What Size Of Power Station Do You Need For A Campervan?
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In the past, setting up a campervan’s electrical system was expensive. You needed special leisure batteries, split-charge relays, inverters, and complex wiring. If you got your calculations wrong, you could blow a fuse or end up stranded with a dead battery.
Modern all-in-one portable power stations have completely changing how campervans are powered. These power stations combine a LiFePO4 battery, pure sine wave inverter, MPPT solar charge controller, in one compact package.
No matter your van size, you can get instant 230V AC and 12V DC power without complicated wiring.
To avoid overspending or running out of power, make sure your battery matches your daily electricity use.
We’ll help you choose and explain the three main campervan setups, and our custom calculator below will do the heavy lifting and handle the calculations for you.
The UK Campervan Power Calculator
First, let’s figure out your daily power use on the road before choosing a battery.
Enter the usage or boiling times for high-power cooking appliances like induction hobs, kettles, or air fryers.
For appliances that run all day, such as 12V fridges, diesel heaters, or Maxxair fans, enter their daily runtime in hours.
The calculator will work out your daily watt-hours and recommend the best power stations for your use case.
UK Campervan Power Calculator
Simply enter your typical **daily uses**, **boils**, or **hours of runtime** for each appliance below. The calculator will automatically determine your perfect off-grid power setup and recommend your Top Choices.
Van Fridge (Compressor, 12V) (Assumes ~15W continuous avg)
15W
hrs
0 Wh
Maxxair Roof Vent Fan (Assumes average running ~20W)
20W
hrs
0 Wh
Diesel Night Heater (Assumes ~40W running max)
40W
hrs
0 Wh
Water Pump (Pressurised, 12V) (Assumes 1 min runtime/use)
25W
uses
0 Wh
LED Lighting (Zone Dimmable)
12W
hrs
0 Wh
Camper Lights
15W
hrs
0 Wh
Daily Dedicated 12V Raw Subtotal:
0 Wh
RESULTS BOX
Daily Raw Power Needed: 0 Wh
Recommended Station Size: 0 Wh Class
*Power Station calculation includes a 15% buffer to account for common 240V AC inverter efficiency loss (the difference between battery capacity and usable output). Sub-totals reflect raw consumption.
DYNAMIC POWER STATION RECOMMENDATION (PODIUM) (STEP 2)
Based on your calculation above, we recommend these off-grid choices:
Tier 1: The Weekend Micro-Camper Setup (Up to 500Wh Class)
The Goal
For short weekend trips, many people use smaller vans like a Citroën Berlingo or VW Caddy. They cook with a camping gas stove and use the power station to run a 12V fridge, camper lights, and charge a phone and laptop.
A 500Wh battery is great for small spaces. It fits under a rock-and-roll bed or in a storage drawer and doesn’t add much weight to your van.
#1 Choice: Jackery Explorer 500 v2 (518Wh)
Continuous Output: 500W pure sine wave (1,000W Surge)
This model is a favourite among campervan users. It’s reliable, lightweight, and uses long-life LiFePO4 cells that handle daily charging and discharging on the road.
It’s a good choice because it can run an Alpicool or Dometic 12V fridge for 24 to 35 hours, letting you enjoy a full weekend away without worry.
This is the best option for quick recharging. It can fully recharge from the mains in just 60 minutes, making it perfect for fast top-ups at campsites & pubs.
It’s a good fit because it has two 230V UK sockets and separate 12V DC ports, all in a compact 6kg unit that doesn’t take up much space.
Tier 2: The Standard Vanlife Arrangement (510Wh to 1000Wh Class)
The Goal
Standard campervan conversions, like VW Transporters, Ford Transits, or Vauxhall Vivaros, usually rely on a few 12V appliances, typically including a compressor fridge that runs day and night.
You might also use high-draw 230V kitchen items for short bursts, like travel kettles or toasters now and then.
A 1kWh unit is the standard choice for part time use of campervans. It has enough capacity for all your essential van functions, plus some extra power as backup.
#1 Choice: EcoFlow DELTA 2 (1,024Wh)
Continuous Output: 1,800W pure sine wave (2,700W X-Boost)
This model sets the industry standard for van conversions. Its strong 1,800W inverter can handle travel kettles, small microwaves, and power tools. You can double its capacity to 2,048Wh by adding another battery pack.
It recharges to 80% in just 50 minutes from mains power and can take up to 500W from solar panels.
Good for van builders who are just starting out and might want to double their battery capacity later as they need more gear.
Continuous Output: 2,000W pure sine wave (3,000W Surge)
This model is built for space efficiency. Its compact size fits easily into standard campervan kitchens. It can take in 600W from solar panels (up to 60V), making it great for fixed roof-mounted panels.
With HyperFlash technology, you can fully recharge it with an AC adapter in just 49 minutes.
Good for those who want the most compact, lightweight, space-saving unit for a smaller van build and know you wont exceed 1kWh usage.
Technical Comparison: EcoFlow DELTA 2 vs Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2
Feature
EcoFlow DELTA 2
Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2
Battery Capacity
1,024Wh (Expandable)
1,024Wh (Fixed)
Battery Chemistry
LiFePO4 (3,000+ cycles)
LiFePO4 (4,000+ cycles)
Continuous AC Output
1,800W (2,700W X-Boost)
2,000W (3,000W Surge)
UK AC Outlets
4x 230V 3-pin UK Sockets
4 x 230V 3-pin UK Sockets
Travel Kettle Compatible?
Yes
Yes
Max Solar Input
500W (11–60V, 15A)
600W (11–60V, 12.5A)
AC Recharge Time
0–80% in 50 min
0–100% in 49 min
Weight
12.0 kg
11.3 kg
Warranty
5 Years
5 Years
Use our Solar Panel Selector to see which solar panels and accessories you will need to power a 1kWh portable power station off grid, whether you are you using foldable or fixed roof solar panels.
Just enter your chosen power station in the drop-down list for a custom built solar panel and accessories list with multiple options.
Tier 3: The All-Electric Off-Grid Rig (1000Wh to 2000Wh+ Class)
The Goal
Large off-grid conversions (for example, Mercedes Sprinters, Crafters, or Ducatos) and four-season campervans: instead of using gas bottles, you opt for a completely electric system, including single-ring induction hobs, compact air fryers, coffee pod machines, continuous diesel heating in winter, and high-flow pressurised water systems.
With a capacity of more than 2 kWh, you get excellent surge capability and can stay off-grid for several days without worrying about tripping the inverter when cooking a hot meal.
#1 Choice: Bluetti AC200L (2,048Wh)
Continuous Output: 2,400W pure sine wave (3,600W Power Lifting)
Features: The most robust off-grid workhorse available. It is constructed with durable components designed to withstand the high surge spikes produced by induction hobs, large water pumps, and air compressors. It can accommodate a solar array of up to 1,200 W.
The system can be expanded to 8,192Wh using BLUETTI B300 expansion batteries, enabling longer periods away from the grid.
Full off-grid capability when paired with the Bluetti D1-DC Hub. This handy accessory connects to the 48V port and steps the power down to a perfectly regulated 12V (up to 30 Amps), letting you run your essential 12V van circuits smoothly from a 12V fusebox.
Pick the Bluetti if: You want to power a complete 12V hardwired campervan circuit (by adding the 48V step-down-hub), need the highest solar input of limit (1,200W) for year-round living, and want the most robust inverter available to handle heavy surge spikes from induction hobs and air compressors.
Continuous Output: 2,400W pure sine wave (3,400W X-Boost)
Features include exceptional flexibility for campervans, such as two solar input ports with a combined capacity of 1,000W, which lets you connect a permanent fixed roof solar array to one port and, at the same time, plug a secondary portable folding solar panel into the other when you are parked in trees.
The design is smart and stackable, allowing you to increase capacity up to 6,144Wh by adding batteries.
Pick the EcoFlow Delta 2 Max if you want the ultimate solar flexibility of dual ports (letting you mix a fixed roof panel with a portable folding panel when parked in the sun), prefer a slightly lighter unit ( it is 5kg lighter than the Bluetti), and you are happy to run your 12v appliances on a seperate traditional leisure battery.
Technical Comparison: Bluetti AC200L vs EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max
Feature
Bluetti AC200L
EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max
Battery Capacity
2,048Wh (Expandable to 8kWh)
2,048Wh (Expandable to 6kWh)
Battery Chemistry
LiFePO4 (3,000+ cycles)
LiFePO4 (3,000+ cycles)
Continuous AC Output
2,400W (3,600W Surge)
2,400W (3,400W X-Boost)
UK AC Outlets
4 x 230V 3-pin UK Sockets
4 x 230V 3-pin UK Sockets
Induction Hob & Air Fryer?
Yes (Runs simultaneously)
Yes (Handles high peak loads)
Max Solar Input
1,200W (12–145V, 15A)
1,000W (Dual MPPT Ports)
AC Recharge Time
~45 min to 80%, ~1.5 hrs full
~53 min to 80%, ~80 min full
Weight
28.3 kg
23.0 kg
Warranty
5 Years
5 Years
Complete Your Campervan Solar Setup
A large battery capacity offers storage, but only a properly sized solar panel system can give you true off-grid freedom.
Once you have worked out your daily consumption using the calculator mentioned above, refer to our Solar Panel Selector.
By choosing your power station from the dropdown list, you can see the recommended roof-mounted rigid panels, portable folding setups, waterproof cable glands, and the exact MC4-to-XT60 adapters required for a clean installation.
You don't need an engineering degree to set up a reliable electrical system for an off-grid campervan. As long as you choose a portable power station that is the right size for your daily power needs—for example, a 500Wh unit for weekend trips or a 2000Wh system if you're leading a fully off-grid lifestyle—you can be confident in your power setup.
Discover the best portable power stations, solar panels, and solar generators with expert comparisons, buying guides, and real-world scenario reviews.
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UK Campervan Power Calculator 
#2 Choice
#1 Choice: Bluetti AC200L (2,048Wh)
