If you’re used to working on your car, you might get an RV and think that everything will be the same.
For example, if you need to change the fuses in your RV, you might think they are the same as the ones in your car.
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But is that true? No, fuses for an RV are not the same as fuses for a car.
This is mostly because the electrical systems and electrical needs of these two kinds of cars are different.
We’ll talk about this topic in more depth below for RV owners who want to know about RV fuses before they hit the road.
Difference Between RV Fuses and Car Fuses
The main job of both car fuses and RV fuses is to protect the electrical system from damage, but that’s about all they have in common.
An RV, like a refrigerator, has a lot of electrical parts that a car doesn’t have.
Because of this, an RV has more fuses than a car.
RVs Have A Fuse Box, Car’s Don’t
When we compare RV fuses to car fuses, another big difference is that cars don’t have a fuse box (or breaker box) or circuit breakers, but RVs do.
If you think about it, an RV is just a mobile house, which is why it has a fuse box and circuit breakers and not just one or the other in a car.
Instead, cars have a battery under the hood that goes bad and needs to be changed.
The fuse box is also under the hood of the car on the driver’s side.
Explaining RV Electrical Systems and Power Sources
Most RVs have three different ways to get power, which can be confusing for people who have never owned one before.
AC system of electricity
DC means direct current.
Propane system
Most of the time, propane is used to power big appliances, and if the RV has a gas stove, it will also power that.
The 12V batteries are what power the DC system. This system runs small things in the RV, like the light switches.
Most of the time, generators power the 120V AC system, unless you’re at a campground where you can hook up to the electrical system there.
The AC electrical system in an RV powers small appliances like the microwave and air conditioner.
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So, the RV has three power systems, so where in the world is the fuse box?
Where Is The Fuse Box In An RV?
One important thing to remember is that the exact location of the fuse box can vary from one RV model to the next.
So, if you bought a new RV, that fuse box might not be in the same place as it was in your old RV.
Most of the time, the RV fuse box is tucked away somewhere “hidden.”
Where you can find it:
Inside a cabinet
Under a table or bed
Under the fridge, on the wall
In your RV, you can find the 12V fuses by the 110V circuit breakers.
Types of RV Fuses
Now that you know where the fuse box is in your RV, you should get to know the different kinds of fuses it has.
There are three kinds of RV fuses:
glass capsule
blade
slow-burn
circuit breaker
For things like your RV’s backup monitors and mirror remotes, you’ll find glass cartridge fuses.
This type of RV fuse is the smallest.
Things like the light switches get their power from blade fuses. They are used to power things with a 12V circuit.
Slow-blow fuses are used to power things like the air conditioner that have their own motors.
And anything that runs on 120V, like a refrigerator, will have circuit breakers to power it.
Types of Car Fuses
Unlike RVs, cars usually only use one kind of fuse: blade fuses.
A bolt-down fuse is used for things like your car’s battery.
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And some models of cars made by automakers use FMM fuses. This is a cartridge-type maxi fuse.
What Size Fuse Do I Need For RVs?
As you already know, there are different sizes of fuses.
And if you own an RV, you’ll need fuses of different sizes.
Sample RV fuse sizes:
1 amp (for remote mirrors)
15 amps (for water pump and 12V outlets)
30 amps (for hot water heater)
This means that you should keep a couple of RV fuse kits inside the RV so that you can fix any size fuse that blows.
We suggest these low-cost kits:
Assorted RV blade fuse kit
Different RV fuse glass kit
To be best prepared, you should have both a blade fuse kit and a glass fuse kit.
What Size Fuse Do I Need For Cars?
Do you want to know how RV fuse sizes compare to car fuse sizes?
You’ll notice that the two are similar in some ways.
Sample car fuse sizes:
5 amps (for trailer brake switch)
7.5 amps (for wireless charger)
10 amps (for power windows)
30 amps (for the driver’s door power control module)
As you can see, the fuse sizes for the car and the RV aren’t that different.
Final Word
It’s important to know how an RV’s fuses work and how they’re different from the ones in your car so you can stay safe on your trip and be ready for any repairs you might need to do on the road.
Don’t just rely on what you know about car fuses, because RV fuses are different in some important ways that RV owners should know about before going on a trip.
And it’s best to be ready with one of the above-mentioned RV fuse kits.
Sources: https://micdot.com
Category: Vehicles
