Good morning all, I'm looking at using a van as a mobile office for a 5 year contract visiting sites across Europe and the UK. I'll be away about 250 days per year (Spring, Summer, Autumn) and may be away from mains power for two consecutive nights maximum. It looks like it will work out cheaper than using hotels/flights etc and allow me to stop as and when needed for leisure time. If the numbers work out I'll buy a new or nearly new vehicle.
My question relates to electrical capability. I'll occasionally need to use a desktop style computer as well as a laptop (which I'll use as much as possible). My iMac 27 inch computer draws 295W maximum which at 12v equates to 24 amps but at 240v is only 1.3 amps. I know very little about how campervan electricity works - batteries, charging, solar, re-charging etc - so I'm looking for any thoughts, guidance, advice etc.
Thanks in advance
Most vans will have a 12v battery and a mains 240v hookup, which attaches to an inbuilt charger.
For running a computer and lights the 12v supply should be fine, you will need a adaptor to run the PC off a 12v socket or if you somewhere with a hookup then run it off a mains socket.
Fully charged battery should last a couple of days. It is usually re charged when the van engine is running when you are driving.
If you are on a mains hookup then no problem with charging battery.
If you are going to be staying where there is no mains hookup then you might want a solar panel fitted or a small generator to top up the battery.
If staying in cold weather then running the van heating on electricity will require mains hookup otherwise will need to use gas or diesel heating (gas gets used up quite quickly for heating)
Thanks for that, so it sounds like as long as I get a van with a solar panel, maybe an additional battery and carry a small generator just in case, I should be fine for several days at least. Even though I suspect I'll not be 'off grid' very often, if at all, then I have some comfort. Many thanks
A continuous drain of 24 amps on a leisure battery will flatten it very quickly, in my opinion. Unless it is brand new and in excellent condition, probably no more than a few hours at most I would have thought. If you intend to run the desktop via a 240 volt inverter, that will in itself take a certain amount of power even with nothing plugged into it. Computer + Inverter you could be looking at 30 amps drain, which I would think would give you no more than 3 hours continuous use. On top of that of course you would have your lighting and water pump, which would also run off the battery. Once you have flattened it you would have neither.
If possible I would recommend only using a desktop when hooked up to a mains supply, either from site or from a generator. Please bear in mind though that most camping/caravan sites don't allow generators, but then if you were on such a site you wouldn't need one as you would have mains.
I had hoped to use our MH for my work, visiting planning application sites in Scotland and overnighting on a campsite rather than a hotel. I couldn’t get the “business” insurance cover - I was told I couldn’t use the MH to drive to visit a site for work but I could “drive past” it while happening to look out of the window.
I do hope you fare better. But it might be an idea to scope out insurance before committing too much more time & effort.
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 07/4/2021
I had hoped to use our MH for my work, visiting planning application sites in Scotland and overnighting on a campsite rather than a hotel. I couldn’t get the “business” insurance cover - I was told I couldn’t use the MH to drive to visit a site for work but I could “drive past” it while happening to look out of the window.
I do hope you fare better. But it might be an idea to scope out insurance before committing too much more time & effort.
I am able to get business insurance for my van, as a mobile office, and for commuting to and from work-related sites.
I cannot sell/trade goods from the van, only for office work, and am not allowed to carry any passenger for work-related purposes.
I am with Safeguard for my van insurance.
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A couple of 100Ah LiFeP04 Leisure batteries and a couple of 100watt solar panels on the roof, should keep you going.
Will Prowse does a really good youtube channel, some good tips on there especially for beginners, it may be an American channel, but 12v stuff applies all over, so the content is relevant and useful.
Not about electrics, but, unless you are lucky enough to have an EU passport, you will need to think about work permits for each country you visit ..... holiday visas are now restricted to 90 in every 180 days 😢
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Topic: New member - electrical question
via mobile 07/4/2021 at 9:23am
