Traveling in a motorhome or camper van means freedom. Being behind the wheel of your own home, and knowing that you can go where you want, when you want, and always at your own pace, is hard to match any other form of travel. But there is something that can limit this feeling of fullness: the electric range of your motorhome or camper .
And it is that, traveling on wheels, sometimes implies spending many days in a row in the same place if the destination captivates us and we want to enjoy it in a deeper way (A full blown slow travel). And at this point, the self-supply capacity with which we have equipped our motorhome or camper van comes to light, especially with regard to electricity.
It is true that, already as standard, camper vehicles have a basic installation with which we can have water and electricity without problems. But if you don't want to be limited, the ideal is to take into account a series of tips to increase the electric range of your motorhome.
For this reason, in this post, we are going to tell you what autonomy your motorhome initially has, and what are the best options to improve it so that you do not get stranded on your trips.
1. Add a battery to increase the electric range of your motorhome
The first thing you should know is that, unlike in a conventional house, with 220v power, motorhomes generate power at 12v. And if you wonder, how long does electricity last in a motorhome? The answer is that: it depends on the battery capacity.
Generally, apart from the vehicle's own battery, motorhomes and campers also have a battery in the passenger compartment. But this is usually quite basic and can be insufficient to survive several days.
There are several types of batteries: AGM, lead, gel and lithium, differentiated by their properties and prices. Ideally, you should identify which one your motorhome has, and consider two options: purchase a battery with better qualities, or (and most commonly), add an extra battery, which must be equal to the other.
With this improvement in the electrical installation of your motorhome or camper van, you will be increasing its electrical storage capacity, and inherently, increasing its
2. Keep solar panels always clean
Although it is true that the batteries are recharged when the vehicle is running, or when we directly connect our motorhome or van to an external electrical point in an area or campsite, the accessory Essential to have greater electrical autonomy, is the solar panel. Without a doubt, the essential source of electricity supply.
Taking energy from the sun, the solar panel is responsible for supplying electrical energy to our camper by storing it in the batteries. But don't trust yourself! If during your trip the weather is not good and there are cloudy days, or if you do not properly maintain the license plates of your motorhome, they will not be able to charge properly .
For this reason, if you do not want to run out of energy in your batteries, the ideal thing is that you clean the solar panels of your home vehicle well, and that you have a auxiliary power system to avoid the unexpected (something we'll talk about a bit later, so keep reading!)
3. It incorporates an energy multiplier, for greater comfort
In this way of life and travel on wheels, carrying your house on your back, it is normal that you want to have certain domestic comforts and make continuous use of electricity in your motorhome, without worries .
And to have better energy autonomy in your motorhome, it is best to have a booster. An electronic equipment that will fully charge and with greater intensity, speed and efficiency (taking advantage of the energy from the vehicle's alternator during your trips) auxiliary batteries .
4. Power inverter to be at home
Auxiliary batteries, by themselves, are not capable of generating the electricity necessary to connect certain devices that you normally use at home. So, if you want to have 220v power without having to connect to an external source and increase the electrical autonomy of your motorhome or camper, you need a power inverter.
It is an electronic device that changes the voltage, so that the 12v or 24v energy generated by the battery is converted into 220v energy as that of a traditional house. Thus, you can connect your laptop, a hairdryer or a microwave whenever you want.
Now, how do you know what type of inverter you need? Well, very easy. To know the right type of inverter for your motorhome or camper van, it is essential to calculate what power you will need. Depending on the type of energy consumption you plan to make, it will be worth it with an inverter of more or less power .
5. Alternative energy to increase the electric range of your motorhome
At this point, if there is something that can truly help you increase the range of your motorhome on your trips, it is a portable battery. And in this sense, nothing like a professional portable battery like the BLUETTI EB70 (or other of the brand's models).
With this battery, you will literally have energy power in your hands, being able to charge any of your electronic devices (mobile, tablet, laptop, camera... ) and even power part of your camper equipment, such as the fridge or lights, among other possibilities
This is a very versatile solar power station. It does not require complex installations or approvals, and it can be powered through the 12v cigarette lighter socket of your own camper van or motorhome, or even taking advantage of the solar energy through portable and folding solar panels of the brand itself, the PV200.
In short, this is an option of alternative energy that is the best backup to have electricity uninterrupted in your camper. A real marvel!
And now that you know these 5 tips to increase the electric range of your motorhome, your vanlife adventures will be second to none. Now you can enjoy shooting and discovering the world without limitations!
