Leisure batteries in motorhomes can be charged by the engine as well as by other power supplies like mains electricity, solar panels and generators. The idea is to minimise your use of energy-sucking AC appliances and replace them with less demanding DC alternatives. The Club strongly recommends you have these units checked and all mains electricity installations should be inspected regularly by a qualified electrical technician. The available power from continental hook-up points will often be less than the UK and a supply as little as 5A or 6A is common. If you need further general information about using electricity on site you can contact the Club’s Technical Helpline.

Understanding electricity on the camp site! - Tent Hire Direct Understanding electricity on the camp site! - Tent Hire Direct

Most camper van electrical systems use 12v batteries, so that’s what I will refer to throughout the article. However, a 230V mains appliance taking a 1A supply from an invertor will require 20A from the battery, which can cause the battery to discharge rapidly and overload the 12V wiring system. Remember also that most appliances you use will have been designed for the domestic environment and may therefore be vulnerable to condensation.Don’t discharge more than 50% of the battery — Using up too much of your battery’s capacity without recharging could severely reduce its lifespan. Microwave ovens can also present problems – even though they may be advertised as (for example) 800W, the input operating power requirement, particularly on start-up, may be up to twice this. So, without overcomplicating things, you need to understand your requirements and the capabilities of your system. Because phones take so little power, the 12V socket in the car or campervan is usually all you’ll need.

Daiwa Gamakatsu G-Point Gama Power Barbless Hooks Daiwa Gamakatsu G-Point Gama Power Barbless Hooks

We turned to a few experts to help us unravel the potential of solar – in particular, thanks to Caroline Rawlinson at Solar Technology International for some much-needed guidance. A very handy AC socket as well as usb outputs means you can use it for most things and it can handle charging 8 devices at once.

After-sales is great and we’ve heard from quite a few campervan and motorhome users who’ve charged their leisure batteries with it and stayed off-grid for a decent break. Fairy lights and brightness in one, We like the Luminoodle because it’s decorative as a lighting strip you can hang with ties or magnets, and also folds into a bag to work as a table lamp. The pounding in my head is starting to ease, all thanks to the clear (calm), informative, step by step instructions for the electric system you have provided. Even though the blue plug and hook-up sockets we use in the UK are to a European standard, many continental sites still have old style two-pin hook-ups or a mixture of modern and old types.