Camping Electricity: Power Up Your Motorhome Adventures

When you pull into a campsite, the first thing you want to know is whether you can plug in and charge your devices. Getting power right means you can run lights, charge phones, keep the fridge cold and stay comfortable all night. In this guide we cover the basics of campsite hookups, off‑grid options and safety tricks so you never get left in the dark.

Hooking Up at a Campsite

Most UK sites offer a standard 13‑amp socket or a 3‑pin 230 V connection. Bring a sturdy, weather‑proof extension cord and a 13‑amp to 12‑volt adapter if you want to charge a leisure battery. Check the site’s guide – some places have separate rows for electric and water, so you won’t waste time hunting for the right spot.

Before you plug in, turn off any high‑draw appliances like microwaves or electric heaters. This avoids tripping the circuit breaker and keeps your power use under the site’s limit. If you hear a buzzing sound after you plug in, disconnect immediately – a loose connection can be dangerous.

Remember to reset the power switch on your motorhome after you arrive. Many rigs have a main switch that isolates the battery from the external supply. Flip it on, then switch on the individual circuits you need – lights, fridge and water pump. Doing it this way reduces the risk of blowing a fuse.

Off‑Grid Power Tips

Not every spot has mains electricity. That’s where a good battery system and a solar panel become lifesavers. A 12‑volt leisure battery can run lights, a small fridge and a laptop for a full day if you manage the load. Use a power monitor to see how many amps each device draws; keep the total under 50 % of the battery’s capacity to avoid deep‑cycle damage.

Solar panels are easy to set up – just unfold, angle toward the sun and connect to a charge controller. A 150‑watt panel can add a couple of amp‑hours per hour on a bright day, enough to top up a 100‑amp‑hour battery over a weekend. Clean the panel regularly; dust cuts efficiency fast.

If you need more juice, consider a portable inverter. It turns 12‑volt DC into 230 V AC, letting you run a TV or a small heater. Choose a pure‑sine wave inverter for sensitive electronics; a modified sine wave can cause buzzing noises and may damage some devices.

Safety always comes first. Keep all cords away from moving parts and never run a cable under a car or over a hot engine. Store spare fuses and a simple multimeter in your toolbox – they help you spot a blown fuse or a low‑voltage issue before it becomes a problem.

Finally, plan your power use before you leave home. Write down every appliance you’ll need, note its wattage and add up the total. If the sum exceeds the campsite’s limit, swap a high‑draw item for a low‑draw alternative – a 12‑volt fan instead of an electric heater, for example. With a bit of forethought you’ll stay plugged in, safe and happy wherever the road takes you.