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Power Management

Power Management

During Your Trip

In this guide, learn how the various electrical systems work in campervans, and how to keep yours and the vehciles' appliances charged and working throughout your road adventure. Read more here

Utilities Available Off-Grid

Generally, all campervans and motorhomes will have a 12v battery to power the house lights, electric hobs and fridge. The length of time the battery will last without charging depends on several factors such as trickle charge, solar power availability and utility use. To recharge this battery, we recommend planning to stay at a powered campsite at least every 2^nd night.

Utilities Available While Connected to Power

Other vehicle utilities and the power outlets in the main cabin will only work when connected to a powered camp site. When booking vehicles with air conditioning and heating in the main cabin, check prior to booking if they require connection to a powered site as most do.

How to Connect to Power

Standard with nearly all vehicles will be an extension lead to connect to powered camp sites. Powered sites can have limited availability during school holidays and during peak seasons, so we recommend booking these sites in advance.

Most campervan providers will not allow connecting the vehicle to residential power outlets or generators, please check with the campervan provider if you were planning to do either of these things.

Battery & Solar

For most vehicles the house battery is separate to the vehicle engine battery so you can still drive even when the house battery runs out. Some vehicles have Solar power available to use as a backup to recharge the house battery. Vehicles with solar power available are still recommended to connect to a powered site every 2^nd night as the solar power usually won’t be able to keep up with powering the utilities for an extended period.

Expert Tip

To extend battery life while off-grid we recommend you turn off any appliances you aren’t using, keep the fridge filled and at a low setting, park the vehicle in the shade (when there’s no solar).