What Size Battery Do You Need For Your Caravan?

With more Australians hitting the road for extended off-grid adventures, choosing the right caravan battery setup is more important than ever. Whether you're running a few lights or powering an air conditioner, knowing what size battery for your caravan you need can make or break your trip.

Let’s break it down in simple terms.

 

Why Battery Power is More Important Than Ever

Modern caravanning isn’t just about a bed and a BBQ. Travellers today expect comfort, convenience, and connection – think air conditioning, fridges, water pumps, TVs, and phone charging. As a result, power usage has gone up, and traditional gas or generator setups are often being swapped out in favour of solar and caravan batteries.

Thanks to advances in battery technology, solar power, and inverters, it’s now easier than ever to power your caravan completely off-grid.

Not sure where to start? Our Battery Buyers Guide and Solar Buyers Guide breaks down everything you need to know – from choosing the right lithium battery to finding the best solar setup for your adventures.

 

Car Battery vs Caravan Battery – What's the Difference?

While it might be tempting to grab a cheap car battery, it’s not the right fit for your caravan setup.

• Car batteries are designed to deliver short bursts of high power to start engines and then recharge quickly. They aren’t built for deep, continuous discharge.

• Caravan batteries, also called deep cycle batteries, are made to provide a steady supply of power over longer periods – perfect for running appliances.

The most common types of caravan batteries are:

• AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat): Sealed, maintenance-free, and reliable for most setups.

• Lithium (LiFePO4): Lighter, longer-lasting, and able to handle deeper discharges and fast recharging.

 

What Size Lithium Battery for Caravan Travel?

If you're wondering what size lithium battery for your caravan you need, here’s a simple starting point:

• Basic 12V setup: 1 x 100–150Ah lithium battery + 200–300W solar. Suitable for lighting, a fridge, and device charging.

• Mid-level setup: 2 x 100–150Ah lithium batteries + 400–600W solar. Add fans, TV, or water pump.

• High-draw setup: 200Ah+ lithium with a high-quality inverter and 600W+ solar. Needed for running 240V appliances like an air con or microwave.

Lithium batteries are more expensive up-front, but their ability to deliver more usable power (up to 90% of their rated capacity) and their long lifespan often makes them the better long-term investment.

 

How Many Batteries Do You Need?

The most common factory-installed caravan battery setup is:

• 2 x 120Ah AGM deep cycle batteries

• 2 x 150W solar panels

• 1 x 40A AC charger

This is enough to power typical 12V appliances for most couples or small families, provided there’s good sunlight. However, if you're running low after a few cloudy days or want to power more devices, it’s smart to upgrade either your battery bank or solar capacity.

Tip: It’s always better to go slightly bigger. Running out of battery on day 3 of a remote trip isn't fun – and adding extra capacity later can be harder than planning for it now.

We've detailed our battery size recommendations below, depending on your setup and how you plan to travel.

 

How To Calculate Your Power Needs

Understanding what size battery for caravan life you need starts with estimating your energy use.

Battery capacity is measured in amp-hours (Ah). A 100Ah battery can, in theory, deliver:

• 1 amp for 100 hours

• 5 amps for 20 hours

But with AGM batteries, you should only use about 50% of the total capacity to protect battery life. That means a 100Ah AGM battery gives you 50Ah of usable power. With lithium, you can safely use 80–90%.

 

Common Appliance Power Draw (Daily Average)

 

12V Appliances:

• LED lights & battery monitor: <0.5A/hr

• Water pump & tank gauge: <0.5A/hr

• Fridge (small): 1–3A/hr

• Fridge (large): 3–5A/hr

• TV, laptops, speakers: ~0.5A/hr

• Phone chargers: <0.5A/hr

 

240V Appliances (via inverter or mains):

These need serious power and aren’t suited to basic AGM setups.

• Air con (e.g. Dometic Harrier): ~60A/hr on 12V

• Microwave, kettle, hair dryer: 20–50A/hr (in short bursts)

If you want to run 240V appliances off-grid, you’ll need a quality lithium battery setup and an inverter (often 2,000–3,000W).

Calculate how long your 240V appliance will run via inverter with our Inverter Calculator.

 

Recharging Your Caravan Batteries

Caravan batteries can be charged via:

• Solar panels (free and effective with good weather)

• AC mains charger (when plugged into powered sites)

• DC-DC charger (while driving, using your car's alternator)

• Generators (backup for cloudy days)

Product recommendation: An Enerdrive 40A DC-DC charger is a smart investment for those travelling full-time or off-grid often.

 

Final Tips for Choosing the Right Caravan Battery Setup

• Choose deep cycle batteries (AGM or lithium) – not car batteries.

• Start by listing your appliances and their daily run time.

• Calculate your total daily amp draw, then add 30% as a buffer.

• Decide on AGM vs Lithium: lithium costs more, but gives you more usable power and faster charging.

• Plan for rainy days – add extra capacity if you'll be off-grid.

• Invest in solar – more panels mean quicker recharging.

 

Take a Look At The Options

We stock a wide variety of high-quality caravan batteries to suit different preferences and camping styles. This includes lithium caravan batteries, known for their lightweight design and long lifespan; AGM deep cycle caravan batteries, perfect for frequent discharging and recharging; and gel deep cycle batteries, ideal for superior vibration resistance. Take a look at the options below. 

 

Caravan Lithium Batteries 

• Up to 100Ah

• 101-200Ah

• 201-300Ah

• 301Ah and above

 

AGM Deep Cycle Batteries 

• Gel Deep Cycle Batteries 

• Up to 100Ah

• 101-200Ah

• 201-300Ah

 

Talk To The Experts

Choosing the right caravan battery setup doesn’t have to be complicated. By understanding your energy needs and matching them with the right battery type and capacity—whether it’s AGM or lithium—you can stay powered up no matter where your journey takes you. From basic 12V appliances to full off-grid 240V setups, there’s a solution for every kind of traveller. If you're still unsure what size battery for caravan travel is best for your setup, or you're considering upgrading to lithium and want to know what size lithium battery for caravan life will keep you comfortable and connected, our team is here to help! Give us a call on 1800 787 278 or email sales@caravanrvcamping.com. We’ll help you build the perfect off-grid setup so you can enjoy the freedom of the open road with confidence.

 

DISCLAIMER* Please note, this advice is general in nature and we strongly recommend consulting the product manual and where relevant, a professional installer.

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