Glossary of RV electrical terms needed!

I’m looking for a few volunteers to help create this list….

Everyone,

There was a suggestion from a reader that I create a glossary of RV electrical terms for RV owners. That’s a great idea for the new website, but I’m slammed for the next few months getting everything else up and running.

I need a few volunteers

Greg Gaul sent me this list of RV electrical abbreviations which is a great start. But it needs to be expanded with accurate definitions attached to each electrical term. Here’s what Greg created so far.

• A: Amp(s)

• AC: Alternating Current (e.g., 120V; 240V)

• A/C: Air Conditioner

• AGM: Absorbent Glass Mat (battery)

• Ah: Amp Hours

• ASME: American Society of Mechanical Engineers

• Cabin: RV Living Space

• DC: Direct Current (e.g., 12V; 24V)

• DoD: Depth of Discharge (battery)

• GFCI: Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter

• GFI: Ground Fault Interrupter

• GND: Ground

• LA: Lead Acid (battery)

• Li: Lithium (battery)

• LiFePO4: Lithium Iron Phosphate-Oxide (battery)

• MH: Motor Home

• MPPT: Maximum Power Point Tracking (solar)

• NEC: National Electric Code

• OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturer

• PCB: Printed Circuit Board

• PWM: Pulse Width Modulation (solar)

• RV: Recreational Vehicle

• SAE: Society of Automotive Engineering

• SCC: Solar Charge Controller

• TV: Television

• T/V: Tow Vehicle

• TSTAT: Thermostat

• TT: Travel Trailer

• V: Volts

• VAC: Volts Alternating Current

• VDC: Volts Direct Current

• Vmp: Maximum Power Voltage

• Voc: Open Circuit Voltage

• W: Watts

Definitions needed

Here’s what AI generated for definitions, which appears to be mostly accurate at first glance.

• Voltage (or Electromotive Force):

  Voltage is the "push" that causes electric charges to move, like water pressure in a pipe.

• Current:

  Current is the actual flow of electrons through a circuit. It's like the amount of water flowing through the pipe.

• Resistance:

  Resistance opposes the flow of current. A resistor is a component specifically designed to limit current.

• Ohm's Law:

  This fundamental law states that voltage equals current multiplied by resistance (V=IR). It helps calculate the relationship between these three key electrical properties.

• Alternating Current (AC):

  In AC, the direction of current flow reverses periodically. Most household electricity and power grids use AC.

• Direct Current (DC):

  In DC, the current flows in one direction. Batteries and many electronic devices use DC.

• Power:

  Power is the rate at which electrical energy is used or produced. It's measured in watts. For example, a 60-watt light bulb uses 60 joules of energy per second.

• Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI):

  A GFCI is a safety device that quickly shuts off power if it detects a ground fault (a leakage of current to ground), which can be a serious safety hazard.

• Grounding:

  Grounding provides a low-resistance path for electricity to flow back to its source, often the earth, which can help prevent electrical shock.

This is a BIG job!

I’ll ask Greg if he can possibly help oversee this project. And if a few of you would like to volunteer to help curate this list of RV electrical terms and definitions, I’ll be glad to edit it for accuracy. This glossary will then be posted in the Electricity 101 section of RVelectricity.com.

Please email mike@RVelectricity.com with the subject “RV List” if you’re interested. And thanks for your support!

Let’s play safe out there… Mike