Motorhomes are not like cars, where the most complicated bit of kit you have to navigate is usually the multimedia system.
In a motorhome, you have kitchens, washrooms, lounges and dining areas to figure out, complete with plumbing systems, secondary heaters, ovens and all manner of electricals.
Unlike a car, heading off in your motorhome is not as simple as pressing a button and just driving. And with all of these complexities comes plenty of opportunity for error.
But don’t worry, that’s what we’re here for: to steer you through all these bits of kit, so you know exactly what you’re doing. Or at least how to fool most casual observers on a campsite!
ELECTRICKERY
The thing that causes most difficulty on a campsite is nearly always the leisure battery. Modern motorhomes have two batteries: the vehicle battery, used for starting and powering the base vehicle, and the leisure battery, which powers all of the habitation equipment.
Modern ’vans rely on 12V DC power from the leisure battery to power almost every item of equipment inside them. Your lights, taps, heating, fridge and oven all need an electrical supply to function, and the battery is a finite source of energy.
When you plug into a mains hook-up, you might think that you’re out of the woods, but this all depends on your energy use. If your motorhome has a 20A charger, but you are running a microwave off an inverter (which can easily draw 120A), you can see that you’re draining your battery six times faster than you’re replenishing it. So it will go flat.
If your leisure battery goes flat, your habitation kit will misbehave. Think of it like a human who has had a few too many in the campsite bar! Everything will work a little wonkily and the data imparted by the control panel might not be as accurate as usual.
This is why it’s always wise to carry a multimeter or a plug-in voltage meter to give you a second opinion. If any electrical device starts to misbehave, always suspect
