Living ELECTRICS - BATTERIES & SOLAR Most campervans come with a leisure battery to power the habitation services. Motorhome Monthly Magazine (MMM) explains, “The heart of the 12V system, and one of the most important items, is the leisure battery. This is a unit dedicated to powering the living area, not only providing enough energy, but also making sure you do not wake up to a flat vehicle battery and a dead engine.” (A beginner’s guide to habitation electrics, MMM). The alternator charges this battery up when you are driving, being connected in relay from the vehicle battery. The leisure battery is also connected to an electric unit within the outside socket. When you’re on a campsite you can use an electric hook-up lead to plug into the hook-up post, just like plugging in an extension lead at home. The power management unit manages that 230V power, keeps you safe, powers all the built-in 12V appliances, LED lights and water pump, while also charging the battery. You can plug items in as well, like phone chargers, travel hairdryers, coffee machines, computers and tablets though if everything is in use at once the campsite hook-up point might trip. A few campervans now offer mains electrical power even when you are off-grid, thanks to the development of exciting new premium Lithium Batteries. It may be worth investing in such a battery (an extra cost option), if you’re planning mostly off-grid touring. Having a premium Lithium battery will enable you to use normal household electrical appliances even when you are not hooked up to mains electricity. “One relatively recent technical innovation that’s been of greatest benefit to motorhoming is LED lamps. These last far longer than ordinary filament bulbs and, importantly, use a fraction of the energy, thus helping to preserve battery power,” says the MMM guide. Solar panels get the expert seal of approval in the guide, too, “Another worthwhile upgrade is a solar panel. Fixed to the roof, these help charge batteries by converting sunlight into 12V electricity, controlled by a regulator to prevent overcharging.“ It is designed to keep your leisure battery topped up when you’re camping in the wilds, with no mains electricity. This is an optional extra that owners recommend and can give off-grid power for days at a time before needing to be recharged. As long as there is some daylight, it does keep the fridge, lights and small electrical fittings going for longer.
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