Articles & guides
The reasoning behind the numbers in the calculator — what actually drives your daily draw, and where the common rules of thumb fall apart.
Battery Monitor and Shunt Troubleshooting: Flashing, Wrong Percentage and Zero Amps
Battery monitor flashing, reading backwards, stuck at 100% or showing zero amps? Troubleshoot Kings, KickAss, Renogy, Victron and generic shunts.
How Does a 12V Fridge Work and How Much Power Does It Use?
Learn how a 12V compressor fridge works and how much power caravan and camping fridges use per day, with realistic amps, Ah, battery and solar examples.
200Ah vs 300Ah Lithium Battery for Camping: Which Size Do You Need?
Compare 200Ah vs 300Ah lithium batteries for camping and caravans. See usable capacity, realistic runtime, charging needs and which size suits your 12V setup.
How Much Power Does an 85L Upright Fridge Use?
An 85L upright compressor fridge can use about 30–65Ah a day. See realistic battery runtime, solar and DC-DC sizing for Australian touring.
How much solar do I need for a 4WD or camper?
How to size your solar for Australian touring — why a 200W panel doesn't make 200W, how sun hours change by season and region, fixed vs portable, and rough starting points.
Why All 12V Solar Panels Aren't the Same
Two 200W panels can perform very differently. What voltage, heat, shade, construction and charge-controller compatibility actually mean for 4WD and camper solar.
What Size DC-DC Charger Do I Need? Is 40A Enough?
Compare 20A, 25A, 40A and 50A DC-DC chargers using daily power use, driving time, solar input and lithium battery limits.
How Long Will a 100Ah Battery Run a 12V Fridge?
See how long a 100Ah lithium or AGM battery can run a 12V fridge, with runtime tables, a simple formula and real Australian touring experience.
Caravan Solar in Partial Shade: Fixed vs Portable Panels
What happens to caravan solar in partial or full shade? Compare fixed and portable panels, understand bypass diodes, cloud and real 12V touring results.
What Size Inverter Does a Caravan Need for Coffee, Microwave and Induction?
Choose a 12V caravan inverter for a coffee machine, microwave or induction cooktop. Compare 1000W, 1500W, 2000W and 3000W with realistic battery current.
Can You Run a Camping Air Conditioner from a 12V Battery?
12V air conditioner and camping aircon battery runtime guide. See how portable Kings and KickAss air conditioners run from 100Ah–400Ah lithium batteries, with inverter and solar requirements for camping and caravan use.