All campervans should be fitted with proper and specific electrical systems which include a leisure battery.
This system allows you to operate features in the van whilst the engine and ignition are switched off. This allows you to stay ‘off-grid’ and still have all of the electrical features you need to live comfortably.
Things such as lighting, taps, cooking hobs, heating, gas and co2 alarms and media equipment.
The leisure battery is separate to the vehicle battery, it’s charged through a split system when the engine’s running and can also be charged by a solar system. Not all campers have a solar charging system fitted. This means that when the camper is driving you’ll be charging the leisure battery via an alternator, at the same time the alternator is charging the vehicle battery.
Campervans can also be powered by the ‘grid’, this happens when you plug it into a power point which you’ll find on campsites, you’ll often get extra features inside the camper like microwaves and 230v three pin domestic sockets (like at home) because you’ll be using the grids higher voltage circuits which both microwave’s and sockets require to be powered.