Simple camping setups tend to have less power requirements, but it all depends on the type of camper you are and the appliances you carry on the road.

The humble beginnings of Australians’ RV holiday explorations revolved around young families looking to get out on the open road, throwing a few essentials in the back of their VW Kombi, while leaving life’s creature comforts at home. Oh, how times have changed.

Before luxury living on the road became a trend, RV holidays were far more simple affairs. Holidaymakers often bought a partly-converted van and did the rest of the work themselves. But as the years have passed, consumer knowledge has increased, technology has become more complex and the  expectations of a typical family holiday have evolved.

As the size of RVs has grown and technology has improved, so too has the levels of comfort and space available to live and sleep on the road in style.

The ‘90s saw a shift in the type of holidays Australians were taking, with many holidaymakers choosing to travel abroad. This proved a challenging time for the camping and RV industry, which had to navigate through these changes. Now, it seems Australians are returning to their roots, with more and more retirees and families choosing to explore their home turf rather than head overseas.

As nomads invest in a life of retirement on the road, many seek the same luxuries in their state-of-the-art RVs that they have at home, no matter how remote the destination. Air-conditioners, fridges, TVs, even washing machines… It’s not surprising that as our holiday requirements evolve, so too have RV power systems.

Back in the ‘70s, most motorhomes and caravans had a simple electrical system – a 240 volt mains supply for a few powerpoints. As any dedicated RVer will know, mains power is fine when you’re staying in caravan parks, but for those wanting the freedom to camp further afield a more sophisticated power system is required. Today, both the 240 volt and 12 volt systems in RVs have become far more advanced, particularly 12 volt systems.

MEETING YOUR NEEDS

The type of power system you require in your RV will, of course, depend on the type of camping you prefer to do, the places you travel to and stay at, whether you have access to mains power, the types of appliances you run, the available space for your power system and your budget. These are all questions you should ask yourself when you are looking to upgrade or change your RV power system.

If you are generally staying at powered sites, the simplest and most affordable option for your power needs is an ac battery charger. Keeping your RV’s battery connected to the ac battery charger when it is in storage and not in use will maintain and extend the life of your battery. The ac battery charger will also ensure that when you are ready to take off on your next RV adventure you won’t be faced with a flat battery.

For a reliable power system that can be used when travelling to locations where there is no access to mains power, a generator is a good option. A good generator gives you access to 240 volt power and can be used in conjunction with an inverter charger, which is ideal for when you have higher power requirements. The downside of using a generator is that you need to carry additional fuel. They also take up space, add weight and can be noisy. Some national parks have restrictions around the use of generators, which is something to keep in mind.

Another option for RVers who travel remote and have heavy power use requirements is an inverter charger with a monitor. This allows you to charge up your batteries while you are away via solar, a generator or mains power. It also gives you the ability to control and monitor your power consumption more easily.

Today’s travellers are extremely technologically savvy and want better control over their power usage at camp, which has led to the rise in all-in-one battery management systems, such as Bainbridge Technologies’ BainSmart Glider total RV management system. Battery management systems like this allow power input and usage to be controlled and monitored centrally, which is useful when multiple appliances are in use.

As technology continues to evolve and the list of appliances in our RVs grows, our power requirements will continue to change and increase and, of course, new solutions will continue to become available. Watch this space!

For more information on BainTech, click HERE. 

Category: Technology
Written: Wed 01 Feb 2017
Printed: February, 2017
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