‘Van’ vs ‘Camper’ Power
Let’s start by breaking down the elements of your campervan. Firstly, you have the van itself, and as with any other vehicle this will have its own battery. This battery will power ancillary components such as the media system, interior lights in the front, and USB sockets in the cabin.
Secondly, in the rear of the van, you have your ‘camper conversion’. This has two sources of power – 12v and 240v.
Power For Your Campervan
The 12v supply is run off a separate 12v battery hidden away in the rear of your campervan. This will power your interior LED lights, fridge, water pump, phone charger, and USB points in the rear of the van. This battery is charged as the van is being driven, so you will always be topping up your power between stops. Your solar panel will also top up your 12v battery, and this will give you extra time ‘off grid’.
240v – Power For Larger Appliances
Most campsites will have an electric hook-up point. This is where you can run 240v cable to your van which will then allow you to use your microwave (if you have one) and your three-pin plugs in the van. You can use these sockets the same as you would at home – to run a hair dryer, air fryer etc. Plugging your van in to the campsite power supply will also charge your 12v leisure battery. As well as a 240v supply on a campsite, you can also plug the van in at home from a standard plug socket.
Keeping Warm At Night
Your night heater will run by drawing a small amount of diesel from the van fuel tank, and needs a small amount of power from the 12v leisure battery.
Cooking On Gas
For cooking, your hob runs off a small gas bottle in the rear of the van – one small bottle will not normally need changing for a couple of seasons, depending on use.
