1. What do you want to power?

Whether you have a small caravan or something a little more substantial, knowing your appliance ratings is going to help you in the long run. Write a list of all the appliances that you want to have running at any one time. Then find out the ratings of each appliance. You need to take into account start up power.

2. Factor in start up power.

Start up power is simply the power an appliance needs to begin operating. For appliances that run an electric motor (eg air conditioners etc) can require 3-4 times the operating load, usually only needed for a very short period. Always check the compliance plate on the unit for specifications.

Appliance Examples

Caravan Air Conditioner 900-2000 watts , Caravan Fridge 100-200 watts, Laptop Computer 500 watts, Hair Dryer 1000-1500 watts, Kettle 1600-2000 watts, Microwave 1500 + Watts, Television 200 watts, Phone Charger 5-20 watts

3. Pick the generator that suits your needs

If you look at your list, there's a high chance that you're not going to need everything running at once. A kettle draws a lot of power but only runs for a minute or so, it wont hurt to turn off some appliances while the kettle boils. Just make sure you have the essentials covered. Lets say your total running power requirement is 1500 watts, and a start up power requirement of 1900 watts, then we would recommend a 2000 watt size generator, (eg Honda model EU20i)

Important Note: If your caravan has a air conditioner then you need to make sure your generator can handle the power required for different situations. If you are in the warmer climates and trying to make your caravan cooler, then your air conditioning system is going to work harder and therefore require more watts. Check with your manufacturer to see what the maximum operating load that the air conditioner will require and pick a generator model to suit.