Guide
Shore power and EV charging for RVs
Updated October 22, 2026. Prices checked on the makers' own sites that day.
Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy through these links. It never changes what we recommend or what the tools calculate. How we make money.
What each hookup delivers
| Connection | Plug | Volts | Max watts | Comfortable continuous (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Household 15 A | NEMA 5-15 | 120 V | 1,800 W | 1,440 W |
| Household 20 A | NEMA 5-20 | 120 V | 2,400 W | 1,920 W |
| RV 30 A | TT-30 | 120 V | 3,600 W | 2,880 W |
| RV 50 A | NEMA 14-50 | 120/240 V, two lines | 12,000 W | 9,600 W |
Don't confuse TT-30 and 14-50 with dryer or welder outlets
A TT-30 is 120 V; a NEMA 10-30 dryer outlet is 240 V and will damage an RV wired for 120 V. Only use adapters made for the exact plug pair, and never force a fit.
Charging your house battery from shore power
Three ways, from simplest to most complete:
- A plug-in lithium charger on a household outlet inside the rig. The Redodo 14.6V 20A LiFePO4 Charger is $82.99.
- The RV's converter, if it has a lithium setting. Check before you switch to lithium (what else changes).
- An inverter-charger such as the Redodo 3000W Inverter Charger (12V) ($499.99): it charges at up to 45 A when plugged in and switches your outlets to the inverter when you unplug. This one belongs to an electrician, because it connects to the RV's AC wiring.
Have a power station instead? A Bluetti 30A Charging Cable (NEMA TT-30) ($79.00) charges a compatible Bluetti straight from a 30 A pedestal.
Charging an EV with RV power
A 50 A RV pedestal has the same NEMA 14-50 outlet that portable Level 2 EV chargers plug into. With the park's permission, that adds about 25 to 30 miles of range per hour for many EVs at 40 A. A 30 A TT-30 pedestal only supports slower 120 V charging and needs a purpose-made adapter.
At home, one NEMA 14-50 outlet installed by an electrician can serve the RV when it's parked and a plug-in EV charger the rest of the time.
Portable: pedestal or home outlet
Lectron Portable Level 2 J1772 Charger (NEMA 14-50, 40A)
Plugs into the same NEMA 14-50 outlet a 50 A RV pedestal or a home RV outlet uses.
Wall-mounted at home
Autel MaxiCharger AC Elite Home 40A (NEMA 14-50)
A wall charger for the home driveway where the RV also parks. Plugs into a NEMA 14-50 outlet.
More on home charging at Spark Powered: best home EV chargers and what installation costs.
Safety first
Fuse every positive wire as close to the battery or bus bar as you can, and use the wire and fuse sizes from a standard table, not a guess. Boats should follow ABYC E-11; anything that touches 120/240 V AC should follow the NEC. Shore power, inverter-chargers and transfer switches belong to a qualified electrician or marine installer, or at least their inspection.
Run the power planner
Battery, solar, charger, inverter, every wire and fuse, and a priced parts list.
Draw your wiring
Drag parts onto a diagram and get gauge and fuse labels on every run.
Questions people ask
What's the difference between 30 amp and 50 amp RV service?
A 30 A hookup (TT-30 plug) is a single 120 V line: 30 x 120 = 3,600 W. A 50 A hookup (NEMA 14-50) brings two 120 V lines of 50 A each: up to 12,000 W. A 50 A RV can run two air conditioners; a 30 A RV usually one.
Can I plug my RV into a house outlet?
Yes, with an adapter, but a 15 A household circuit gives 1,800 W at most and should carry no more than 80% of that for long. That runs the converter, lights and fridge, not the air conditioner. Use a short, heavy cord.
Can I charge my EV at an RV park?
Only where the park allows it; many charge a fee or forbid it. A 50 A pedestal's NEMA 14-50 outlet can feed a portable Level 2 charger such as the Lectron Portable Level 2 J1772 Charger (NEMA 14-50, 40A) ($269.99), which draws 40 A, within the 80% continuous limit of a 50 A circuit.
Do I need an electrician for a NEMA 14-50 at home?
Yes: it's a 240 V, 50 A circuit. One outlet can serve the RV when parked and an EV charger the rest of the time. Spark Powered breaks down what that installation costs.
Keep going
Van electrical basics
The six parts every camper system has, how they connect, and a diagram to download.
Wire gauge and fuse chart
12 V and 24 V wire sizes and fuses by amps and run length, from the ABYC tables.
Lithium conversion
Swapping lead-acid for lithium: what it costs and the three things that must change with it.
Power station vs built-in
When a Bluetti box beats a wired system, and when it costs you more.