The days are getting longer and it’s time to hit the road in your campervan and let the sun recharge your own personal energy stores – and at the same time that solar power can top up your van’s batteries too. 

Taking a trip in a campervan means freedom to choose where to go, where to stop, what to do and where to sleep. There’s something else that’s liberating – the free to use and plentiful daylight of spring and summer. 

Capture that energy via solar panels and you can relax in the knowledge that your campervan’s service battery will be topped up with free charge so your off-grid camping is never without the bare electrical necessities plus some nice-to-haves on top. 

Service above and beyond 

The service battery in a campervan is responsible for powering various electrical components and devices, which can include navigation, lighting, refrigeration, heating, audio systems and electronic gadgets. The more sophisticated the campervan, the more uses there can be for electricity at a campsite or a beauty spot where electrical hook-up is unavailable. 

With such an important role to play, a campervan’s service battery should be given every chance to be healthy, charged and operating at optimum levels. The best way to do that is for the battery to be monitored, maintained and charged.  

The answer? Have a battery charger on your camping checklist. And how to make the most of that ideal set-up? A solar panel to harvest the free energy from the sun. 

A portable solar panel can be unfolded in seconds, easily positioned and repositioned to capture and track the sun’s rays and will work even on a cloudy day. 

A nice choice to have 

Which battery charger should you go for? One option is a portable charger, such as CTEK’s CS FREE. You can transfer it between car and campervan as and when needed. Another route to go down is a charger which is installed as part of your campervan batteries and electrical system. You’ll never forget to take it with you! 

As a portable charger, CS FREE offers portable charging for 12V lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries when you are parked up and don’t have access to a power hook up. 

CS FREE can itself be charged using a solar panel, which again can be portable and stowable – ideal for a campervan where stowage space can be precious. CS FREE can also be used as an adaptive booster (jump starter alternative) to power up a flat battery swiftly and safely, without risk of damaging battery or onboard systems. 

For a permanently installed solution, CTEK’s D250SE will manage the power flow to your batteries both on the move and when parked up. The D250SE will direct energy from your campervan’s alternator (when driving) and from a solar panel (whenever deployed) to your service battery for onboard needs and your starter battery for each morning’s new adventure. 

The D250SE’s fully automatic 20A output and built-in temperature compensation will provide safe and steady charging even as each day heats up then cools down. 

Key Features of the D250SE:  

• Easy to install with minimal setup required  
• 20A fully automatic charging for batteries from 40–300Ah  
• Dual input from solar and alternator in parallel  
• Smart alternator compatible  
• Lithium and lead-acid battery mode selection  
• Built-in solar panel regulator with MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking)  
• Replaces diodes and VSR relays for smarter battery separation  
• AGM mode selector – 14.4V or 14.7V charging  
• Temperature sensor for hot/cold conditions  
• Splash and dust proof (IP65) for rugged marine use  
• Compatible with SMARTPASS 120/120S for 140A power management  
• Two-year warranty for peace of mind  

The D250SE can be enhanced by adding in the CTEK SMARTPASS 120S power management solution which distributes, controls and maximises up to 120A of power from the alternator and ensures charging of critical equipment has priority. 

A higher level of service 

Maintaining and charging the service battery in your campervan is essential for a worry-free travel experience. By utilising the right charger and harnessing the sun’s energy via a solar panel you can ensure your service battery reliably provides a great service as you relax and enjoy.