There’s nothing worse than running out of power halfway through your camping trip—especially when you’re relying on your 12V battery to keep food cold, lights on, and phones charged. But how do you figure out what size battery you actually need?
At All 12 Volt, we’ve helped thousands of Aussie campers build the perfect off-grid power setup. In this guide, we’ll show you a simple way to calculate your battery size, give you real-world examples, and help you choose the best battery for your next camping trip.
Start by making a list of all the 12V appliances and gear you plan to use. For example:
| Appliance | Power Use (Watts) | Hours per Day | Amp Hours (Ah) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fridge | 45W | 24h | ~45Ah |
| LED lights | 10W | 5h | ~4Ah |
| Phone charging | 10W | 2h | ~2Ah |
| Water pump | 60W | 0.5h | ~2.5Ah |
| Fan | 12W | 6h | ~6Ah |
Use the formula: Watts ÷ Volts (12V) × Hours = Amp Hours (Ah)
Total daily usage in this case = ~60Ah/day
Multiply your total daily usage by the number of days you’ll be camping without recharging.
1 night = 60Ah
2 nights = 120Ah
3 nights = 180Ah
This tells you how much battery storage you need without any solar recharging.
Lower cost
Reliable but heavy
Usable capacity = ~50% (don’t drain below 12V)
For 120Ah usable power, you’ll need a 240Ah AGM battery
Lightweight, longer lifespan
Higher usable capacity (~90%)
Faster recharge with solar or DC-DC chargers
For 120Ah usable power, you’ll need a 135Ah lithium battery
If you’re using portable solar panels, you can top up your battery during the day. A 200W solar panel in good sun will produce around 50–70Ah/day, allowing you to:
Extend your trip indefinitely
Use a smaller battery (if sun is consistent)
Stay powered up without running a generator
ZENOT 135Ah AGM Battery
Perfect for lights, phone charging, and a compact fridge
ZENOT 135Ah Lithium Battery
Paired with solar panels and a DC-DC charger
ZENOT 200Ah Lithium Battery
Best for fridges, lights, devices, fans, and even 240V appliances with an inverter
Here’s a quick version:
(Total Daily Ah Use × Days) ÷ Battery Efficiency
AGM = divide by 0.5
Lithium = divide by 0.9
Example: 60Ah/day × 2 days = 120Ah ÷ 0.5 = 240Ah AGM battery
Or: 120Ah ÷ 0.9 = 135Ah Lithium battery
Still unsure what battery suits your setup? Our team at All 12 Volt can help you choose a system that balances performance, budget, and trip length—whether you’re heading off for a weekend or a month-long outback tour.
Shop batteries now at All12Volt.com.au
Power your trip the right way—without the guesswork.
Who does not love the outdoors and camping? It's a great adventure and opens up new destinations and often unexplored places. But you need to be well equipped with the safe and durable caravan and camping accessories for these outdoor activities. It is undoubtedly thrilling and exciting, but unless you take good care of what you need to do and what you should avoid, there's always a chance of an unpleasant experience. It pays to take sound advice from a 4WD specialist when going on a camping trip.