Geelong’s Electrician for Caravan Electrical & Safety Services
Australia’s caravanning industry is booming! According to the Caravan and Camping Industry Report there are more than 586,000 recreational vehicles (RVs) registered across the country and a great majority (more than 528,000) are caravans. Whether you currently own a caravan or are looking at purchasing one, before planning any caravanning holiday it is important to have all your caravan electrical and safety services checked by a qualified electrician.
At Surfcoast Electrics we are caravan electrical specialists, having more than 20 years servicing caravans, pop up camper trailers and motorhomes. When you think about caravan electrical servicing, you can mainly think about power points and lighting, but caravan technology has changed dramatically and many caravans now have a battery, a mains 240 volt charger, 12 volt lighting and of course a TV.
In order to maintain your caravan’s electrical system, we would like to explain your caravan electrical servicing options in more detail.
LED Lighting
If you are looking at ways to conserve energy, LED lighting is a great option in your caravan, especially when lights are being powered by batteries or solar. Led lights require less power than conventional lights, give a greater output and last longer than a regular incandescent globe.
Refrigerator Wiring
The most common type of refrigerator in caravans and motorhomes is a three way absorption refrigerator, meaning it has three power source options, 12 volt, 240 volt and Gas. There are also less common 12 volt compressor fridges. With both fridges it is important to get them serviced and maintained, as parts can be subject to wear through vibration (on the road) and age.
Batteries and Battery Charges
Installing a battery into your caravan or motor home is great way to provide and store the energy for your electronic devices without the need for mains supply or generators. Vehicle batteries are a cheaper option, but need to be kept fully charged by your car. The better options are deep cycle AGM batteries or gel batteries. For more information about battery types and chargers please see AGM batteries.
Solar Power
Solar panels are a fantastic way to keep your battery charged. Solar panels are available in 12 volt and 24 volt to match the caravans battery voltage. Solar panels come in a portable option, or for larger recreational vehicles, they can be mounted to the roof. Specialised solar batteries are available to compliment your solar panels.
Appliances
Caravans, camper trailers and motorhome appliances operate on 15 amps, whereas homes tend to run on a 10 amp supply. This means that you can not run caravan appliances on your home power point. In order to do this and plug in your caravan fridge for example, you would need our electrical team to install a 15 amp power point at your home, or you can purchase a 15 Amp to 10 Amp converter approved to Australian Standards.
Power and Lighting
Caravan power and lighting can include internal lighting such as light fittings, power points, electrical appliances, fuses, circuit breakers and safety switches. Exterior lighting can include chassis and tail lighting, external power outlets and external light fittings. Before holidaying it is vital that all electrical systems are checked and are in safe working order.
Alarm Systems
Many caravan door and window locks are not highly secure, so it is ideal to chat to our qualified electricians to install a caravan alarm system, which improves your traveling security and can also help reduce your insurance premiums.
Our team at Surfcoast Electrics have more than twenty years experience in the electrical wiring and servicing of a wide range of caravans, camper trailers, pop up campers and motor homes, so please call us on 0418 319 579 for on your caravan’s electrical needs.
