You can charge the camping battery while driving, by connecting the van to an external power source or using the generator. You also have a solar panel that supports he camping battery during sunny weather.
You can check the charge status of the battery via the on-board unit next to the entrance door:
The 120V sockets, air conditioning and microwave will only work if your camper is connected to an external power source or the generator is running.
Charging via the cable
To charge the batteries of your Family Freedom, you will receive a cable with which you can connect the vehicle to a power source. This is the most efficient and reliable source to fully charge the house batteries of your campervan. It is advisable to plug the van into the socket as often as possible to prevent the battery from running flat.
- Use the black cable located in the storage compartment at the rear of the vehicle.
- Plug the cable into the socket on the driver's side of the vehicle. Lift the cover of the socket and plug in the black cable:
- The light on the socket indicates when the camper is connected:
The cable of your van is a 30 AMP cable that operates at a standard voltage of 120 volts. You will need to connect your cable to a 30 AMP outlet.
If you want to charge with 50AMP, you would need a specific cable (not provided by roadsurfer).
- Please note that campers cannot be charged at the stations for electric vehicles.
To prevent power surges, most North American power supplies at campsites have a breaker switch on them. Before setting up your shore power turn off that switch, then attach your 30AMP power cable to both your van and the outlet, and finally flip the power back on.
Power via the generator
- Make sure there is enough fuel in the tank:
- Switch on the generator using the switch on the on-board unit next to the entrance door:
- Now the generator should kick in and the electricity in the camper should work.
Charging via solar panel
The campingbattery is supported by a solar panel. You should not rely on it only, as the supply is very dependend on the weather conditions and your usage might be much higher than the supply.
You can check the supply at the solar unit next to the entrance:
Watch this video for a more detailed explanation:
Please note the following:
- When stationary, do not charge any device in the driver's cab via USB. The starter battery will discharge and the engine may not start!
- 120V sockets: only work with an external power connection or the Generator (if applicable)
- USB ports and 12V sockets: work without an external power connection, with a charged camping battery (always keep it above 50% or 12V).
- With a full battery, you can be self-sufficient for 1-2 days without a power connection, depending on usage. Then you need to drive for a while to recharge the battery or connect your camper to an external power source.
- 🚗 Slow driving & short distances → hardly any battery charge
- 🛣️ Long drives on motorways → better charge, but takes several hours
- 🔋 The starter battery is charged first, then the camping battery.
- ⚠️ Driving alone is often not enough to fully charge the camping battery.
- 🔌 Recommendation: charge externally every 48 hours to avoid energy shortages (especially at night 💤).
- Don't forget to unplug the power cable before driving off!
Troubleshooting
No power in the living area
- Check whether the main battery switch is switched on:
- Check that the RCD and the other 120V fuses are OK. You will find them behind the black cover under the bed:
Before any fuse is pulled, following safety measures is required:
- Turn off the engine and remove the key from the contact.
- Unplug the car from any external power supply.
- Pull carefully on the fuse by pulling from the sides.
- A damaged fuse can be burnt or have the connector broken (see picture). If so, please replace it. You can find them at petrol stations and hardware stores.
When connected to an external power supply
Always check:
- Whether the cable is plugged in correctly at the campsite and the camper.
- Whether the light on the socket for the cable is lit.
- Whether the RCD and the other 240V fuses are in order. They should be pointing to the right. You will find them behind the black cover under the bed:
- If everything is OK, check if the cable or the socket at the other end (which is plugged in at the campsite) is faulty! Maybe a nice fellow camper will let you check with his cable and working socket? 🙂
For deeply discharged camping batteries
As camping batteries are not lithium batteries, we advise you never to discharge them below 30%. This can damage the battery. If you suspect that the camping battery is deeply discharged, try the following:
- Connect shore power and run the engine.
- Try this for about 30 minutes. The extra amperage can bring a deeply discharged battery back up to speed.