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Glossary
RV and Camper Gear terms, explained
Short, plain definitions of the words you'll see on product pages and spec sheets. Each one links to a guide when there's more to know.
1
- 14-50
- The four-prong 50 amp plug used on 50 amp RVs, carrying two 120 volt legs. Read the guide →
A
- Absorption fridge
- An RV refrigerator that cools using heat from propane or an electric element. Read the guide →
- AGM
- Absorbent glass mat: a sealed lead-acid battery type. Read the guide →
B
- Brake controller
- A device in the tow vehicle that applies a trailer's electric brakes. Read the guide →
C
- Campervan floor plan
- The arrangement of sleeping, cooking, storage and equipment zones inside a campervan. Read the guide →
- City water inlet
- The RV connection for a pressurized water hose from a spigot. Read the guide →
- Continuous output
- The sustained power a portable power station inverter can supply to connected devices. Read the guide →
D
- DC-DC charger
- A charger that charges the house battery from a vehicle alternator with the right profile. Read the guide →
- Dogbone adapter
- A short adapter cord that lets an RV plug into a pedestal outlet of a different amperage. Read the guide →
E
- EMS
- Electrical management system: a surge protector that also cuts power on high or low voltage and wiring faults. Read the guide →
G
- GTW
- Gross trailer weight: the weight of the loaded trailer. Read the guide →
L
- LiFePO4
- Lithium iron phosphate: the lithium chemistry used in most RV house batteries. Read the guide →
M
- MPPT controller
- A solar charge controller that tracks the panel's best operating point to harvest more energy. Read the guide →
P
- Peak sun hours
- The equivalent number of hours per day of full-strength sunlight at a location. Read the guide →
- Pressure regulator
- A fitting that limits campground water pressure before it enters the RV. Read the guide →
- Proportional brake controller
- A trailer brake controller that adjusts brake output with the tow vehicle deceleration. Read the guide →
S
- Shore power
- Electricity from a campground pedestal or building, supplied through the RV power cord. Read the guide →
- Stabilizer jack
- A jack that steadies a parked RV. Most are not designed to lift or level it. Read the guide →
T
- Time-delay brake controller
- A trailer brake controller that ramps brake output at a preset rate after the tow vehicle brake pedal is applied. Read the guide →
- Tongue weight
- The downward force a trailer coupler places on the hitch ball. Read the guide →
- TT-30
- The three-prong 30 amp, 120 volt plug used on 30 amp RVs. Read the guide →
W
- Water-heater bypass
- Valves that route winterizing fluid around an RV water heater when the manufacturer procedure calls for it. Read the guide →
- Watt-hour
- A unit of energy equal to one watt used or stored for one hour. Read the guide →
- Weight distribution hitch
- A hitch with spring bars that shifts tongue weight toward the tow vehicle's front axle and the trailer axles. Read the guide →
- Wheel chock
- A wedge placed against a tire to stop a parked RV or trailer from rolling. Read the guide →