Portable Power Station for Motorhomes and Camper Vans

Portable power station or leisure battery?

A conventional leisure battery powers the vehicle's 12 V system, but needs an inverter, a charge controller and an installation to deliver 230 V. A portable power station combines everything in a single unit: battery, 230 V inverter, solar charge controller and USB ports. It plugs in with no installation work, moves from one vehicle to another and can also be used at home. It is the ideal solution for a camper van or to supplement a motorhome's electrical system.

Portable power station or generator?

• Silent: usable at night and on aires where generators are banned or frowned upon.
• No fuel or fumes: usable inside the vehicle, no maintenance.
• Rechargeable in the sun: the energy is free once the panels are set up.

A generator still has the edge for very heavy consumers over long periods (rooftop air conditioning, for example).

What capacity for a motorhome?

List your appliances and how long you use them each day. Example: a compressor fridge (about 400 to 600 Wh per day), LED lighting (100 Wh), charging phones and a laptop (150 Wh), a coffee machine (100 Wh). Total: about 800 Wh per day. A 2,000 Wh power station then lasts two days without recharging, and much longer with a 200 W solar panel. For a weekend in a van, a 1,000 Wh power station is often enough.

Recharging your power station on the road

• Solar: with one or more folding panels, placed on the ground or against the vehicle. This is the most practical way to recharge when wild camping.
• While driving: from the 12 V socket, or much faster with a DC-DC alternator charger.
• At the campsite or at home: from a mains outlet, in one to two hours on fast-charging models.

Frequently asked questions

Can a portable power station run a motorhome fridge?

Yes, a 12 V or 230 V compressor fridge. Absorption fridges (three-way), on the other hand, use a lot of electricity: run them on gas instead when wild camping.

Can I use the power station while it recharges in the sun?

Yes, your devices stay powered during solar charging.

Can a portable power station handle the cold?

Discharging generally works down to -10 °C or -20 °C, but charging requires temperatures above freezing on most LiFePO4 batteries. Some models have built-in battery heating: see the temperature ranges on each product page.