Boondocking Electricity: How to Keep Your Motorhome Powered off the Grid

Ever wondered how you can watch a movie, charge your phone and still have lights on when you’re parked in the middle of nowhere? Boondocking means you’re living off‑grid, so you need a solid plan for electricity. Below are the basics you need to feel confident, plus a few tricks to make every watt count.

Power sources you can count on

Most motorhomes come with a house battery bank. These are deep‑cycle batteries that store energy for lights, water pumps and low‑draw devices. The key is keeping them charged. You can do that with a generator, a shore‑power hookup (if you find one), or a solar array.

Solar panels are the quietest option. A 200‑watt panel plus a good MPPT charge controller can refill a 100‑amp hour battery in a sunny day. Even a modest 100‑watt panel will add a decent amount of juice if you park in a sunny spot for several hours.

Generators give you instant power, but they’re noisy and use fuel. If you use one, run it for short bursts to top up the batteries rather than keeping it on all night. That saves fuel and reduces wear.

Tips to stretch your juice

First, understand your draw. An LED light uses about 5 watts, a fridge around 30‑50 watts, and a laptop 20‑30 watts. Write down the biggest consumers and look for lower‑energy alternatives – LED strips instead of incandescent bulbs, or a 12‑volt fridge instead of a 120‑volt model.

Invest in a quality inverter. A pure‑sine wave inverter converts 12‑volt DC to 120‑volt AC cleanly, protecting sensitive electronics. Choose one sized for your peak load (usually 1000‑1500 W for most motorhomes) and run it only when you need AC power.

Use a battery monitor. It tells you real‑time voltage, current and estimated remaining amp‑hours. When the monitor shows you’re down to 50 % you’ll know it’s time to reduce usage or find a source to recharge.

Try a power‑saving routine: turn off lights when you leave a room, use the fridge’s eco‑mode, and limit TV or heater use to short periods. Many boondockers also run a small 12‑volt fan instead of a full AC unit to stay comfortable.

Plan your parking spot. A sunny, level space lets your panels face the sun directly and reduces the need for a generator. If you’re in a forest, a clearing or a spot near a road works better for solar exposure.

Finally, keep safety in mind. Never disconnect a battery while the inverter is on, and always install a proper fuse or circuit breaker between the battery and any devices. A short circuit can empty your bank in minutes and be a fire hazard.

Boondocking electricity isn’t magic – it’s just good habits, the right gear and a bit of planning. Follow these steps and you’ll stay powered up, no matter how far off the beaten path you wander.