Do you need a converter?
Powering adventures in your campervan is an important matter to consider. Without any vehicle changes, you are solely relying on your car battery to provide you with enough energy for your needs. Each car battery has its own unique capacity, which will eventually drain to nothing if continuously used. This would not only leave you without power for the likes of charging your phone. It could leave you stranded as your vehicle may not start. This is an essential matter to consider if you plan to camp in a remote location or for a longer period of time. If your vehicle is static, it doesn’t have the opportunity to recharge. This article explores just how useful is a converter in a campervan and everything else you might need to know.
For your car battery to recharge, you must drive so the alternator can recharge the battery. Essentially the battery provides the electricity needed for the starter motor to start the car. When the car runs, the alternator generates energy to feed the electrical system and charge the battery. The alternator familiarly used to be called a generator, and it works similarly. Therefore, it’s important to have a general idea of what charging ability your battery may have.
How much power can my battery produce?
The truth is, the time period a battery may be able to charge for will vary hugely based on battery age and condition. For example, a standard vehicle battery may have a capacity of 60m Amp Hours with a current of 3 Amps. This battery could, in theory, supply a 3 Amp current to a load that would be 20 hours (60/3). With standard iPhone chargers using at least 1 Amp. A few phones could drain the battery over time.
In reality, batteries lose capacity over time, so its highly unlikely unless the battery is brand new that it can deliver 100% of the charge it states. In simple terms, in healthy batteries, ions flow freely between a cathode and anode, but over time, this process wears out the cathode, reducing its capacity. So to use the battery of your vehicle output, you need somewhere to plug it in.
More modern vehicles will have USB ports; however, standard to almost all vehicles is the cigarette lighter socket. In these sockets, you can plug a 12v USB charger in. This can be enough to power the likes of a Sat Nav as you travel to your destination. It also offers sufficient power to charge your phone on the go. However, this is obviously going to drain your car battery, and it may have other negative impacts, which the following article explores.https://www.businessinsider.com/should-i-charge-my-phone-in-my-car-2017-10?r=US&IR=T This may be enough power for the likes of a day trip. But what if you need more power? The addition of a leisure battery coupled with a converter may be the solution. If your vehicle battery does not supply you sufficient energy for your appliance use and charging needs.
What is the converter?
A converter is otherwise known as a power inverter. Power inverters are used in the likes of motorhomes, caravans and now campervans. Inverters connect to a 12 Volt DC supply and convert it to a 23o Volt AC output. To put this in more understandable terms, a 230 Volt output is what you would find supplied in the sockets of your house. Simply put, a power inverter allows mains appliances to be run from leisure batteries. It converts the 12 Volt DC supply they have to a 230 Volt AC output which your appliance can use when plugged into the socket. Therefore with a sufficient capacity in a leisure battery coupled with a converter, you can provide the necessary power to run the appliances you need on your travels. So it’s about deciding what appliances you wish to run and creating a system that can provide this power.
How much power do I need?
The power you need for your campervan is directly proportional to the number of appliances you use and the power they require. Appliances can demand varying amounts of power and particularly when they are used simultaneously. For example, if you are making a meal, you could have a microwave, kettle and toaster all on at once. Increasingly a wider range of products tailored to camping has been produced with lower wattage requirements than household appliances. These are good to consider as they reduce the stress on your electrical system. The power needed for an appliance will be stated and will usually be in Watts or Amps. Below is a list of 10 examples of typical appliances that are used in campervans with there required power needs:
- Household kettle 2000 Watts 8.7 Amps
- Medium sized microwave 800 Watts 4.4 Amps
- Fan Heater 2000 Watts 4.4 Amps
- Toaster 900 Watts 3.9 Amps https://www.leisureoutlet.com/camping-and-outdoors/outdoor-cooking/camp-stoves-and-grills/131572-quest-2-slice-lw-stainless-steel-cream-toaster
- 600w Hairdryer 600 Watts 5.2 Amps https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B018XIT4WK?tag=caravan028-21&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1
- Apple Macbook Charger 96 Watts 3.6 Amps https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/mac/accessories/power-cables
- Domestic Compressor Fridge 45 Watts 2 Amps https://www.jacksonsleisure.com/dometic/cre65/motorhome/campervan/marine/fridge/freezer/
- 800 W BBQ 800 Watts 3 Amps https://www.towsure.com/swiss-luxx-electric-bbq-800w
- 1200 W Frypan 1200 Watts 5 Amps https://www.camping-online.co.uk/mains-electrics/electric-low-wattage-appliances/quest-low-wattage-deluxe-maxi-frypan.html
- Coolbox 800 Watts 4 Amps https://www.campingworld.co.uk/en/Outwell–Deep-Chill-50L-Coolbox/m-30592.aspx
It is worth noting if an appliance does not have a Watt power value, you can work this out using simple maths. You time the amp value of the appliance by 230 (230 Volts), and this will give you the power it needs in Watts.
EG A fan that uses 6 Amps (6 Amps × 230 Volts ) =1380 Watts
Deciding your power needs
Once you have made a list of the appliances you will use, you have a total Wattage to work with. For example, you could have a 1000W Kettle, 800W Microwave. 10W Phone charger, 200W TV. Giving you a total of 2010 Watts. It’s important to note this wattage is required to run the appliances; more power is required to start the devices. Therefore, a good general rule is to have a power inverter with 20% more wattage capacity than your appliances’ total wattage. So if your appliances total around 2000W like the example previous, purchase a converter with a 2400W capacity.
It can be smart to have more capacity if you introduce more appliances later on, which is worth thinking about. It could save you the cost of buying a new power inverter in the future. Following this process of totalling the power you need, you are ready to explore the market for a power inverter to accommodate your needs.
The two types of power inverter currently available on the market
When buying a power inverter, it can be especially daunting when you find out there are two types on the market. Below is a simplified explanation of each that can help you make an informed decision about which one is best for you
Pure Sine Power Inverter
These inverters produce the electricity you would find in your household. A smooth flowing AC that can power any household appliance. They deliver the most reliable purest form of current. A popular pure sine inverter is the Giandel which you can choose a range of wattage capability from 1000W to 4000W.
Modified Sine Inverter
These are a cheaper alternative to the pure sine inverter. There are many reasons for this being the case. There are reports of interference when powering the likes of TV. It powers most electrical appliances, but it is not guaranteed to power all household appliances like a pure sine power inverter. Giandel also offers a modified sine power inverter which is also a great option.
Should you purchase a pure or modified sine inverter?
Cost is always a factor to consider when purchasing a product and building your campervan lifestyle. Although a modified sine inverter is cheaper, it may compromise your ability to use all of your appliances. To guarantee the best chance of all your appliances working, its most likely worth the extra money to invest in a pure sine power inverter. Once you have decided what power inverter to purchase, you need a leisure battery to supply enough amps. There is a simple way to work this out. Divide the wattage of your electrical needs by 10. For example, if you have a 2000W power inverter, you will need a 200 Amp current supplied by your leisure battery (2000÷10)=200.
In Summary
Power inverters are a simple and effective addition to any campervan build. Converters offer the option to create a totally custom system to accommodate your appliance power needs. They can be extremely reliable and allow you to electrical facilities in remote destinations.
Of course, there are alternative ways to generate power. Such as the use of generators, solar panels and even appliances that run from gas. These options are worth considering if you are considering a power inverter. Ultimately there is a range of methods and systems to satisfy your electrical needs. Now you know converters; you can make an informed decision about your campervan build. Ask yourself, “do I need a converter in my campervan?”.