Shore Power Inlet and Mains Connection
The inlet socket fitted to the body of the RV that carries the 230 V supply at the campsite to the interior distribution panel. At camp sites the supply is typically limited by a 6, 10 or 16 A fuse, and residual current protection is expected to be present inside the vehicle.
The connection has three components: the external inlet socket, a flexible supply cable of suitable cross-section and the protection group inside the vehicle. The protection group contains a circuit breaker against overcurrent and a residual current device for shock safety. The rated value of the residual current device is of the order of 30 mA as in domestic installations.
The campsite fuse is often the element that determines the total consumption. A 6 A supply at 230 V is roughly 1.3 kW; that is not enough to run a heater and a water heater at the same time. That is why the total of the mains charger, air conditioner and heater loads is planned according to the connection limit.
Earthing is a separate topic: the RV body is connected to the earth of the installation and the continuity of this connection is the foundation of safety. Leaving extension cables coiled on their reel causes heating, and they must be fully unwound before use. Any work on the 230 V side must be done by a qualified person.
Context in which this term is used: RV automatic levelling guide