If you're in Australia and looking to avoid caravan park fees while enjoying the freedom of off-grid caravanning, this guide is for you.

 Imagine escaping the crowded caravan parks and embarking on a lap of Australia, camping trip off the beaten track with your caravan. It's a dream come true, but it requires careful planning and the right equipment.

What You Need To Power Your Caravan Off-Grid

In this detailed guide, we will provide you with all the information you need to power your caravan off-grid for extended periods of time in Australia. We'll cover topics such as solar panels, battery types, and powering your 240v appliances and devices from your caravan power setup. By the end, you'll be well-equipped to enjoy the unique feeling of freedom that off-grid caravanning offers.

Off Grid Power Systems For Caravans

When caravanning off-grid, having a reliable power supply is a NECESSITY. Unlike at a caravan park or at home where you can plug into mains power, you'll need an independent off-grid power supply for your caravan. Having an adequate caravan power system will allow you to charge your caravan batteries, ensuring that you can run not only your essentials such as your fridge, appliances, TV, and lights, but also the more power-hungry appliances such as your air-conditioner or coffee machine even when you're camping in remote locations.

The overall effectiveness of your off-grid power management system is heavily influenced by the quality of the electrical components installed.  How the caravan power system has been designed to optimise the overall system, with consideration to enhancing user needs, and importantly the experience and qualifications of the installation are factors that will determine how long you can stay off-grid without running into power issues or needing to recharge.

In our off-grid caravan power system installations we recommend utilising multiple options for charging your batteries.  While in tow you can use your car's alternator through the DCDC charger while driving, also while driving you can charge from solar panels on your van, and when off-road and camped up off the grid, you can rely on the solar panels on your caravan roof. Additionally, we recommend portable solar panels with dedicated anderson plugs to use as a backup to charge your caravan batteries.

Need help deciding what power setup you need for you caravan? Give us a call today.

 Before you upgrade your caravan power system..

Do You Need Solar Power For Your Caravan?

With the right caravan solar power setup, you can camp off the grid for extended stays and still be able to run your caravan appliances and essentials.  If you want your solar power to run everything in your caravan (including power-hungry appliances such as air conditioning and all your power outlets), we recommend you invest in a larger system custom designed for you and your caravan. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, we can help you out!

Solar systems are the easiest way to charge your batteries and keep your caravan powered. We also recommend portable solar blankets wired through your solar regulator and monitored at your battery management system.  We recommend portable solar panels as a backup to the solar array on your caravan roof as portable solar panels can easily move around to chase the sun.

Knowing how to correctly install caravan solar panels makes all the difference to staying off-grid for longer.  Choosing the right ratio of solar panels, installing high voltage solar panels versus low voltage or choosing both, and knowing when and why to use solar charger controllers | MPPT solar regulators is a critical aspect of a hassle free caravan power setup. 

We can upgrade your existing system with more or higher output solar panels to keep you camping off grid for longer.  We recommend installing the maximising number of solar panels that can be fit on your caravan roof and to increase charge choosing the right solar charger will give you an added benefit of more capacity to charger your batteries quickly.

For a hassle free and reliable power in your caravan, we can upgrade your existing caravan solar setup easily so you can camp off-grid for longer.  

Why You Need Solar Power In Your Caravan, Camper Trailer, Motor Home or RV.

Generator For Caravans – Are They Recommended?

Generators can be used as a backup power supply to your main solar system and offer a way to run your appliances directly, rather than needing to wait for your batteries to charge. However, make sure you allow for the few extra kilos that a generator will add to your load. 

Generators, which run on diesel or petrol, are typically heavy and bulky and take up much needed space and weight better saved for more important caravanning essentials, such as a suitable sized battery bank.  With more and more campgrounds and caravan parks banning the use of generators due to being so noisy, we don’t recommend generators.  Instead, a better option to lugging around a noisy cumbersome generator for caravan power is a lithium battery bank with solar panels on the caravan roof.   Generators for caravan power is somewhat outdated and we don’t recommend them, instead we recommend choosing a quality lithium battery for a superior off-grid caravan power system.

It is important to take the time to calculate what size caravan power setup you will need based on your power needs.  We can easily do this calculation for you by adding together the total running watts of your appliances you intend to use, and the highest starting watts of each of your appliances. At Outech we recommend installing a caravan power system with a maximum output that’s intentionally higher than the sum of your calculated power needs.

To learn more about the type of caravan lithium battery power system that would be right for you, and how to make the exact calculations, drop us an email and we’ll help you choose the perfect power setup for your caravan.

Good-Quality Batteries for Your Caravan 

Your caravan house battery bank is essential for storing the power you collect and running your appliances from the stored energy. When it comes to choosing the right battery for your caravan, there are various options available.

Lead acid batteries, including flooded lead acid, absorbent glass mat (AGM), and gel lead acid, have been commonly used in caravans. However, deep cycle battery systems and AGM battery systems are now being replaced by the superior RV lithium batteries. Lithium batteries are physically smaller but can produce at least 30% more power than AGM batteries! This means you can camp off-grid for longer periods without needing to recharge.

While lead acid batteries may be a cheaper option, they are not our first recommendation. They barely provide enough power for a basic setup and are extremely heavy, adding unnecessary weight to your caravan. We do not recommend lead acid batteries for caravans and below we explain why..

 On the other hand, Lithium batteries are the best option for off-grid caravanning. The lighter weight and better performance of RV lithium batteries make them ideal for off-road camping in Australia. They recharge quickly and have a higher battery capacity, making them perfect for use with solar panels. Additionally, they are more efficient and lightweight compared to AGM batteries. This is of key importance because batteries can be one of the heaviest items your caravan carries. Saving on weight here will make a significant difference in what you can carry and reduce the worry of your caravan being overweight.

 Another advantage of lithium batteries is their long lifespan. A good-quality lithium battery can last up to 15 years, saving you money in the long run. While the initial cost may be higher, the durability and longevity of lithium batteries outweigh the investment.

When it comes to caravanning, saving space and weight is crucial. Going over your weight limit can impact your fuel economy, safe towing, and even void your insurance in case of an accident. A lithium battery can provide nearly three times the amount of power as a standard AGM battery while weighing about 60% less. This not only saves weight but also increases your caravan's payload capacity.

We recommend lithium batteries for your caravan. They offer more power, lighter weight, longer lifespan, and better efficiency compared to lead acid batteries.

If you want more power when camping off-grid you’ll need to replace your old batteries in your van to a lithium battery setup.  

Contact us today, we can explain caravan power set-ups, show you the power system you need to run your caravan air-conditioner, coffee machine of any other 240 volt appliances while camping off-grid.   Let us help you make the most of your off-road caravanning experience.

You Need An Inverter In Your Caravan To Run Appliances Off-Grid

Although 48-volt systems are starting to make more of an appearance in the caravan industry, at this stage most Australian caravan battery systems operate on a 12-volt direct current (DC) system.

12 volt power in your caravan is sufficient for running lights, water pumps, fridges, Sirocco fans, and some specific 12v appliances, BUT it cannot power normal household appliances.  Without a caravan inverter you will not be able to turn on your air-conditioner, use your microwave, charge your laptop or run any other 240-volt appliances simply by plugging into the caravan power points. 

Household appliances require 240v alternating current (AC) power, which is different from your caravan's batteries. To use appliances like toasters, kettles, air conditioners, microwaves, and washing machines in your caravan, you need to convert the 12v DC power to 240v AC power.

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This is where a high-quality inverter becomes essential for your caravan to meet your camping power needs.  An inverter converts the 12v DC power to 240v AC power, allowing you to use regular household appliances and charge devices from your caravan power system and its GPO power points. An inverter provides the comfort and convenience of home power while off the grid.

For safety reasons, peace of mind, and ease of use, we strongly recommend having a qualified electrician with an electrical contractor's license install your caravan inverter. Prior to installation of your inverter ask your installer if they are a qualified electrician and will provide you with an electrical safety certificate for the installation.  In Western Australian an Electrical Safety Certificate must be lodged with Energy Safety WA and you will need a genuine copy of your electrical safety certificate as it is necessary for obtaining caravan insurance.

Investing in an inverter will give you the comfortable and convenience of 240 volt appliances such as an air-conditioner, coffee machine, air-fryer and more while experiencing caravanning off road in the most remote locations of Australia.

 Read our blog - Why Travelling Families Need An Inverter.

Why Do You Need A DCDC Battery Charger For Charging Your Caravan Battery

You will require a specific DC-DC charger to be added to your electrical setup to properly charge your caravan battery. 

Your caravan battery can be charged in 3 ways. The first is via an AC charger, this is a battery charger which takes AC power from the mains power source, such as plugging into shore power at home or in a caravan park, and converts this to DC power (which is what your battery requires) – using a multi stage charging algorithm to charge your battery. The second method is via solar panels.  These solar panels could be roof mounted on your caravan or portable solar panels that use a specific solar regulator to convert the solar energy to charge the caravan (“house”) battery. And finally, there is the ability to charge from the tow vehicle by connecting to the car battery/alternator – what is normally referred to as DC-DC charging. 

At Outech Offgrid, we suggest enhancing your setup, so we provide you with the capability to charge your caravan batteries from both your vehicle while in tow and your roof-mounted solar panels. This solution allows you to maximise two charging sources while on the road, ensuring efficient power supply for your caravan and a full battery by the time you reach you next campsite!  

How to Get Your Caravan Power System Right

The quality of your caravanning experience greatly depends on the availability of electricity. Issues with batteries and insufficient power can have a negative impact, preventing you from enjoying simple comforts like making a morning coffee or running the air-conditioning for a good night's sleep. It can also limit how long you can stay off-grid. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure your power systems are properly set up.

Angela and Victor Saved Thousands On There Kokoda Caravan!!

At Outech OffGrid Electrical Power Solutions, our team of qualified caravan and RV electricians specialise in all aspects of 12-volt, 240-volt, and off-grid power solutions for caravans.

So, if you’re ready for a hassle free caravan power system, contact us today to explore how we can power your Aussie venture off the grid with confidence!