Your campervan has two batteries. The engine battery starts the van. The house battery runs the fridge, lights, water pump and USB points. This guide is about the house battery.
How to take a reading
If your van has a voltage reader, check it in the evening. For an accurate reading:
- Turn the van off and leave it off for at least 30 minutes.
- Make sure the van is not plugged into power.
What your reading means
| Reading | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 12.6V to 12.7V | Fully charged | Nothing needed |
| 12.3V | Getting low | Find a powered campsite soon |
| 12.0V | Urgent | Plug into a powered campsite tonight |
| Below 12V | The battery can start to be damaged | Plug in as soon as you can |
| Below 11V | Damage is generally critical | Plug in and contact Customer Care |
How solar affects your reading
If your van has solar, the reading can look higher during the day. For example, 13V in the daytime shows the solar charging. It does not show how charged the battery really is. Your evening reading gives you the true picture.
Solar helps to maintain the battery, but it will not fully charge it.
How to charge the battery
The best way to charge is at a powered campsite overnight. We recommend plugging in every 2 to 3 nights, depending on your power use and the weather. A few hours is not enough for a full charge.
Driving helps, but it takes around 10 hours of driving to fully charge the house battery because the engine battery charges first. Driving alone will not replace an overnight charge.
When to contact us
Contact Customer Care if the battery lasts less than two days after a full overnight charge, or if your reading is below 11V.
- Australia: 1800 674 374
- New Zealand: 0800 348 348
- USA: 800 469 4790