RV & CAMPERVAN POWER: 4 WAYS TO POWER-UP WITHOUT BEING PLUGGED IN

Solitude? Check. Beautiful views? Check. But does your cell phone have a charge? Maybe not.

I recently had a viewer comment that nomads don’t “need” power. They might want it…but they don’t need it. I agree in theory. If your goal is to completely check-out and unplug, sure, you can get by with a fire and a bottle of water. But for most travelers, whether they are working digital nomads or simply trying to enjoy retirement, most have some power needs. But, how do you get that power without being plugged in?

Today I’ll share FOUR WAYS to keep you POWERED-UP when you’re untethered and in the wild.

I haven’t met a Nomad yet who didn’t need some power.

For some, minimal power is needed to keep a cell phone, laptop or tablet powered. Others may need enough power to operate a C-PAP, refrigerator, or TV. The good news is, no matter your camping, style and hobbies, almost every conceivable gadget and device can be powered off-grid and boondocking.

How do you make sure you have all the power you need without being confined to a campground or RV park? Here are 4 strategies to help you enjoy the serenity of boondocking or dry camping that get the job done.

 

 

 

Charge with the Vehicle’s Battery

Whether you are traveling in a van, RV or trailer, you can pull power from your engine. There are three ways to draw power from your vehicle:

+Plug a 12v inverter into your cigarette lighter and charge your devices while your vehicle is running. Most of these devices, like the Bestek 500 W Power Inverter have several ports to charge both 110 AC devices (like your laptop) or USB powered devices (like your phone).

+Connect an inverter directly to your vehicle battery with cables, like the Yinleader Car Power Inverter 1000W/2000W(Peak). This is a great device when you need hefty power in a pinch. The only caveat is that you usually need to keep your engine running so your battery doesn’t die.

+Install a continuous-duty solenoid in your vehicle to draw the extra power your alternator creates when you drive to charge a house battery. The beauty of a solenoid is that it automatically charges your house batteries (the coach batteries inside your motorhome or freestanding battery inside your van) while you drive.  You can install one yourself, if you’re handy. If not, a RV or mechanic can help you out.

 

Charge with Portable Power Stations

I’m a big fan of portable Power Stations for charging all kinds of devices while boondocking. They are easy-to-use, self-contained, rechargeable batteries with an inverter and charge controller together in one unit. This means they can function just like a wall outlet, or charge a variety of other devices, usually with USB and DC ports.

Portable power stations come in a variety of sizes and functions. I have a video comparing four I’ve personally used and reviewed here, along with a  spreadsheet on the comparisons so you can see all of the differences between them.

Simply charge your power station while you drive, with a solar panel or by plugging into a wall outlet. Depending on size, they take different times to charge, and the power will last different lengths of time, depending on the items you charge. The internal battery can also vary among brands from lithium-ion to lead acid AGM. Lithium-ion is considered the best and will come with a higher price tag.

Power Stations can easily be used to provide a steady supply of power without being plugged-in, especially if you have a plan to keep them charged. I’ll share how I do that, down below!

 

 

Charge with Solar

Installing a solar system on your RV requires four main components:

+solar panels

+a charge controller to manage the incoming voltage from the panel

+an inverter to convert amps to watts so you can charge items

+and, a battery to store the power you collect.

How many panels and batteries you will need depends on what you need to power. I know Nomads that do just fine with one 100-watt panel and one 100-amp hour battery to charge laptops, phones and maybe a car vacuum.

I also know Nomads that have 1000 watts of panels on the roof of their motorhome with six 100-amp hour lithium batteries in their battery bank (that’s a whole lotta power!).

How much you might need depends on your individual camping style. If you need a guide to help you add up how much power you need, check out this Power Station Comparisons that illustrates the average energy draw of common appliances. If you’re still confused, sit down with a solar expert, go through your power needs and map out your own system.

Personally, I have 480 watts of solar with two 100-watt batteries and a 1000-watt inverter. This set-up powers multiple devices, thanks to the combination of my solar and my portable power station. I use the solar to keep my house batteries and power station charged. The solar powers me during the day, and the power stations power me at night.

 

Mounted Panels vs Solar Suitcase

If you only need a small amount of solar, like 100-watts, a Solar Suitcase might be a good option to consider. The benefit of the suitcase or an unmounted panel is that you can position the panel toward the sun as it moves across the sky, giving you the most effective charge. The downside is that it must be stored in a small space, packed and unpacked and moved periodically to be effective.

If you want a heftier solar set-up, Mounted Panels are a necessity. Multiple panels can be mounted on the roof of your rig, with real estate and cost being the only limiting factors. If you have the space and the budget, the sky’s the limit on how much power you can pull, automatically, from the sun. Mounted Panels need to be properly installed to charge your house or coach batteries, but once that’s done its no-muss-no-fuss and power will flow to your rig just like into a house…assuming the sun is full. The downside of mounting solar panels is that you need to park your vehicle in the sun if you want to get a solid charge, which can make your rig warmer in the summer months. In the winter when the sun is at a different angle, it can take longer to charge your batteries, unless you have them mounted on a system that tilts to maximize the sun exposure.

 

Charge with a Generator

A generator is another way to create power. There are two types: Portable and On-board.

Portable generators convert fuel to electricity. They come in various sizes depending on what wattage amount you need to run and charge your stuff. Some are hefty in size and weight and usually come with wheels to be moved around. Portable generators should only be used outdoors with good ventilation. Therefore, portable generators do require some work to move and set-up to be operated safely.

Most RVs have built-in, onboard generators. The fuel source for an onboard generator is the engine fuel or propane tank. This type of generator is great to easily charge your coach batteries. Even nomads who have solar sometimes to need to supplement their battery charge on cloudy days. They are also great to power appliances that are too power-hungry for your inverter to handle, like perhaps a blowdryer, blender or InstantPot.

There are some nomads who use a generator to power their batteries, without the use of solar or a campground hook-up. The glaring downside of this, is that most people don’t like to listen to or smell a generator running all day. Your neighbors won’t be happy campers. Most RV parks and campgrounds have quiet hours between 10 pm and 7 am when you cannot run a generator. Still, it is a workhorse for power and most nomads in motorhomes consider it to be an essential form of power (at least as a backup to other power sources).

 

Creating off-grid power is only the first step when you want to disperse camp, boondock, or dry camp. The second is to MAXIMIZING YOUR POWER…Here’s How:

 

Remember to Always Be Charging!

Never waste an opportunity to charge smart. Take advantage of your driving time to power your house battery and electronic items by using a solenoid to power your house battery and plugging everything into a power station that’s charging as you drive. If you travel like most Nomads, you’ll drive at least 3 hours between campsites. Use this time wisely to power as many electrical items as you can.

Use Electronics that are Rechargeable

So many of the electronic items we use are now available in USB form. From curling irons to bug-zappers you can find rechargeable versions of your favorite items. I have several options in my Amazon store that I’ve found. Just add “rechargeable” in front of anything you are Googling to see if it exists.

Use Solar Lights Inside at Night

Instead of drawing power from your house batteries to light your rig, use solar lights that you can charge during the day. Then you have extra power to run anything else you need when the sun goes down.

My video “The ABCs of Nomad Power: Strategies for Banking Power on the Road,” walks you through all the examples above.

You don’t have to live like a caveman when you travel the backroads. Just be smart about what you have and how you use it!