Power for Van Life and Off-Grid Trips

OUTDOORS · GLOBAL

Power for Van Life and Off-Grid Trips

Working out what you need, charging on the move, gas and safety, and water

Living in a van or a remote cabin is mostly a power and water budgeting exercise, and the numbers are straightforward once written down.

Work out the daily load

List every device, its wattage and the hours it runs, and add it up in watt hours. A fridge, lights, phone charging and a laptop is a modest daily load; anything heating is not.

Kettles, induction hobs, hair dryers and heaters draw enormous power and are the things that force a much larger system.

Charging on the move

Solar is quiet and weather dependent, and real output in winter is a fraction of the rated figure. Charging from the vehicle while driving is reliable and needs the correct wiring and a charger designed for it.

Mains hook-up at a site refills everything quickly, which is why many people plan a site stop every few days.

Gas and heating safety

Any fuel-burning appliance in a confined space needs a working carbon monoxide alarm and proper ventilation that is never blocked. Never use a barbecue or a cooker for heating, and never run a generator inside or near a window.

Fit a smoke alarm and carry a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket.

Water

Around ten to twenty litres per person per day covers drinking, cooking and washing. Keep fresh and waste separate and sanitise tanks periodically.

Fridges and cooking

A compressor fridge uses a fraction of the power of a thermoelectric cool box and is the single best investment in an off-grid setup. Gas cooking is efficient and needs ventilation and a carbon monoxide alarm.

A kettle on gas rather than electric saves an enormous amount of battery.

Wiring

Use correctly rated cable and fusing, secure everything against vibration and keep battery terminals covered. Poor wiring is the main fire risk in conversions.

Winter

Condensation and damp are the main problems. Ventilate, insulate and wipe down rather than sealing everything up.

Inverters

A pure sine wave inverter runs sensitive electronics properly; modified sine wave is cheaper and unsuitable for some equipment. Size it for the largest thing you will run at once, including start-up surge.

Inverters draw power just being switched on, so turn it off when nothing needs it.

Security and parking

Park legally, check overnight restrictions, and keep valuables out of sight. Leave no trace at wild spots, which is what keeps them open.

Carry a basic tool kit and spare fuses, since small failures strand people.

Test the whole setup at home for a weekend before a long trip.

Weight and legality

Check the vehicle's maximum weight, since conversions exceed it easily.

WHERE TO BUY

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