​Caravan

To prepare your caravan for remote stays, you must match your energy generation with your daily consumption. Start by calculating the draw from your fridge, lighting, and water pumps to determine the battery capacity required. A functional off-grid system needs a charging source that can replace what you use each day to prevent cutting a trip short.

Installing high-efficiency 12V solar panels on the roof is the most effective way to maintain charge without a generator. To manage this power effectively, you also need clear visibility of your system status. Adding battery monitors takes the guesswork out of your adventure, allowing you to track exactly how much charge remains so you can stay in the places you love for longer.

Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) is the most effective choice for a caravan power system due to its weight savings and usable capacity. Unlike standard lead acid batteries, lithium allows you to use nearly all of the energy stored without damaging the cells. This provides a stable power source for fridges and electronics over hundreds of cycles.

If you are building a more cost effective setup for occasional use, an AGM battery remains a practical and maintenance free option. It handles vibration well but is significantly heavier and offers less runtime than a lithium equivalent. You can browse our range of 12V batteries or look specifically at lithium batteries to find the right foundation for your caravan.

You can install lithium batteries inside a caravan living area provided the installation follows the updated Australian standards. Current regulations require that any battery located in spaces such as under a bed or seat must be enclosed in a sealed box with external ventilation leading directly outside the van. This setup helps maintain cabin safety and protects your gear from physical damage while traveling.

Using a compliant housing is a key step in building a safe off grid system. A sealed box protects the battery terminals from loose items in your storage areas and manages the environment around the cells. Browse our range of battery boxes and trays to find a suitable enclosure or explore our lithium batteries for your next caravan build.

Yes, you need an inverter to transform 12V battery power into the 240V AC electricity required by household appliances. Coffee machines and kettles are high draw items that typically require a pure sine wave inverter with a rating of 2000W or higher to operate safely. Using a pure sine wave model is vital to protect the delicate electronics found in modern kitchen appliances and laptops.

Running these appliances places a heavy load on your system, so a high capacity lithium battery bank is the most effective way to handle the draw. You must also use correctly sized battery cables and fuses to prevent overheating during use. Browse our selection of inverters to find the right capacity, or explore our 12V pure sinewave inverters for clean power delivery.

Running a caravan air conditioner while away from mains power requires a significant amount of energy storage and a high output pure sine wave inverter. These cooling units draw a heavy current that can quickly deplete standard battery setups. Most successful off grid builds use a large lithium battery bank, often 400Ah or higher, paired with a 3000W inverter to handle the initial startup and continuous load.

Maintaining this level of power also depends on having enough solar panels on the roof to replenish the batteries during daylight hours. It is a complex balance that transforms your cabin comfort in hot environments. You can browse our range of high performance Air Conditioners to find a suitable model or explore our Lithium Batteries to build the necessary power core.

12V compressor fridges are the preferred choice for off-grid travel because they cool down faster and perform much better in high heat. Unlike 3-way models that require your caravan to be perfectly level and often struggle once temperatures climb above 30 degrees, compressor units maintain a consistent chill while you are on the move or parked on a slope.

While these fridges rely entirely on your battery bank, they are much simpler to manage for long term touring. You do not need to worry about switching between power sources or carrying extra gas specifically for cooling. By using a smart solar setup, you can keep your food fresh and drinks cold without needing to visit a caravan park. Browse our selection of fridge freezers to find a suitable model, or explore our range of upright fridge freezers for a more permanent installation.

Fusing solar panels independently is generally only necessary when connecting three or more panels in parallel. In a standard setup with one or two panels, a single fuse or circuit breaker between the array and the regulator is sufficient to protect the main cable run into the caravan.

When you have a larger array, individual fuses prevent a faulty or shaded panel from being overwhelmed by current from the other panels. This reduces the risk of damage to the wiring and connectors on the roof. For most travelers, focusing on high quality connectors and the correct solar cable size is a practical way to maintain a safe and efficient system.