Specifications

the 12v supply of your battery, a 10W bulb
will use just over 0.8A (though probably
nearer to 0.9A due to losses in the wiring
etc), a 60W portable TV around 5A; and a
30W circulation fan on a heating system
around 2.5A Your water pump will also
use a little, but it is not on for long.
A night might go like this: 3 x 10W lamps
for 5 hours = 13.5Ah; heater fan in use for
10 hours = 25Ah; TV on for 3 hours =
15Ah. So the total usage would be 53.Ah.
As you can see, a night like this will zap
your battery fairly hard, though a few
hours driving the next day will soon put
matters right.
Clearly a 100Ah battery has greater
reserves than a smaller one, and some
seasoned travellers fit a second leisure
battery. If you do this, be sure that the
batteries are wired so that both get
charged at once, whether by the vehicle
alternator or by a solar panel. (Extract
courtesy of journalist, David Serpell)
Q: MY INTERIOR LIGHTS ARE NOT
WORKING, WHAT DO I DO?
A: It is possible that all of the 230V mains
electrical equipment may not be operated
simultaneously. A typical UK Caravan Site
mains hook-up point provides a maximum
output of 10 amps and on some
continental sites, this may be as low as 5
amps. So, for example if you operate a
colour TV (2.50 amps), Blown air heater
(8.6 amps), water heater (4 amps) and
interior lights, you may overload your
system by using too many appliances at
the same time. Switching off other
appliances should allow your lights to
work.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Explorer Group 2005 Motorhome Handbook
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