Shore power is transferred to the RV in amperage ratings of 20, 30 or 50.  The amount of available amperage determines the number of electrical loads that can be run.  If a load is added to exceed the current amperage rating, a tripped circuit breaker will generally result.

Know the power requirement for your RV and appliances.  When hooking up to amperage less than the vehicle rating, it is necessary to connect shore power using an adapter.  Before plugging in, confirm the power supply with a voltmeter.  When parking restrictions require an additional extension cord to reach the outlet, keep in mind that the available amperage is reduced through the added cord length.  The shore cord is located in a roadside bay towards the rear of the vehicle.  Turn off the shore power pedestal before plugging in the coach.  Once connected, turn the shore power supply on.

The inverter or converter immediately begins charging the house batteries once the RV is plugged into shore power.  This stage, known as Bulk Charge, is competing for available amperage along with every other electrical item turned on.  For this reason it is preferable to complete the charging process as quickly as possible by regularly maintaining the batteries in optimum condition.  Batteries left to discharge below fifty percent take longer to bring back up.  Batteries in a corroded condition or low on water will result in damaged cells.  One bad cell in a house battery can cause the inverter or converter to indefinitely remain in bulk charge.

Take stock of the available amperage and adjust electrical loads accordingly.  For example, when plugged into 30-amp shore power, run only one 10-15 amp roof air conditioner while the 4 to 7 amp microwave oven is engaged.  During busy times of the day campground power may be further reduced from heavy use and it will be necessary to further conserve the loads.

To efficiently manage electrical loads, take time to learn the amperage rating of individual appliances and electrical systems.  If the power requirement is listed in watts, convert watts to amps by dividing the total number of watts by 120-Volts (600 watts divided by 120 = 5 amps).

There are additional steps you can take to conserve shore power amperage.  If the RV is equipped with a propane system, run the water heater and refrigerator on gas.  Keep the batteries maintained.  When plugging into shore power, give the batteries a few moments to stabilize before adding additional loads.  Unplug the engine block heater until it is needed.

Prior to unplugging shore power, turn off all interior a/c appliances and disengage power at the pedestal.  Use a soft cloth to wipe dust and grime from the shore cord.  Neatly coil the cord and stow it away in a secure location.