6 Best RV Power Cord Locks For Security That Nomads Swear By

You pull into a packed state park on a holiday weekend, find your spot, and start setting up. As you plug your expensive 50-amp shore power cord into the pedestal, you notice just how much foot traffic is passing by your site. Your power cord is your RV’s lifeline, and leaving it unsecured is like leaving your front door unlocked.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

Why a Power Cord Lock is Essential for RVers

The most obvious threat is theft. A heavy-duty 50-amp cord can cost hundreds of dollars, making it a tempting target for opportunistic thieves. Losing it isn’t just an expense; it means a dead refrigerator, no AC in the summer heat, and a frantic search for a replacement, which can ruin a trip.

But it’s not just about crime. Accidental disconnection is a far more common problem. A child running through your site, a neighbor backing up their rig, or even just strong winds can be enough to jostle a heavy plug loose from the power pedestal. A simple lock prevents these mishaps, ensuring your connection stays solid.

Ultimately, a power cord lock is about peace of mind. It’s a small, inexpensive piece of gear that eliminates a major point of failure in your setup. Whether you’re gone for the day exploring a national park or just sleeping through the night, you can relax knowing your power supply is secure from both malice and misadventure.

Camco PowerGrip Cord Lock for 30/50 Amp

The Camco PowerGrip Cord Lock is one of the most common solutions you’ll see in any campground, and for good reason. It’s a simple, effective plastic clamshell that fits over the connection point where your RV plug meets the campground receptacle. You close it up and secure it with a small padlock.

This lock is the definition of a deterrent. It’s not designed to stop a determined thief with a pair of bolt cutters, but it absolutely stops casual tampering and prevents accidental unplugs. Someone looking for a quick grab-and-go will likely move on to an easier target. It’s the "keep honest people honest" approach, and it works well in most situations.

Its biggest advantage is its simplicity and affordability. You can find them anywhere, and they work with both 30-amp and 50-amp straight-handle plugs. Just remember that the padlock is usually sold separately, so be sure to grab one that fits the small locking hole.

AmpLock RV Power Plug Lock: Heavy-Duty Pick

When you’re serious about security, you move past plastic and into heavy-duty steel. The AmpLock is a different beast entirely. Instead of covering the connection, it’s designed to lock directly onto the male prongs of your unplugged power cord.

This lock serves a very specific and important purpose: preventing the theft of the cord itself, especially when it’s not in use. Imagine you have to leave your site for a few days but want to leave your heavy cord behind. You can unplug it, secure the AmpLock over the plug, and make it completely useless to a thief. They can’t plug it in anywhere.

The AmpLock is made from cast iron and uses a high-security rotating disc lock mechanism that’s resistant to picking and drilling. It’s overkill for preventing a kid from tripping over your cord, but it’s the right tool for high-risk areas or long-term storage. It’s a significant investment, but it’s cheaper than replacing a premium 50-amp cord.

The Clam-Shell Lock Box: A Versatile Choice

Beyond RV-specific products, a general-purpose outdoor electrical lock box offers incredible versatility. These are essentially rugged, weatherproof plastic boxes that close around a connection point and are secured with a padlock. Think of brands like Master Lock that make them for construction sites.

Their real strength is adaptability. While a Camco lock is designed for the plug-to-pedestal connection, a larger lock box can secure the junction between your main shore power cord and an extension cord. This is a common weak point that many RVers overlook. A thief could simply unplug your cord from your extension and walk away with the most expensive part.

These boxes are often bulkier than their RV-specific counterparts, which can be a minor annoyance. However, their superior weather resistance and ability to secure multiple types of connections make them a fantastic tool. If you ever use an extension cord with your main power line, one of these is practically a necessity.

Conntek Locking Connector: Weatherproof Design

Some of the best security solutions are integrated directly into the hardware. Conntek is a brand known for its high-quality connectors that feature a built-in locking mechanism. This isn’t a separate box or padlock, but a threaded ring on the female end of the cord.

This threaded ring screws directly onto the matching male inlet on your RV, creating an incredibly secure and watertight seal. The primary benefit here is twofold: it physically locks the cord to the RV, preventing it from being pulled out, and it protects the electrical connection from rain, dew, and moisture.

While it doesn’t use a key, the threaded system is a powerful deterrent. It can’t be yanked out quickly or silently. A potential thief would have to stand there and spend time unscrewing it, which draws attention. For nomads whose main concern is a stable, weather-safe connection that resists accidental pull-outs, this design is a top-tier choice.

Marinco Locking Ring for Secure Connections

Marinco is a legacy brand in the marine and RV world, and their system is the standard that many others follow. Like Conntek, their core security feature is a threaded locking ring that creates a firm, vibration-proof, and weather-resistant connection between the cordset and the RV’s power inlet.

The key to the Marinco system is compatibility. For it to work, you need both a Marinco cordset and a Marinco inlet on your rig. The good news is that their high-quality components are an industry benchmark, so many RVs come equipped with them from the factory. The connection feels solid and gives you confidence that it won’t fail during a storm.

This system shines in preventing the most common power failures: loose connections from vibration and water intrusion from bad weather. It’s less of an anti-theft device and more of a reliability feature. However, by making the connection so robust, it inherently makes it more difficult to tamper with.

Furrion Powersmart Cordsets with Locks

Furrion has quickly become a dominant name in modern RV components, and their power systems are a great example of an integrated approach. Many new RVs roll off the lot with a Furrion power inlet already installed. Their cordsets are designed to work seamlessly with these inlets, often featuring a similar threaded locking ring.

What sets Furrion apart are the added smart features. Their "Powersmart" cords include bright blue LED lights on both ends that indicate when power is active. This is a brilliant diagnostic tool—if the light is off, you know you have a problem at the pedestal before you even start troubleshooting inside the rig.

The locking ring provides the same security against weather and accidental disconnection as other threaded systems. When you combine that with the quality construction and the diagnostic LEDs, you get a complete system that enhances both security and usability. It’s a premium choice for those who want a reliable, modern, and secure power setup.

Choosing the Right Lock for Your RV Setup

The "best" lock depends entirely on what you’re trying to protect against. There is no single answer, only the right solution for your situation. Your decision should be based on your environment and your primary concern.

Start by defining your threat model. Are you worried about a determined thief in a remote area, a curious kid in a crowded campground, or a torrential downpour on the coast? Each scenario calls for a different tool.

Here’s a simple framework to guide your choice:

• For weather and accidental disconnection: A threaded locking ring system from Marinco, Conntek, or Furrion is your best bet. It creates a solid, weatherproof seal.
• For casual theft and tampering: A simple clamshell like the Camco PowerGrip or a versatile lock box is an excellent and affordable deterrent.
• For serious theft of the cord itself: The only real answer is a heavy-duty steel lock like the AmpLock that makes the cord unusable.

Don’t be afraid to layer your security. A common and highly effective strategy is to use a Furrion or Marinco locking ring at the RV inlet and a Camco-style clamshell lock at the power pedestal. This gives you comprehensive protection against weather, accidents, and casual theft, covering all your bases for just a small investment.

Your power cord is the umbilical that connects your home on wheels to the world. Protecting it isn’t paranoia—it’s a fundamental part of being a prepared, self-sufficient nomad. A simple lock ensures the lights stay on, no matter where you’re parked.