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  Jeff McCoy July 25, 2017 at 5:45pm

  As a former Motor home geek, the simplest route if you just want to charge power tools is to get a 300w inverter with a cigarette plug, you can't run anything bigger without linking straight to the engine battery, if you want to fit a 2nd leisure battery it will need to be a sealed gel battery as these don't vent gasses, next you will need a split charge relay to divert excess power to charge the leisure battery. This also separates the two batteries electrically, thus making sure you don't drain the engine battery. I would skip the kettle idea and bring a flask or compact gas burner otherwise you will need serious battery capacity and a large inverter, big costs for a quick cuppa. The place to ask this question or to search is Motorhome fun forum. Jeff.
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    Shell > Jeff McCoy July 25, 2017 at 10:28pm

    thank you for your reply, with this inverter i presume I can only charge whilst driving otherwise I'll drain the battery? Also i think my van stops charging after the engines been off a few mins automatically

    i think i will skip to gas for kettle when i'm wild camping, it would be nice to be able to charge my phone/tablet though and perhaps a fridge, so i'll serch for the motorhome forum you mentioned

    cheers

    quite excited about having my first 'proper' van :)
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      Shell > Shell July 25, 2017 at 11:14pm

      I've just checked and my battery charger is 550W. You mention I can't run anything above 300w off a cigarette plug?
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        Shell > Shell July 26, 2017 at 10:11am

        another update, my cigarette lighter says max 120W.

        I guess I need to get an inverter hard wired if thats possible
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          Jeff McCoy > Shell July 29, 2017 at 10:52am

          If you limit yourself to charging mobiles, tablets and laptops then a simple 100w plug in inverter with USB outlets would suit you fine, though not all cigarette outlets are live with ignition switched off. If you are running a fridge be that 12v cooler, or compressor fridge ( like the fridge in your kitchen) you will need a leisure battery and a split charge relay.
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  Graeme Brown July 29, 2017 at 9:32am

  If you fit split charger I believe it will charge via the leasure battery all the time and the purpose of the split charger is to charge both batteries but avoid the van battery being drained and so leave you stranded
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    Shell > Graeme Brown July 31, 2017 at 4:53pm

    Turns out I would need a 1,000w inverter, so total cost with the battery, split charger, cables and just £90 labour would've been around £500. Decided to buy another battery for £190

    Have done out my van this weekend tho - way more practical :)
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  chris sparkes July 31, 2017 at 7:48pm

  get a good inverter. and have  slave battery. so when charging cordless stuff you do not drain your main battery for starting van. or have to have van on tick over when charging. no need with second battery.