50 Amp RV Generator: What Is It, Best Picks, How to Choose, and More

What Is a 50 Amp RV

Modern RVs are becoming increasingly larger and more luxurious, with many amenities that require a significant amount of power. For these RVs, a 50-amp RV generator is the perfect power source as it can efficiently charge high-power-consuming devices.

These 50 amp generators provide more power compared to standard 30 amp generators, making them ideal for RVs with multiple appliances and high-powered electronics. They also have two 120-volt hot wires, which allows them to provide 12,000 watts of power at once.

Below we reveal different types of RVs and their amps.

Travel Trailer: The non-motorized RVs come in all sizes, from small models to large house-on-wheels. Generally, these travel trailers are equipped with residential-sized appliances and require 50 amps of power.

Fifth Wheels: Nicknamed Fiver, these RVs are suitable for extended and full-time trips. These vehicles require a 50-amp RV generator to function appropriately.

Toy Haulers: Many toy haulers are equipped with full-sized appliances, such as refrigerators, ovens, washers, and dryers. More giant toy haulers utilize a 50 amp electrical system and require a quiet generator 50 amp.

Class A Motorized RVs: They are one of the largest and most luxurious vehicles on the road. They often have high electricity demands and are equipped with 50 amps plug.

Class-B Motorhomes: These RVs are smaller compared to Class-C motorhomes. They are perfect for off-roading adventures and have 30- and 50 amps systems.

Class-C Motorhomes: The class C motorhomes are generally available with 30 amps hookups. However, some latest models, especially the ones with larger appliances, may have 50 amps.

Jackery Solar Generators for RVs are specially designed to meet the high power needs of 50-amp recreational vehicles. The versatile Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus can easily be expanded to 6kWh, 12kWh, or 24kWh battery capacity using Jackery Battery Pack 2000 Plus.

What Size Generator Do I Need for My 50 Amp RV?

Recreational vehicles (RVs) can be your home away from home only if you have a solar generator that supplies sufficient power to the appliances. A right-size solar generator becomes more critical if you are planning to take your RV to rural locations with fewer electrical outlets.

But which size generator is suitable for a 50-amp RV? The bare minimum size generator one should opt for is 4000 watts or 6000 watts. However, the exact generator size will depend on your electricity needs and the number of appliances. Those who are unsure of their power requirements can choose the expandable Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus.

With Jackery Battery Pack 2000 Plus, you can increase its battery capacity from 2kWh to 24kWh. Jackery Solar Generator 6000 Kit can efficiently supply the necessary power required to charge appliances in a 50-amp RV. Let us find out the power your RV requires in the following sections.

How Many Watts Does a 50 Amp RV Use?

The wattage of a 50-amp RV will depend on the appliances you are using in your mobile vehicle. A 50 amp plug has two 120-volt hot wires, which means it can provide more watts of power than a 30 amp plug.

Each hot wire in 30 amps or 50 amps plug is 120 volts. When we multiply 50 amps by 120 volts, we get a rating of 6000 watts. Since the 50 amp connection has two hot wires, the maximum rating becomes 12,000 watts. In short, a 50-amp RV uses nearly 12,000 watts of power.

However, you don't always need a solar generator that can provide that 12kWh power to efficiently run appliances in a 50 amp RV. The exact amount of wattage you need will depend on the electric needs of the devices you are using and how many of them are working at the same time.

To determine the wattage required, you can multiply the amps by the volts. For example, if you are using an air conditioner that draws 15 amps and a refrigerator that draws 5 amps, the total wattage required would be 15 amps * 120 volts + 5 amps * 120 volts = 1800 watts + 600 watts = 2400 watts.

Similar to the above example, you can determine how much electricity you are planning to use in your RV by adding the wattage of all appliances. If all your RV devices use 4000 watts combined, you can choose a solar generator that supplies 4000 watts or more power.

How Much Electricity Needs for My 50 Amp RV?

The electricity needs of your 50-amp RV will depend on the starting and running watts of all the RV appliances. Startup or starting watts refers to the power a device requires to get started while running watts means the energy needed to keep the appliance running for hours.

While choosing the best solar generator for your RV, you need to ensure that it can supply enough startup wattage for your appliances. This is because some devices, such as ACs and microwaves, require a lot of power to start up.

In the below table, we will include some common RV appliances with their starting and running wattage.

Note: These are the general numbers to give you an idea of how much electricity your appliances consume. If you want to find the exact wattage requirements of the devices, you can check the user's manual.

To calculate the basic wattage needed for an RV, you will need to add up the running watts you are planning to use simultaneously. For example, if you use an RV AC (1200 watts), a portable refrigerator (200 watts), and lights (60 watts), the total basic wattage you'll require will be 1200 + 200 + 60 = 1460 watts. In this case, you will need a solar generator that efficiently supplies 1500 watts or more electricity to all the appliances.

It is also essential to consider the peak wattage of your RV devices when choosing a 50-amp inverter. Peak wattage is the maximum amount of power an appliance can draw at any time. For example, an air conditioner may have a running wattage of 500 watts, but its peak wattage might be 1500 watts.

If you plan to use multiple appliances at the same time, you will need to make sure that your 50-amp portable generator can handle the peak wattage of all of the devices.

Best 50 Amp RV Generators

RV owners are often tired of being limited by the power supply while on the road. Fortunately, the right-size solar generator can help you with reliable and efficient power to handle all electrical needs. Jackery is a leading solar generator manufacturer offering solar power solutions in various sizes and capacities.

The solar generators from Jackery are portable, quiet, and highly efficient, ensuring they can provide continuous power for long hours. In this section, we have compiled a list of the best 50-amp generators specifically designed to provide ample energy to run all your appliances.

Jackery Solar Generator 6000 Kit

Jackery Explorer Kit 6000 combines an Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Station and two Battery Pack 2000 Plus. You can charge the portable power station using highly-efficient and durable Jackery SolarSaga 200W Solar Panels. With a battery capacity of 6128.4Wh, the ultimate power solution is ideal for charging heavy-duty appliances in RV that consume 6000 watts.

Using the Jackery Solar Generator 6000 Kit, you can charge appliances, including RV dishwashers, refrigerators, furnaces, ranges, indoor-outdoor heaters, and much more. The power station features an outstanding LiFePO4 battery with a 10-year lifespan. That means you can rest assured the generator will supply efficient electricity for years to come.

The quiet-charging mode of solar generators means that you can use the solar generator at night without any disturbance. It has a noise level of less than 30dB, making it ideal for indoor usage.

Jackery Solar Generator 12000 Kit

Outdoor adventurers with higher power requirements can consider choosing the Jackery Solar Generator 12000 Kit. You can purchase the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Station and 5 additional Battery Pack 2000 Plus (sold separately). The battery capacity of 12,256.8Wh will supply power to RV appliances, like refrigerators, washing machines, etc., for long hours.

You can use four Jackery SolarSaga 200W Solar Panels for effective and quick charging. These solar panels are built using US solar cells and have a solar conversion efficiency of 25%. This, in turn, charges the power station quickly and improves the on-the-road experience by offering continuous power.

The best part about the customizable Jackery Solar Generator is the ergonomic design and wheels of the power station. With the powerful solar power solution, you can charge most of your RV appliances and enjoy the comfort of your home.

How to Choose a Generator for a 50 Amp RV?

With so many best 50 amp RV generators available, it can be hard to choose the one that fits your power needs. The simple way to select the right generator is by considering a few factors while buying. In this section, we will reveal the things you must keep in mind before choosing a 50-amp RV.

Capacity

Battery capacity is a crucial factor you'll need to consider while choosing the 50 amp portable generator. The higher the battery capacity of the generator, the longer it can power your RV appliances.

Specific models like Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus are designed to connect with another similar model or battery packs to provide additional power. These solar generators are rated to provide stable running and startup wattage to all low to high-power-consuming appliances.

Portable

The 50 amp RV generator has a larger battery capacity, so it weighs more than smaller models. This makes it less portable compared to other generators with lower amps. However, that's not the case with Jackery Solar Generators available in various sizes and capacities.

The newest expandable Jackery Solar Generator for RV features wheels and a handle. You can easily roll the power station from one place to another without worrying about the heavyweight. They also have a foldable handle, ensuring you can carry the power station if the need arises.

In addition, the Jackery SolarSaga 200W Solar Panels are foldable and portable, making them a great choice for RV adventurers.

Starting and Running Wattage

As mentioned above, appliances consume more power while starting. This means you'll need to choose a generator that can supply appropriate starting wattage to your RV devices. Jackery Solar Generators are designed to provide stable and sufficient energy to run heavy-duty appliances.

Additionally, Jackery Solar Generators feature multiple ports, so you plug in various devices to power them at once. For instance, if you want to plug only a few things in, consider the Jackery Solar Generator 6000 Kit. Alternatively, you may invest in Solar Generator 12000 Kit to power more devices simultaneously.

Quiet

Noise output is an essential consideration when investing in a solar generator. A lot of solar generators for RVs claim to use 'Quiet Technology' that makes them less noisy. However, they still produce around 55 to 70 decibels of noise while running.

The noise can be a hassle, especially for those using it at night to charge their CPAP devices. Fortunately, Jackery Solar Generators are designed to operate at low volume. You can use the Jackery smart app to activate Quiet-Charging mode, and it will start working with little to no noise.

Unlike traditional solar generators, Jackery Solar Generators produce less than 30dB of noise while operating. That is, less than what you hear in a quiet library. Hence, this makes Jackery Solar Generators a suitable charging solution for the night.

Safe

RV lifestyle demands a safe generator that does not emit fumes and suits the closed space. While gas generators seem cost-effective, they emit harmful gases and are unsuitable for RVs. This is where solar generators sound like the perfect solution.

These generators use sunlight to run and do not produce toxic gases like carbon monoxide. Jackery power stations can be easily recharged using foldable and portable solar panels. Not only does a solar generator supply stable power to appliances, but it also positively impacts the environment.

Additionally, Jackery uses cutting-edge rapid charging technology ChargeSheild, which incorporates 62 protective mechanisms, 12 protective algorithms, and 4 physical safety protection features to take safety to the next level.

Lifespan

Lastly, the lifespan of the battery will determine the generator you wish to choose. Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations have an in-built LiFePO4 battery that ensures years of lifespan. Even if you use the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus once per day, it can last up to 10 years.

Additionally, the battery level of the power station will remain at 70%, even after 4000 charge cycles. The battery is built using the latest and innovative lithium technology, ensuring it can deliver incredibly efficient and safe operation.

FAQs About Generator for 50 Amp RV

The power needs of an RV will depend on how many appliances you wish to charge. In this section, we will reveal some common questions about the 50-amp RV generator.

What size generator do I need for a 50-amp RV?

A solar generator of 6000 watts or more can efficiently run a 50-amp RV that uses average power. Let's say your RV appliances consume around 3000-4000 watts of power. If you use Jackery Solar Generator 6000 Kit to charge devices, here is how to calculate its working time.

Working Time = Capacity in Wh × 0.85 / 3000W = 4085.6 Wh × 0.85 / 3000W = 1.2H

You can consider choosing Jackery Solar Generator 12000 Kit if you want power for longer durations.

Will a 4500-watt generator run a 50-amp RV?

The wattage or size of the generator determines how many electrical devices you can use at the same time in your RV. If you want to power your RV appliances with a 4500-watt generator, you must understand the long-use and short-use appliances.

Ideally, you will use AC, lights, refrigerators, and CPAP machines for long hours, while kitchen appliances like microwaves, ovens, etc., are used for short periods. In order to determine if the 4500-watt generator is fit for your needs, consider adding the wattage of appliances you will use in your RV. As a general rule of thumb, you need to ensure it does not exceed 4500 watts for efficient usage.

How many watts do I need for 50 amps?

Generally, you can operate appliances in your 50-amp RV with a 6000-watt generator. All power-hungry appliances like washing machines, microwaves, residential refrigerators, ACs, etc., consume around 5500 to 6000 watts of power. Thus, you can efficiently operate most appliances using a 6000-watt generator.

How many amps can a 10000-watt generator run?

If you want to determine the amps a 10000-watt generator can run, you need to know the voltage of the electrical system.

Here is the formula to calculate amps:

Amps = Watts / Volts

Let's consider two standard voltages:

For a 120-volt system:

Amps = 10,000W/12V = 83.33A

For a 240-volt system:

Amps = 10,000W/24V = 41.67A

While a 120-volt system can provide 83.33 amps, a 240-volt system offers 41.67 amps.

Note: This is only a general calculation, and the exact amps might differ.

Conclusion

Generally, a 50 amp RV can take up to 12000 watts of power. However, the exact battery capacity required will depend on the types of appliances you have in your RV. Additionally, it depends on how long you plan to use them.

For instance, if you want to use appliances that consume nearly 5000 watts of power, you can invest in a solar generator with a battery capacity of 6000Wh. However, you will need a larger capacity generator of nearly 12,000Wh to power heavy-duty appliances that consume more than 10,000 watts.

The best way to choose the right size 50 amp RV generator is by investing in an expandable power station. Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus is a modular power solution that can be expanded from 2kWh to 24kWh. Depending on your power needs, you may consider choosing the right generator from Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus series.