Can You Run an Induction Hob, Fridge, or Heater on Your Campervan Battery?

What Can Your Campervan Battery Actually Power?

Your campervan's electrical system is the heart of off-grid living. But not every appliance is created equal when it comes to power draw. Here's what works, what doesn't, and what to consider.

The Easy Wins: Low-Power Devices

These appliances run comfortably on any well-designed campervan battery system:

• LED lighting — uses just 2–5W per light
• Phone charging — about 10–15W
• Water pump — 30–60W (runs briefly)
• USB devices — tablets, cameras, etc.
• Diesel heater fan — 10–30W

The Fridge: Your Biggest Daily Consumer

A 12V compressor fridge is the most significant daily power draw in most campervans. Here's the good news: modern 12V fridges are remarkably efficient.

• 49L fridge (modular): ~300–400 Wh/day
• 80L fridge (custom): ~400–600 Wh/day

Both are well within the capacity of our battery systems. The key is choosing a 12V model rather than a household fridge — the efficiency difference is enormous.

The Heater: Gas vs. Diesel vs. Electric

• Diesel heater: Excellent choice. Uses very little electricity (10–30W for the fan) and runs on your van's diesel tank. Works great off-grid.
• Gas heater: No electrical draw but requires gas supply and proper ventilation.
• Electric heater: Not recommended. A 1,000W electric heater would drain a 230 Ah battery in about 2.5 hours. Not practical.

The Induction Hob: Possible but Demanding

An induction hob typically draws 1,200–2,000W. Can you run one on batteries? Technically yes, but:

• A 2,000W hob for 30 minutes uses ~1,000 Wh — nearly half of a full battery
• Requires a powerful inverter (pure sine wave, 2,000W+)
• Not practical for daily cooking off-grid

Our recommendation: Use a gas cooking hob instead. It's more efficient, reliable, and doesn't impact your battery life at all. Both our modular and custom builds include gas cooking as standard.

Power Budget Rule of Thumb

Think of your battery like a water tank. Every device is a tap. The key is making sure you're not draining faster than you're filling (via solar or driving).

• Keep high-draw devices to a minimum
• Use gas for heating and cooking
• Use 12V native devices when possible (avoid inverter losses)
• Monitor your battery state of charge regularly

The Takeaway

Your campervan battery can comfortably power lighting, a fridge, phone charging, a water pump, and a diesel heater. For cooking and heating, gas is king. Skip the induction hob and electric heater — your battery will thank you.