RV FEATURE
If you weren’ t already aware, winter is here, and that means the annual northern migration of southerners has begun, with a huge number of us leaving in search of the sun. Unfortunately, I’ m not one of you. Instead, I’ m stuck here in my home in Wallan, Vic, with the heater going flat-out while I write this yarn. But I have done plenty of caravanning and camping during this time of year. Arguably, it’ s the best time to visit the north of the country, with mild temperatures and low humidity. This is the peak season for so many parts of the country.
A greater number of travellers this time of year will be in caravans and 4WDs with some amazing electrical setups. I’ ve said it before, and I’ ll say it again: the developments in recent years in battery and solar technology have made caravanning and camping off-grid so much more civilised than they ever used to be. What’ s more, all this development has been accompanied by greater affordability in the technology. It seems everyone with a new caravan or decked-out 4WD is sporting a highly sophisticated and capable electrical system.
If you’ re going to use this plug for an external solar panel, make sure it has the same Open Circuit Voltage as the panels on your roof.
However, the caravan and camping groups on social media are still filled with people having issues with their electrical systems keeping up with them. Why is that, and what can be done about it?
Well, we’ ve done our fair share of camping during winter, and we’ ve gone through many of these issues. Here are our tips for making your solar charging work this winter …
Hanging a solar blanket from a structure like this shelter will maximise solar harvesting.
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