the other AC voltage source
• 30 amps vs 50 amps, why bother and what do they mean?

Session 4 – Saturday,  May 29, 2010 – 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Electrical Capstone Materials

• Calculating power consumption and power conservation
• Replacing a defective circuit breaker
• GFCI testing and troubleshooting
• Monitoring AC voltage from the pedestal
• Why you need to restrict the usage a 30 to 15 amp reducer

Session 5 – Saturday,  June 5, 2010 – 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Advanced Troubleshooting Techniques

• Safe testing procedures to live by.
• Learning to use your Volt Ohm Amp Meter.
• How to use an Amp Clamp meter to test for current flow.
• Procedures on conducting a Hot Skin Test
• How to troubleshoot and sectionalize an electrical circuit.
• How to locate, test and replace a defective circuit breaker or fuse.
• Down and dirty troubleshooting techniques to save you time and make you money.

Live discussion of troubleshooting issues that the students have encountered will be an ongoing process during these sessions.

10 hours of online instruction via a 2 way internet connected webinars are priced at

$697 each student

To Register click on Mobile RV Academy  or contact professor@MobileRVAcademy.com or call 254 715-7388

Equipment and Supplies necessary to take the course:

• Internet connection – you will be given a link to access for the interactive 2 way Webinars.
• Computer with at least Windows XP software – recommend each student have own system.
• Headset- 1 per student with microphone (similar to Logitech Pro, approximate cost $40)
• Inexpensive multi-meter for testing of electrical circuits (we will provide 1 for each student)
• Notepad, pens and pencils
• Willingness to learn