Your RV can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors without
giving up the comforts of civilization. At least that’s true up to a point. But
if your outlets aren’t working, that key phrase—“comforts of civilization”—quickly
goes out the proverbial window. Are your rv outlets not working? Here are
some ways you can approach them the right way, fix them, and get your RV back
running.
* Always take
precaution when working with electricity. If you do not feel comfortable,
consult a professional.
Are The Outlets The
Problem?
Before working on your outlets, you’ll want to confirm the
underlying issue. Your first step should be to check the power of your RV. Here
are a few tips to ensure that you know the problems are indeed isolated to the
outlets:
- Use a
non-contact voltage tester to be sure of electrical connections safely. You
can find these at home improvement or hardware stores. They’re inexpensive and
will alert you with a “beep” when there’s electricity without you having to
touch a wire. - Try
resetting the circuit breaker first. If your specific rig allows it, this
can potentially solve your problem without having to work with the outlets
themselves. At the very least, it’s worth a try before you conclude that the
problem is indeed the outlets. Make sure to unplug everything from your outlets
and that all conditions are safe before you do the reset. Then, with the power
reset, safely test the outlets. If the problem persists, try moving to the next
step.
Don’t forget to consult your RV owner’s manual as you
attempt anything with your circuit breaker.
How to Reset Tripped
Outlets
Hopefully the above solved the problem. If it didn’t, you
may have some troubleshooting ahead of you. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Trace the
problematic wiring to the specific issue. Consult an owner’s manual for
this or even contact the manufacturer to get a sense of where the physical
wiring traces to. - Test for
issues. As you learn where the wiring comes from, you’ll want to identify
circuit breakers and watch for a tripped GFCI outlet—or even potentially a
loose wire that’s introducing the problem. This will require physical testing
such as a volt ohmmeter or a three-prong outlet tester. If you don’t have
confidence or experience working with live electrical circuits, consult a
professional for your own safety. - Identifying
the power source of the circuit will help you determine if there’s power
coming through to the circuit at all. If the system can’t be fixed with the
simple resetting of the outlet as described in your RV manual, and is in need
of repairs or replacement, you may have to consult an electrician.
One rule of thumb when it comes to electrical safety is that
working with live electrical circuits is a bad idea if you don’t have any
experience or knowledge. If you rv outlets are not working, it’s better to take your RV to a
professional if you can’t solve them using your experience, knowledge of safety,
and basic hardware equipment. Follow your RV manual’s guidelines for proper
diagnosis of electrical problems.
For Your Other RV Needs
Make sure that you always take care of your RV in the safest
way possible. And make sure to use quality RV cleaning and sealing products
from RV by LIFE to help keep your RV in great shape.
