HOW TO... POWER UP OFF-GRID
Going off-grid, with no electric hook-up, is a fun experience that allows you to be more flexible when choosing a campsite.
But with no mains hook-up, you’ll be relying on your leisure battery for all of your electric power. This is the main reason why many serious off-gridders often install a second battery, with manual or auto switchover.
The NCC’S Verified Leisure Battery Scheme offers clear guidance on a battery’s capacity.
› Category A batteries have higher storage capacity and are designed for caravanners who tend to camp away from an electric hook-up.
› Category B is for those who typically stay on pitches with electric hook-up, but need power for devices such as motor movers.
› Category C is designed for use over a short time to power basic, low-demand equipment.
It’s best to start by fitting the largest leisure battery you can find, ideally Category A. Your battery power (reserve) is measured in ampere/hours (Ah), and an ideal size for off-gridders is 110Ah.
This is a large item, so check it will fit your battery locker. Bear in mind that a second battery can also take up 20kg of your payload.
A leisure battery has much thicker lead plates inside than those in a car battery. Typically, the heavier a battery is, the more lead it contains and the better suited it is to off-gridding.
Avoid letting the charge in your lead-acid leisure battery get too depleted. It will last longer if it is regularly recharged from 75% capacity, rather than allowing it to go down to 50% or below.
The latest lithium batteries are perfect for off-gridding. Lithium iron phosphate (LIFEPO4) batteries are powerful and lightweight, and can be discharged much further than lead-acid batteries.
Of course, there’s always a downside, and that’s the cost.
A few years ago, lithium leisure batteries cost around £2000. Prices are now down to about £700, but that’s still multiples of a good-quality standard battery.