Energy for traveling in a campervan - it's worth knowing
Campers are becoming an excellent alternative to traditional holidays in holiday homes or hotels, providing holidaymakers with independence, comfort and freedom of movement. How to correctly calculate the energy consumption of our camper and choose the right battery for a successful holiday trip? - This is the most frequently asked question from users.
Calculating the energy balance is much easier if the battery manufacturer, such as Exide, reports the specifications in Wh (watt-hours) rather than Ah (amp-hours). This makes it easier for users to calculate the average daily energy consumption of on-board equipment. The list should include all devices that consume electricity, such as: refrigerator, water pump, TV, navigation devices and emergency systems, as well as additional electronic equipment you take on your trip, such as laptops, cell phones, cameras or drones.
Energy balance
To calculate your camper's energy needs, you'll need to multiply the energy consumption of all on-board devices on our list by their estimated usage time (hours/day). The results of these actions will give us the amount of energy required, expressed in watt hours. By adding up the watt-hours consumed by all devices between subsequent charges, and adding a safety margin, we get a result that makes it easier to choose one or more batteries.
Examples of energy use between charges:
Formula: W × time = Wh
• Water pump: 35 W x 2 h = 70 Wh.
• Lamp: 25 W x 4 h = 100 Wh.
• Coffee machine: 300 W x 1 hour = 300 Wh.
• TV: 40 W x 3 hours = 120 Wh.
• Refrigerator: 80W x 6h = 480Wh.
Total: 1 Wh
Exide advises
To avoid unpleasant surprises during the trip, it is worth multiplying the resulting amount by the so-called safety factor, which is: 1,2. Thus, we get the so-called safety margin.
example:
1 Wh (sum of energy required) x 070 (safety factor) = 1,2 Wh. Safety margin 1.
Battery in a campervan – what should you remember?
Campers are powered by two types of batteries - starter batteries, which are necessary to start the engine, when choosing which you must follow the recommendations of the car manufacturer, and on-board batteries, which serve to power all devices in the living area. Thus, the choice of battery depends on the equipment of the camper used by its user, and not on the parameters of the vehicle.
A correctly compiled energy balance will help us choose the right on-board battery. But these are not the only parameters that you should pay attention to before purchasing it. Taking into account the model of battery we want to purchase and its installation options, we must consider whether the design of our car allows us to install the battery in a horizontal or side position, and then select the appropriate device model.
If we're concerned about short battery charging times, look for batteries with a "fast charge" option that cuts charging time by almost half, such as the completely maintenance-free Exide Equipment AGM from the Marine & Leisure range, made with an absorbent glass mat. technology characterized by high resistance to deep discharge. Let's also remember that choosing a maintenance-free battery will allow you to forget about the need to top up the electrolyte. But not only that, these models are also less likely to self-discharge.
Users who want their battery to take up as little space as possible in their camper can choose the Equipment Gel model, which will save them up to 30% of space in their motorhome. At the same time, they will receive a completely maintenance-free battery, suitable for long-term storage, characterized by excellent characteristics during cyclic operation and high resistance to vibration and overturning.
As you begin your campervan adventure, remember that well-calculated electrical needs and proper battery selection are the foundation of a successful mobile home holiday. On our trips, we will also remember to perform a routine, simple but necessary check of the camper's electrical system, and it will be an unforgettable vacation.
Photo. Exide
