If you have lived in both traditional houses and recreational vehicles (RVs), you should know that an RV consumes less energy than bricks and mortar. The question is how much energy-efficient an RV is? How much electricity does an RV use in one month?
If you want to enjoy the regular facilities of your home in the motorhome, you will need to have electrical connections. How much does electricity cost to live in an RV? You should keep track of RV electricity usage to figure this out.
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How Much Power Does an RV Need Per Day?
How much electricity does a trailer need? Calculating the everyday power usage is often a mystery to the new RVers. Several factors determine RV power requirements, including the location of the trailer, the weather of the local area, types of appliances you use in the RV, and the frequency of the usage.
Not every camper is an electrical engineer. Therefore, most new boondockers end up spending a high amount of electricity without knowing how much electricity does an RV use in one month. As a result, they also have to spend a lot on electricity.
Keeping the RV air conditioner and RV heater on for long hours may consume 40-45kwh/day, costing around $200 per month. But, experienced campers will know how many hours of running appliances will cost what amount of bill. With that knowledge, they can control electricity usage and the bills simultaneously.
If a small-sized family is camping in a cost-effective area, a $60-$80 monthly electricity bill is ideal for them. It also means that they should use 15Kwh to 20 kWh/daily on average given the tariff is 12cents/kWh. Don’t be surprised to know that there are campers who pay even less than this average figure just by skimping on electricity usage.
How Much Electricity Does an RV Use in One Month?
As a full-time RVer, you should know how the RV power consumption chart works to figure out the monthly power consumption in the RV. It’s simple math, indeed.
An average RV uses 20 kWh electricity per day, which accumulates to 600 kWh in one month. The national average price of electricity in the USA is 12 cents per kWh, which makes the monthly bill $75. This consumption rate and cost may vary from RV to RV, depending on various factors.
Almost every motorhome has a power cord that can extract electricity from the campground hookups. These cords can be of 30 amp or 50 amp. If you want to use multiple electric appliances at a time, 50 amp is a better choice. If some campgrounds have 30-amp hookups only, you can use an adapter for your 50 amp capacity RV. Remember that with an adapter, you can use a 30 amp cord in a 50 amp RV, but you can never use a 30 amp RV with a 50 amp cord.
How much electricity does a 50 amp RV use? A 50 amp setups can draw up to 12,000 watts while it’s 3,600 watts for a 30 amp setup.
Read more: A Systematic Guide to How to Wire a 50 Amp RV Plug
Will You Get Charged for Electricity in Campgrounds?
Many RV residents want to know if they can save money by parking in a campground. It actually depends on a couple of factors. If you are staying in a campground for a long time, they will charge you for electricity for sure. However, if you stay overnight in a state park or a public campground, no one will meter you directly for electricity. If you are badly in need of charging any device or turning on the AC, this is the right spot.
Tip: To reduce the monthly electricity bill, switch to an RV solar panel. It can be useful for cutting down on the electricity bill when you are camping full-time.
How to Reduce the Use of Electricity in the RV
How much electricity does an RV use in one month? You’ve already got the answer. Want to save a bit on the monthly bill?
Everyone should emphasize on saving electricity because it saves money and conserves natural resources. Here are some electricity-saving tips you should follow:
Use Propane
If you are planning to reduce electricity usage, you can switch to propane from time to time. Water heater, refrigerator, heating system – all can run on propane. But, you have to consider the propane price before making the move because, in some areas, propane is costlier than electricity.
Check the Battery and Meter
While using a 12V battery, see if it is getting unusually hot. A heated current battery indicates an internal problem that can take up the extra electricity. Also, self-read the meter and verify while paying the bill at the end of the months to avoid mistakes.
Use Energy-efficient Appliances
Switching to energy-efficient products is another way to reduce electricity usage and cost. While buying appliances for RV, choose the one that consumes less energy. Low wattage LED bulbs will offer you the same brightness as the regular bulbs while consuming much less electricity. You will get similar benefits by switching to LED TVs and tablets from plasma televisions and old model computers.
Park and Dress Appropriately
You can put less stress on your HVAC system, which is the primary consumer of electricity, only by parking at the right place. Parking in the shade during summer and in the sun during winter will lead to a drastic fall in energy consumption. By wearing warm clothes in the winter and light clothes in the summer, you can reduce the use of the heater and AC.
Travel with the Weather
This is the best way to save electricity use in an RV. If you can avoid camping during extreme weather, you can save all the electricity that the HVAC system needs to keep the interior temperature moderate.
Final Words
Your monthly electricity usage will vary based on your lifestyle, area, and camping sites. However, considering the average as your starting goal is a common practice. After knowing how much electricity does an RV use in one month, it becomes easier to have an idea about the estimated bill.