How Much Power Do You Need for Free Camping?

The question isn't really "how much power do I need" — it's "how many days do I want to go without seeing a powered site." Once you know that, sizing your system is straightforward.

Start With Your Daily Usage

A typical free camping day might draw power from:

• A 12V fridge running continuously
• LED lighting for a few hours each evening
• Phone and device charging
• Water pump usage
• Occasionally, a coffee machine, induction cooktop, or air conditioning if it's a hot night

Add these up and you get your daily consumption in kWh. The more high-draw appliances (A/C, induction, hot water) you want to run, the more capacity and — just as importantly — the more solar input you need to keep up.

Matching Usage to a Power Platform

Weekend free camping (1–3 nights): a 12V 628Ah (8kWh) or entry 48V 7.1kWh system comfortably covers fridge, lighting, and basics without a powered site.

Extended free camping (a week or more): step up to a 12V 942Ah (12.1kWh) or 48V 14.3kWh system, and prioritise solar input so you're not drawing down faster than you can recharge.

Full-time off-grid living: this is where the 48V 16.1kWh flagship earns its place — largest capacity in the range, fastest recharge, and enough headroom to run air conditioning or induction without rationing.

Why Solar Input Matters as Much as Battery Size

A bigger battery just means a slower countdown if you're not putting power back in. That's why we built the Off-Grid Packages around matched battery-plus-solar ratios rather than battery capacity alone:

• Weekend Escape: 7.1kWh battery + 5000W inverter + 2× 460W solar panels — enough for short getaways
• Touring: 16.1kWh battery + 5000W inverter + 4× 460W solar panels — for extended trips needing faster recharge
• Full-Time: 16.1kWh battery + 5000W inverter + 5× 460W solar panels — maximum solar input for continuous off-grid living

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days can I free camp on a full charge?
It depends entirely on your daily draw and whether you're recharging via solar or driving. A well-matched system (battery sized to your appliances, solar sized to your battery) should keep you indefinitely off-grid in good sun; without solar, you're limited to your battery's capacity divided by daily usage.

Do I need solar, or can I just recharge by driving?
Driving-based DC-DC charging works, but it only recharges while you're moving. If you're staying in one free camp spot for several days, solar is what actually sustains you.

What draws the most power when free camping?
Air conditioning, induction cooktops, and hot water systems are the biggest draws by far — a fridge and lighting are comparatively minor.

Can I run air conditioning off-grid?
Yes, with a large enough system — the 48V 14.3kWh and 16.1kWh batteries are specifically built to handle A/C alongside other high-draw appliances.

Is a bigger battery always better for free camping?
Not necessarily — a bigger battery you can't recharge fast enough just delays the same problem. Matching battery size to solar input matters more than maximising capacity alone.

Find the Right Power System — browse the Off-Grid Packages built around exactly this.