What Affects Camper Van Battery Needs?

Air Conditioning

Air conditioning is usually one of the largest electrical loads in a camper van.

Our vans can be equipped with a 12V Dometic RTX 2000 air conditioner that runs directly from the house battery system. How long it can run depends on outside temperature, thermostat settings, solar production, battery capacity, and what else you are powering at the same time.

If you plan to spend a lot of time in hot climates or regularly rely on air conditioning, additional battery capacity is one of the first upgrades we recommend.

Cooking

Induction cooking is fast, convenient, and eliminates the need to carry propane for the stove, but it can draw a significant amount of power while it is running.

Most people only cook for short periods, so an induction cooktop does not run continuously like a refrigerator. Still, frequent cooking should be considered when deciding how much battery capacity you need.

Laptops and Remote Work

Laptops and small electronics usually use much less power than air conditioning or cooking, but daily use can add up.

If you plan to work remotely from your camper van, you may also be powering monitors, cameras, internet equipment, chargers, and other electronics throughout the day.

For occasional laptop use, our standard system is generally plenty. For someone working from the van every day, we look more closely at their total power needs and how often they will be able to recharge.

Refrigerator

The refrigerator runs throughout the day, but modern 12V compressor refrigerators are designed to be very efficient.

We commonly use the Dometic NRX 80S, which runs directly from the 12V electrical system. Because it cycles on and off rather than operating continuously at full power, it is generally much easier on the battery bank than appliances such as air conditioning or an induction cooktop.

Solar

Solar helps replace some of the energy you use throughout the day.

Our standard system typically includes around 300 watts of solar, but solar production changes constantly. A sunny summer day in Colorado may provide plenty of charging, while several cloudy days, winter conditions, shade, or a campsite surrounded by trees can significantly reduce solar production.

For this reason, we do not design a camper van electrical system around solar alone.

Driving

Driving can be one of the most useful ways to recharge your house batteries.

Our systems can charge the house battery while the vehicle is running. For customers with larger electrical demands, we can also install a secondary alternator dedicated to charging the camper van battery system.

A secondary alternator can provide much faster charging than a standard charging setup, which can be especially helpful for people who move frequently or use a lot of electricity.

Weather and Travel Style

Weather has a surprisingly large effect on electrical use.

Hot weather may mean more air conditioning. Cold weather can reduce solar production and increase the amount of time you spend inside using lights and appliances. Cloud cover and shade also affect how much energy your solar panels produce.

Your travel style matters just as much. Someone driving every day and staying at campgrounds occasionally will have very different power needs from someone parking in the backcountry for a week at a time.