Question about connecting power.

[RobertE]

I’ve seen it recommended to turn off all the breakers before connecting power. Is this necessary?

 

[Trav_lr]

Not in my 20+ years of RVing experience! Only at the park pedestal.

 

[Rollin Ollen]

I’ve seen it recommended to turn off all the breakers before connecting power. Is this necessary?

If you are talking about breakers IN THE RV then never. If you are talking about the breakers on the shore power post in an RV Park, then I will turn that power off. I plug in our surge guard then turn the breakers back on checking to make sure the power is safe then I plug the RV in.

 

[JBright11]

If you are talking about breakers IN THE RV then never. If you are talking about the breakers on the shore power post in an RV Park, then I will turn that power off. I plug in our surge guard then turn the breakers back on checking to make sure the power is safe then I plug the RV in.

Exactly the same procedure for me. I've never heard or read that it is suggested to throw breakers inside the RV.

 

[Neal]

I’ve seen it recommended to turn off all the breakers before connecting power. Is this necessary?

The breakers at the campground plugin so there is no arcing or risk to you. Not within your RV. Once you are plugged into the pedestal you can turn on the breaker(s) and verify your connection.

 

[RobertE]

Thanks, all. Didn’t make sense to me. I haven’t been checking the breaker on the power box. Need to start doing that - and turning it off, too.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Yes and no.

The procedure is helpful during high demand times. That is when a "softstart" of your RV can help the grid. Especially during times that are producing brown out concerns.

Otherwise, use the pedal breaker.

 

[DKRITTER]

We too make sure the breaker at the pedestal is off before connecting.

 

[DKRITTER]

On a related note....

On a trip a couple of years ago my wife noticed our fridge was off. Quickly realized the inverter was also off. Driving down the road I turned the inverter on and the fridge made a weird noise. My guess is the board on the back of the fridge didn't like the power surge and pooped out.
We ended up pulling out the fridge and having a tech come out and replace the board and programming it. Not fun.
Now if for any reason the inverter is off I turn all the breakers off on the panel mid-bath then turn the inverter on and then turn the breakers on.

 

[timaff]

On a related note....

On a trip a couple of years ago my wife noticed our fridge was off. Quickly realized the inverter was also off. Driving down the road I turned the inverter on and the fridge made a weird noise. My guess is the board on the back of the fridge didn't like the power surge and pooped out.
We ended up pulling out the fridge and having a tech come out and replace the board and programming it. Not fun.
Now if for any reason the inverter is off I turn all the breakers off on the panel mid-bath then turn the inverter on and then turn the breakers on.

i never had that problem. however, i just might turn off my appliances off before i turn on my invertor . only problem if i lose the power from the rv park my inverter turns on automatically. It was a failsafe so my a/c would turn if needed when we owned a dog and we weren't home.