How to power a caravan off grid — plus other great tips
Off grid caravanning is becoming increasingly popular with campers.
Campsites with washroom facilities, electric hook-ups and easy access to food and drink stores are convenient. However, going off the grid brings unique rewards.
Off-grid means no electric hook-up, Wi-Fi or on-site amenities. But what you get in return is the ability to pitch up in wild, remote locations surrounded by breathtaking scenery.
Off-gridding is all about returning to nature in its purest form and discovering more about yourself along the way. You’ll also save a fortune on regular campsite fees.
You won’t have to say goodbye to every convenience, though. The power-hungry microwave and electric hotplate may be too much for your leisure battery to handle without a hook-up. But you can power your hob and fridge and heat it with gas while the battery services the TV and lights.
The secret to caravanning successfully off-grid is ensuring you have enough water, battery power or gas.
So, in this guide, we explain how to prepare for an exciting caravanning adventure with an off-grid destination:
Gas
Self-refill gas systems like Safefill and Gaslow can be topped up at Autogas outlets, including filling stations, gas suppliers, resellers on industrial estates, small garages and country shops, and farmers’ yards.
The self-refill system means you top up anytime, and Autogas costs significantly less than Calor gas. You can learn more at drivelpg.co.uk or download the Autogas app on your smartphone.
The alternative is to purchase an additional conventional gas bottle, assuming you have the storage space. Two bottles mean you can let one run out and switch immediately to a full bottle. Remember that if you stick to one gas bottle, you’ll have to recharge it quickly. For example, if you have a third of a bottle of gas left, you’ll pay for a full bottle refill or exchange. But if you leave it too late, you may run out.
Top Tip! If you plan to go caravanning off grid in winter, know that Butane gas performs differently than Propane gas. While Propane works in temperatures down to minus 42°C, Butane only works at minus 2°C and above.
Electricity
Without a 230V hook-up, your leisure battery provides all your electric power. So serious off-grid caravanners often install a second leisure battery with a switchover. Either way, here is all the information you need to know about leisure batteries:
The industry trade body NCC operates a Verified Leisure Battery Scheme, offering clear guidance on a battery’s capacity:
- Category A batteries have a high capacity, which makes them perfect for off grid caravanning
- Category B batteries are ideal for people who stay on pitches with an electric hook-up but need extra power for devices like motor movers.
- Category C batteries are designed for short-time use powering low-demand equipment.
Ideally, install the largest Category A leisure battery that fits in your leisure locker. A 110Ah battery is perfect for off-grid use. And you can choose between lead-acid, gel and Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) technology.
Lead-acid batteries should ideally be recharged when they drop to 75% capacity. Otherwise, the battery performance may decline over time and fail to hold a charge for as long.
LiFePO4 batteries can discharge much more than lead-acid batteries without affecting their lifetime performance. However, they cost significantly more.
Most caravans have a control panel that displays the level of battery charge:
- 12.7V means the battery is fully charged
- 12.4V means the battery is 75% charged
- 12.2V means the battery is 50% charged
- 11.7V means the battery is 25% charged
- 11V or less means the battery is empty
Trickle charging is more effective than fast charging, as running your battery down and recharging quickly reduces the battery’s lifespan. For example, in the worst case, lead-acid batteries can boil dry.
You can prevent overcharging by using a smart charger from the CTEK range or similar. These devices have built-in technology that regulates the charge and cuts off when your battery reaches the correct state.
Top Tip! Your vehicle alternator charges the battery when the engine reaches a higher rpm. But even then, an alternator won’t charge your battery 100%. Running your car engine while stationary on-site to charge a dead battery isn’t suitable. And your fellow caravanners probably won’t appreciate the noise. So anticipate your off-site energy needs and plan accordingly. You can install Solar panels to act as an energy source. And it’s best to trickle charge your battery using a suitable device before you leave on holiday.
Solar panels
Solar panels can also power lights, water pumps, TVs and fridges and recharge leisure batteries.
You can buy fixed-roof solar panels or portable kits. Avoid budget brands, as the power output is often inconsistent and unreliable. Instead, choose a well-respected brand with the international IEC 61215 quality certification from a reputable supplier.
You’ll need a solar panel output between 100W and 200W to operate appliances and keep your systems charged.
Water
It pays to always keep an ample drinking water supply with you. Most off-grid sites have a water supply, but some don’t. And the further you venture off-grid, the fewer places you’ll find along the way to top up.
Tips to save power
LED lighting consumes a fraction of the power used by tungsten bulbs. So consider changing your downlights to LEDs. Another option is to fit LED light strips to use off-grid. Light strips are surprisingly illuminating and create a soft-lit atmosphere.
How about using hand sanitiser instead of washing your hands? Sanitiser does the same job, and you’ll save energy by not triggering the water pump.
The odd winter clothing item also saves you from firing up the heater if the spring or autumn evenings are nippy.
Lastly, motor movers use a lot of battery power. If you rely on a mover, read our reversing tips article and see if you become confident enough to leave the mover at home when holidaying off-grid.
12V versus 240V mains
Consider investing in 12V appliances such as travel kettles and hairdryers. You won’t need to rely on an inverter, which relieves the demand on the battery at the same time.
Inverters
If you need to rely on 240V appliances, install an inverter and turn your 12V DC battery power into 230V AC (suitable for 240V appliances).
You’ll need to install the correct inverter for your needs:
Quasi-sine wave inverters (or modified sine wave) are typically adequate for caravan use. They’ll power microwaves, kettles, hair dryers and TVs. However, you won’t achieve full power on a microwave, and, in some cases, black lines appear on TV screens.
Pure sine wave inverters are designed for higher loads yet cost more. But the bonus is you won’t get lines on your TV screen, and the microwave works at full power.
Inverters come in different outputs from 150W to 2500W. And while you won’t need to worry about powering a full-sized washing machine, add up the consumption of every appliance you might operate simultaneously to ensure your inverter output is powerful enough.
Off-grid caravanning cooking
The key to cooking off-grid is minimising your energy consumption. So whether you plan to BBQ or cook on the hob, choose meals you can make in the least amount of time.
We recommend keeping a copy of The Camper Van Cookbook by Martin Dorey, Van Life Cookbook by Danny Jack, and The Clever Camper Cookbook by Megan Winter-Barker on board. All three books contain simple recipes that make use of locally sourced products.
That’s it. You’re ready for your first venture, where the scenery is stunning, the night sky is at its most illuminating, and the silence is golden. Happy off-gridding!