With two kids and jobs that never fully sleep, completely unplugging is a dream that we’ve never fully realized. So tablets, phones, and other electronic accessories are always a part of our camping adventures. Adding USB outlets to your RV can help you keep your accessories charged without the need to track down those pesky blocks that plug into the wall. Adding USB outlets also prevents your charging cords from taking up the limited outlets in your RV.
Disclaimer: I am not an electrician. You should speak to a licensed electrician to ensure that you’re properly and safely installing any electrical accessories in your RV.
We ordered two outlets that each had two conventional plugs and two USB outlets. We used these to replace the conventional outlets on each side of our bed. The USB outlets would allow us to charge our phones and other accessories on the nightstands next to our bed.
What you’ll need
- USB outlet
- Outlet face plate
- Old Work Box
- Phillips screwdriver
- Flathead screwdriver
- Needle nose pliers
- Wire strippers
- Wire cutters
- Saw or rotary tool
Click the links above to see our recommendations on Amazon.com
Prepare for the job
Make sure your trailer is not connected to shore power and that your generator and all breakers are off. To be safe, you should also turn off all 12v power, particularly if you have an inverter in your RV.
Remove the old outlet
Remove the face plate on the old outlet. You may need to unscrew it or (if you don’t see any screws) you may need to pry it off with a small screw driver.
With the faceplate removed, you’ll see two screws holding the outlet in place. These screws turn and tighten tabs that hold the outlet against the paneling from the back. Unscrew the screws until the tabs rotate toward the outlet and you can pull the outlet forward and out of the hole.
Once out, you’ll see the wires that supply the power to the outlet. Remove the back cover by prying the tabs from the sides.
After the back cover is off, use a pair of needle nose pliers to pull the wires from the clips that hold them in the old outlet.
The old outlet should now be completely free from the wires and the RV. Discard the old outlet or save it for future use.
Installing the new outlet
The outlets we purchased were not designed specifically for an RV and do not have tabs to secure it to the camper like the old one we removed. Therefore we needed to first install an outlet box like one you’d find in your home. At each corner of the back of the outlet box is a tab that can be removed for the wires to pass through. Use a pair of pliers to remove the tab closest to the direction from which the wires originate
Pass the wires into the box and test fit the box in the hole from the old outlet. The hole maybe to be made larger for the outlet box to fit. We used a rotary tool to make the hole bigger.
With the box in the hole, tighten the screws to bring the tabs against the back of the paneling similar to the way the old outlet was held in.
Look at the back of your new outlet for a guide to how much coating should be stripped from the wire. Remove the coating as directed then insert the wires into the new outlet. Depending on the construction of the outlet, the wires may shove straight into the outlet or you may have to bend the wires around a screw and tighten it. The outlet should also note which wires go where. The will likely be a black wire, a white wire, and a bare (or green) wire.
With all the wires connected to the outlet, slide the outlet into the box while guiding the excess wire to slide out the back of the box. Screw the screws at the top and bottom of the outlet into the box.
With the outlet installed in the box, screw the outlet face place onto the outlet.
Connect the RV to shore power to test the outlet. Test the outlet by plugging in a device to ensure that it charges.
Now lament your inability to disconnect!
