In the morning - if you start your air conditioner and the hot water heater is on, then you start your coffee pot, make some toast, watch some TV - you are pulling 50 amps when all appliances are operating at maximum. If you also cook something in the microwave at the same time - LOOK OUT! Most RVs have a switch so you can run only the microwave or the water heater at one time - HOWEVER, NOT ALL RVS HAVE THIS FEATURE.

Most electrical products show how many watts or amps it takes to operate the appliance printed on the product itself or on the instructions. If it shows the watts - divide the watts by 12volts and that gives you the amps. Remember: When the voltage drops the amp draw rises! This is often a problem on hot days, high humidity and crowded campgrounds.

Air conditioners draw 15 to 17 amps and are only designed to reduce the temperature between inside and outside by a maximum of 20 degrees, therefore, if it is 100 outside do not expect the temperature inside to be below 80.

Many people now have computers, printers, fax machines and other devices. The power requirements vary for these and all add to the amp load. Plugging into the "other plug in" in the box does not give you more power, it is usually only a separate protection circuit and the maximum amp draw is for the primary plug. You cannot use the 30 amp and the 20 amp to get 50 amps, it just doesn't work that way. You will cause damage. Save yourself time and money, plan to use the available power and do not try to trick the system into giving more than it is designed to give.

It is worth your time to take an inventory on the "amps" each of your electrical appliances uses, then you can manage your total usage at one time and this greatly reduces the "My electricity went out!" anxiety.