A power pedestal is a pole-shaped outlet that is fixedly installed in outdoor places where electricity is needed, such as RV campgrounds, cottage gardens, public parks, garages, or marinas.
Why the Power Pedestal is so Important?
The power pedestal provides the scan code payment function for caravans, which brings better user experience to customers. The power pedestal provides the APP booking service for boats, which makes the charging service more convenient. Owners don’t need to guard their campsites or docks 24 hours a day and only need to check and maintain them regularly, as these power docks are self-service. In addition, most of the power docks come with leakage protectors and a range of flame retardant materials, making them very safe.
Why you need a Power Pedestal at your Campsite?
RV Charging Requirements
There are many electrical devices in an RV that require electricity to maintain operation, including lights, refrigerators, water heaters, air conditioners and basic power storage devices. This allows travelers to enjoy the conveniences of modern life while traveling in an RV.
Enhancing the Camping Experience
The power pedestal equipment installed in the campground usually also has 1-2 fresh water outlets and 1-4 outdoor waterproof sockets, which allows campers to rest in the campsite can also replenish their own water and electricity needs, some modern smart power pedestal also supports timing and metering for billing, so that the user can use as much as they want to pay.
Adapt to Multiple Environments
Because most of the power pedestal is fixed installation, so their materials need to meet the wind, rain, thunder, high temperature, humidity, corrosion resistance and other conditions. In this harsh environment manufacturers usually use 304 stainless steel, some times in the marina will also use 316 stainless steel.
Safety Protection
On the power equipment, safety will be put in the first place, the standard power pedestal is usually equipped with the corresponding leakage protector, with overload protection, short circuit protection, overheating protection. Even if the customer operating errors, equipment failure will not give you too much impact on the campground.
Type of Power Pedestals
In order to adapt to different people, sites or equipments, the power pedestal also extends to a very wide range of styles and types.
RV Power Pedestal
Suitable for RV campgrounds, RV public parks, tourist attractions, green areas, highway service areas and garages, equipped with lighting, living electric sockets and RV electric sockets and high-power power outlets and fresh water outlets, mainly for RV power supply and RV traveler’s water and electricity needs, they are usually equipped with independent leakage protector to ensure the safety of electricity.
Shore Power Pedestal
Applicable to commercial ports, fishing ports, inland waterway terminals and ship repair yards, etc., mainly for ships, especially green and clean energy-based, land-based power transmission to the ship, so that the ship can shut down its own engine or make up energy during the docking period, modern shore power piles will also be added to the lighting, freshwater outlets and the scanning code to pay for the function of the start and stop. Modern shore power piles also include lighting, freshwater outlets and payment gateways. In addition, many regions mandate the use of shore power for safety reasons.
Commercial Power Pedestal
Mainly for urban parks, villas, courtyards, wilderness garden design, his most prominent is the appearance, usually this kind of power pedestal will have a unique design style, this kind of power pedestal sockets are mainly biased towards the life of the electricity of the small-current sockets, specific conditions will also be equipped with an optional USB interface and cell phone wireless control module some pedestals will also be with the top of the cell phone wireless charging module.
Water Light and TUYA Control
More models are available for specific environments such as fresh water with an additional spout, lighting with an additional light kit that supports photosensitive control, and TUYA Smart Control for interoperability with home ec.
Power Pedestal Standards
Similar outdoor equipment standards are relatively strict, including socket standards, environmental protection standards and certification standards in different regions.
Socket standards
International Electrotechnical Commission standards developed by the IEC 60309 for industrial plugs and sockets
Underwriters Laboratories developed standards UL 498 for plugs and sockets
China’s standard GB 2099 for household and similar use of plugs and sockets
Environmental Protection Standards
IP rating: this is the international protection level standard, refers to the waterproof and dustproof ability, here is usually divided into IP 44, IP 67 two kinds, IP 67 will be used in a wider range of areas.
NEMA standards: developed by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association similar to NEMA 3 (similar to IP 55), NEMA 3R (similar to IP 24)
Certification standards
RoHS: mandatory standards developed by the European union legislation, mainly to limit the content of lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, the six hazardous substances.
CE: refers to the product does not jeopardize the safety of humans, animals and goods requirements, rather than product quality requirements. Is the safety mark of conformity, but also products can be sold in Europe, “passport”.
And FCC wireless product safety standards, EMI electromagnetic compatibility certification, CB International Electrotechnical Commission testing and certification.
Power Pedestal example
I have a friend from Berlin, Germany, told me that their RV camping base was originally using power extension cords to provide customers with electricity in the form of rental, or they directly use diesel generators, which is very noisy and not environmentally friendly, and now they have a smart RV campground power base, do not need to increase the time to patrol around to remind the customer of the safety of electricity, they can view their own machine room to every They can view in their computer room to each device, including current consumption, fresh water consumption and the balance of the equipment recharge, there will be no customers to bargain with you, because each caravan campground water and electricity pile of the background price of chromium is unified, the user can also be in accordance with their own expectations to go to the recharge or refund, he told me that this design is simply great.
Power Pedestal Usage & Safety Tips
The choice of installation location: whether it is charging equipment or tools with electricity will have a certain amount of heat generation, so you need to try to avoid flammable and explosive substances, and to choose the location of the installation in the ventilation
Check the power cord: power base manufacturers in the factory will communicate with the owners to replace the corresponding current socket, then the owners also need to correctly select the corresponding power cord during this period, to avoid overloading of the cable caused by heat or short-circuit
Voltage matching: according to the corresponding use of different equipment, usually the socket column will be labeled with the corresponding voltage and current, the equipment needs to ensure that the rated value is the same when connecting with him.
Regular maintenance: In order to extend the service life of the power pedestal need to carry out regular maintenance, detailed data can be viewed How to Maintain Your Power Pedestal.
How to Choose an RV Power Pedestal
Scenarios
Perhaps you want to install in their own courtyard photosensitive control switch to realize the night lights automatically, you want to install in the campground to have a self-service start-stop system to achieve cost-effective, you want to install in the marina to have an independent metering of electricity or water meters
Product features
With the iteration of technology with fresh water outlets, with cell phone wireless charging, wall-mounted, double-sided power supply for multiple devices, with leakage protector, with light-controlled lamps, with credit card payment, with electric switches, with power meters and other personalized features to choose from!
How much does an RV Power Pedestal cost
RV campground power pedestal
Part of the standard RV power pedestal made of aluminum alloy or iron material of about 100A ranges from 280-389USD according to different brands may be higher, high-end stainless steel material is 510-840USD, in addition to its related to the size of the socket circuit breaker brand with or without a meter or double-sided models.
Marine dock power pedestal
He faced with the environment represents the need for more sophisticated and greater current and functionality, generally from 708USD, according to different materials and options may reach 2200USD and above.
Villa courtyard power pedestal
The basic model will come with IP 44 outdoor waterproof socket 49.29USD while only iron material, mid-range with water outlet with waterproof socket and lighting 81-170USD, high-end with water outlet with socket and lighting using stainless steel material also supports home internet control plus new energy vehicle charging 780USD.
City park power pedestal
In such an environment full of uncertainties in the face of harsh external interference and blend into the surrounding landscape, they need to have a unique design and more humanized features, at the same time it spans a wide range from the most basic only a single socket 34.29USD to have a cell phone wireless charging function of 4 outdoor IP 66 waterproof sockets plus infrared sensor light 814USD
How to Maintain Your RV Power Pedestal
Regular inspection
In the sun, cold, wind and snow in the harsh environment of the base whether there is corrosion or cracks, sockets and cables are loose, to ensure that the grounding system is intact
Cleaning and Protection
The surface of water or dust must be cleaned up in a timely manner can not be used, one side of poor contact or electrical short-circuit, while the design with a water outlet but also in the winter to come in advance to bring a protective cover or drain the water pipe to prevent freezing and cracking.
Function Testing
Regularly check whether the base of the on-off current is normal, whether the voltage is stable, whether the frequency meets the requirements.
Record maintenance
There is no small thing in electrical appliances, inspection, cleaning and testing should be done after a detailed record, found that the problem should be dealt with in a timely manner or replaced.
Emergency Plan
The first time the water and electricity pile failure must cut off the power supply, nothing is more important than this. The face of equipment damage natural disasters and electrical failures to turn off the power supply in advance, if you are not clear about the problem do not operate independently, you need to contact the relevant person in charge first!
Power Pedestal trends
Intelligent
The equipment through the sensor and the Internet of Things technology real-time monitoring of the power pedestal operating status (voltage, current, lighting), faults in time to report errors sent to the person in charge, the person in charge of the equipment through the remote control of power outages. Users can turn on or off the power supply by scanning the QR code on the screen, and check whether the power supply is occupied or booked in advance through the APP user terminal in real time.
Environmentally friendly
Utilizing renewable energy to provide power for the equipment
Multi-functional
Provide larger advertising screens in commercial areas and Wi-Fi hotspot function in residential areas to solve more user needs
Modular
Does not require specific personnel for maintenance, easy to install and upgrade
Security
Integrated Internet security system in the program failure the first time to report errors, the basic problem of automatic diagnosis and repair, reducing labor costs
Conclusion about Power Pedestals
Power pedestal with the iteration of technology to more people who aspire to a free life has brought intelligence, multi-functionality and friendly, the market drives the sustainable development of power pedestal innovation and application of power pedestal, enterprises and governments will follow the trend to promote the development of outdoor power ecosystem.
