Hi Todd I have a silly thought. What about just turning off the main breaker, 30 amp, 50 amp, inside the rig. Then plug into the pedestal. That way there is no draw on the rig. Then turn on the main breaker. Good idea??
I don't think it's a silly thought at all. I had the same thought and was just going to post the same comment. Turn off the main breaker in the RV. In fact my grand design manual says you're supposed to do that anyway.
Maybe just easier to make sure the A/C is off and not have to lay on the floor under the bed to pull the breaker switch. Or simply…….Not everyone has the breaker switch in a convenient place. This sarcastic answer only pertains to? You know who you are! The person just not thinking about it? No offense intended. Have a great day!
We just plug the surge protector without the cable connected. Once I get an E0 message, then I plug in the rig. We always turn the ac off until power is functioning in the rig. We take baby steps to turning devices on.
Can’t thank you enough for all the knowledge and laughs you’ve given me! Your videos are the bomb and are a high point of my week! I’m a newbie with 6 200 watt panels on the roof, 2000 watt inverter and 2 200AH lithium batteries. My question is about parasitic draw… everything we buy these days: phones, computers, flashlights, even blenders, come with charging cords. If I leave those cords plugged into USB or regular outlets in the camper without a device attached, are they drawing any power? Plugging and unplugging isn’t a big deal BUT I would LOVE to be able to leave cords in designated outlets so I don’t have to hunt for them every time I need one in my huge 18ft camper! Thanks again! Knowledge is power… no pun intended. 😆 7:36
I dont think he answers questions. Im going to figure it out with an amp meter because I personally wonder about those little squares you plug into a power strip that are changing 120v to 5v or 12v. I THINK the correct answer is; as long as nothing is on the end it wont draw any power and I was going to say that. However, I have the ability to directly test that. Ill test it and get back to you. Ive wondered this for quite a while. the funny part is my first LIFEPo4 100AH is coming today and then I am buying a 2000w Pure sine inverter. i was actually thinking about how much electricity the control panel and display on the interverter use. Sounds like you PERSONALLY have a solar system that would way more than compensate for any miniscule drain you would have from a usb power plug (if any) You are far from a newbie or smarly bought your camper equipped (Something I kind of wish I did initially)
Thanks for your input! I went big on my solar because I expect to be in the PNW for a while where clouds can go on for daaaaaaays. Having eight devices that need regular charging, I don’t want to get caught short.
When plugging into any campground, you should have your master shutoff in your RV turned off. Keep a checklist and follow it all the time you will be fine. Practice it and take your time learning the routine. Plugging in your surge protector, letting it go active and then plugging in your wire wont help if you have a sudden draw on the line from the AC going on etc. The safest routine is once you are ready to plug into the park, shut your master off in the RV, if there is a circuit breaker at the post, shut that off too, plug in, then turn on the circuit breaker at the post, finally turn the master on in the RV. Do this in reverse when unplugging. Most problems occur when you are in a hurry, or in bad weather when youre rushing to plug or unplug. Create a routine for everything and follow it. From hooking your trailer to your vehicle, thru setting it up at the site etc.. Checklist everything. You'll never have a problem.
I wholly agree with checklists, but I do question your process. I also agree that turning off your main breaker is the right thing to do if there is no breaker on the pedestal, we have done that for years. However, if there is a breaker on the pedestal, I leave my main breaker on. I would rather put any surge current on their breaker contacts than mine.
We typically boondock so when we come upon a campground with electric, we proceed carefully. I plug my surge protector in first and look at the lights. If all is good, then I run the wire from the trailer to the surge protector. All of our appliances are off in the trailer when in transit so we turn them on once power is connected. I really enjoy your tech tip tuesdays.
My surge suppression that I connect to the pedestal has a delay built in so I have no concerns about what is in the ON position in the RV. It takes about 90 seconds for the surge suppression to kick in and allow current to flow to the RV. With all that said, it is very rare that there is no circuit breaker at the pedestal. Very rare.
Hi Todd, I have a problem in my class A Rv ,every time I connect short power my converter doesn’t charge my batteries? Batteries are new and changed my inverter thinking it was. Let me know. I am always watching your show in Tuesday.Thank you
If got a question Todd. My Lance camper came with 2 100 W solar panels and 2 100 amp hr lithium batteries. I have a portable 100W solar panel is it ok to hook it into the system to add that extra 100W. Thanks 🇨🇦👍
Hi todd, I have question to you. I have a 12 v fridge and I have a solar panel on my trailer. My question is there a problem if I have my fridge on drawing power from my battery while on the road then upon arrival at my camp site plug my power to power pedestal without turning my fridge off?
Not Todd but this should help. 1 Connect power cord to RV. 2 Connect power cord to Watchdog. 3 Watchdog to pedestal. No chance of being distracted and not connecting before delay has counted down.
Change the name to Tech Tip Tuesday....LOL I really have no where to be so whether it is 2 minute or 8 minutes I listen! Bwaaaa Ha Ha. Great tip my friend as we no matter if we have a pedestal with a breaker switch to off or not have our AC and all things we can off prior to hooking in.
Hi Todd I have a silly thought. What about just turning off the main breaker, 30 amp, 50 amp, inside the rig. Then plug into the pedestal. That way there is no draw on the rig. Then turn on the main breaker. Good idea??
I don't think it's a silly thought at all. I had the same thought and was just going to post the same comment. Turn off the main breaker in the RV. In fact my grand design manual says you're supposed to do that anyway.
This video could have been 15 seconds long if he had this commonsense idea.
@Dougy_Fresh Maybe it just slipped his mind. He is usually spot on with everything..
@@Dougy_Freshguessing you aren’t a teacher. Not an insult just an observation
Maybe just easier to make sure the A/C is off and not have to lay on the floor under the bed to pull the breaker switch.
Or simply…….Not everyone has the breaker switch in a convenient place.
This sarcastic answer only pertains to? You know who you are!
The person just not thinking about it? No offense intended.
Have a great day!
We just plug the surge protector without the cable connected. Once I get an E0 message, then I plug in the rig. We always turn the ac off until power is functioning in the rig. We take baby steps to turning devices on.
Great stuff once again Todd!
Great advice. Thanks Todd.
Thank you so much Todd.
Great video. Very valuable information. Thank you
Can’t thank you enough for all the knowledge and laughs you’ve given me! Your videos are the bomb and are a high point of my week! I’m a newbie with 6 200 watt panels on the roof, 2000 watt inverter and 2 200AH lithium batteries. My question is about parasitic draw… everything we buy these days: phones, computers, flashlights, even blenders, come with charging cords. If I leave those cords plugged into USB or regular outlets in the camper without a device attached, are they drawing any power? Plugging and unplugging isn’t a big deal BUT I would LOVE to be able to leave cords in designated outlets so I don’t have to hunt for them every time I need one in my huge 18ft camper! Thanks again! Knowledge is power… no pun intended. 😆 7:36
I dont think he answers questions. Im going to figure it out with an amp meter because I personally wonder about those little squares you plug into a power strip that are changing 120v to 5v or 12v. I THINK the correct answer is; as long as nothing is on the end it wont draw any power and I was going to say that. However, I have the ability to directly test that. Ill test it and get back to you. Ive wondered this for quite a while. the funny part is my first LIFEPo4 100AH is coming today and then I am buying a 2000w Pure sine inverter. i was actually thinking about how much electricity the control panel and display on the interverter use. Sounds like you PERSONALLY have a solar system that would way more than compensate for any miniscule drain you would have from a usb power plug (if any) You are far from a newbie or smarly bought your camper equipped (Something I kind of wish I did initially)
Thanks for your input! I went big on my solar because I expect to be in the PNW for a while where clouds can go on for daaaaaaays. Having eight devices that need regular charging, I don’t want to get caught short.
Todd - thanks so much - great question from viewer & great video to explain it all .... I also try to tune in every week to learn more!
When plugging into any campground, you should have your master shutoff in your RV turned off. Keep a checklist and follow it all the time you will be fine. Practice it and take your time learning the routine. Plugging in your surge protector, letting it go active and then plugging in your wire wont help if you have a sudden draw on the line from the AC going on etc. The safest routine is once you are ready to plug into the park, shut your master off in the RV, if there is a circuit breaker at the post, shut that off too, plug in, then turn on the circuit breaker at the post, finally turn the master on in the RV. Do this in reverse when unplugging. Most problems occur when you are in a hurry, or in bad weather when youre rushing to plug or unplug. Create a routine for everything and follow it. From hooking your trailer to your vehicle, thru setting it up at the site etc.. Checklist everything. You'll never have a problem.
I wholly agree with checklists, but I do question your process. I also agree that turning off your main breaker is the right thing to do if there is no breaker on the pedestal, we have done that for years. However, if there is a breaker on the pedestal, I leave my main breaker on. I would rather put any surge current on their breaker contacts than mine.
We typically boondock so when we come upon a campground with electric, we proceed carefully. I plug my surge protector in first and look at the lights. If all is good, then I run the wire from the trailer to the surge protector. All of our appliances are off in the trailer when in transit so we turn them on once power is connected. I really enjoy your tech tip tuesdays.
I do it exactly the same as you. Breaker off, plug in pms, breaker on to test the power supply, if good breaker off, plug in power cord.
2 minute tech Tuesday is now 7 min
How about turning off the battery disconnect switch
Thanks for the good info. This is why we have a hardwired WatchDog.
My surge suppression that I connect to the pedestal has a delay built in so I have no concerns about what is in the ON position in the RV. It takes about 90 seconds for the surge suppression to kick in and allow current to flow to the RV. With all that said, it is very rare that there is no circuit breaker at the pedestal. Very rare.
Todd, which is best a hard wired protector or a pedestal plug in one? Great video as always..
What about turning off your coaches power disconnect switch? Would that work in this case???
Hi Todd, I have a problem in my class A Rv ,every time I connect short power my converter doesn’t charge my batteries? Batteries are new and changed my inverter thinking it was. Let me know. I am always watching your show in Tuesday.Thank you
Can you travel with a gas generator running to power your camper on a bumper rack to keep fridge running?
If you have no way of shutting the power from the pedestal just turn your main breaker in the RV off before doing any connections.
If got a question Todd. My Lance camper came with 2 100 W solar panels and 2 100 amp hr lithium batteries. I have a portable 100W solar panel is it ok to hook it into the system to add that extra 100W. Thanks 🇨🇦👍
Hi todd, I have question to you. I have a 12 v fridge and I have a solar panel on my trailer. My question is there a problem if I have my fridge on drawing power from my battery while on the road then upon arrival at my camp site plug my power to power pedestal without turning my fridge off?
Could you just turn off the main breaker in the rv?
Hi Todd. Great advice. What if I plug my Watchdog into a hot pedestal and then plug the shoreline into the Watchdog? Any issues with that sequence?
Not Todd but this should help.
1 Connect power cord to RV.
2 Connect power cord to Watchdog.
3 Watchdog to pedestal.
No chance of being distracted and not connecting before delay has counted down.
If I can't turn off the breaker at the pedestal, I turn off my main breaker in the rv to plug in and out
Could you not just flip your main breaker inside the RV to off before you plug it into the pedestal?
Just turn off main breaker in RV.
Change the name to Tech Tip Tuesday....LOL
I really have no where to be so whether it is 2 minute or 8 minutes I listen! Bwaaaa Ha Ha.
Great tip my friend as we no matter if we have a pedestal with a breaker switch to off or not have our AC and all things we can off prior to hooking in.
This was a way longer video than it needed to be, just turn off your main breaker plug everything in, flip the main breaker on
Turn off any heavy load.......If it runs on AC, turn off the breaker before you plug in!!! Why didn't you mention that?????????????