For RVers who remain mystified by their RV's electrical systems - 120-volt alternating current (AC) and 12-volt direct current (DC) - this book is a godsend. It provides a better understanding of what electricity is and what it does. This problem-solving reference answers questions such as: "why do interior lights dim or burn out rapidly?" and, "why won't the batteries recharge after a night without electricity?"It tells you: how to repair and improve electrical systems; how to troubleshoot faulty brakes, taillights, and "house" circuits; how to detect dangerous shorts, faulty grounds, inadequate connections, malfunctioning switches, dead battery cells, or current leakage; and much more. This book could save your vacation, or even your life. All you need to know about RV electricity, including: how to safely use a campground hookup; how to increase battery charging efficiency; how to take the pulse of your AC and DC electrical systems; how to recognize and correct dangerous wiring practices; how to troubleshoot electrical problems of all types; how to upgrade your RV from fuses to circuit breakers; how to calculate your electrical needs and upgrade your system to meet them; how to select the most effective components - batteries, alternator, regulator, coverter, charger, generator, solar panels; and how to recognize phantom electrical loads that can drain your batteries.

Table of Contents

Preface Acknowledgments Chapter One. Electricity Explained--Simply The 12-Volt DC System Chapter Two. The Battery Chapter Three. Automotive Alternators Chapter Four. Circuits and Wiring of the 12-Volt DC System Chapter Five. Converter/Chargers and Battery Chargers Chapter Six. Solar Power for Battery Charging The 120-Volt AC System Chapter Seven. Alternating Current Circuits Chapter Eight. Campground Hookups Chapter Nine. Inverters and Generators Chapter Ten. Monitoring AC and DC Systems Chapter Eleven. Maintenance, Troubleshooting, and Repairs Appendix A. Recommended Reading Appendix B. Director of Manufacturers Index

About the Author

Bill and Jan Moeller have lived a mobile lifestyle for more than 20 years, during which they have had much experience overcoming problems with and upgrading their 12- and 120-volt electrical systems. At present, as they have done for many years, the Moellers live fulltime in their fifth-wheel trailer and travel the year round. In addition to writing books, including RVing Basics (Ragged Mountain Press, 1995), the Moellers also write a nationally syndicated newspaper column about RVing.