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quoteHome from home comforts extend to the kinds of small electrical items we take for granted in our everyday lives.
Low-Watt wonders
The good news is, there are often versions of these that are indeed suitable for the leisure vehicle lifestyle. Typically, they just need to be lower Wattage variants.
Here, we take a closer look at some of the low-Wattage mains-operated appliances available – everything from various cooking gadgets to toasters to hair dryers.
What’s a Watt?
Watts are the rate of power flow. There’s no official definition for low-Wattage, so we’re going with anything that uses up to 1,500Watts.
These low-Wattage appliances won’t blow the bank and neither are they likely to trip out your mains supply on a campsite – as long as you use them responsibly.
As for coffee makers… well, they surely deserve a Gear Guide in their own right?!
Top tips for buying low-Wattage appliances for your caravan or motorhome
- Remember, Watts = volts x amps. Your campsite will have a 230V mains supply, but amps vary – 10 used to be considered the norm, but increasingly it’s 16. If you travel abroad, a campsite’s mains supply can be as little as four.
- On a site with a 16amp supply you can have up to 3,680Watts (230V x 16amp). If there’s only a 4amp supply it’s only 920Watts.
- Don’t overload. Using a number of products at the same time will see an accumulation of the Watts you’re drawing.
- Worth considering, some mains-powered appliances can draw more power than their ratings, at certain times. Microwave ovens are the prime example.
- Because they’re lower Wattage appliance, they won’t be as quick-performing as the otherwise same appliances you use at home. You just need a bit of patience, that’s all.
Our top 10!
Starting with a 200W cooker we take a look at a selection of 10 low-Wattage appliances that are perfect for caravanning and motorhoming….
Star Player #1
Lakeland 3.5L Slow Cooker
If you like the idea of heading out for the day and arriving back to a meal that’s been cooked for you in your absence, and will fill your caravan or motorhome with delicious aromas, a slow cooker could be ideal.
This family-sized, 3.5-litre design (working capacity is 2.5 litres) from Lakeland has three heat settings – low, high and auto – the latter for keeping your meal at serving temperature until you’re ready to serve.
The key feature is a heating element that encircles the cooking pot and provides an even heat. It’s 35cm x 24cm x 17cm high, including handles.
Wattage 200
Key features ceramic cooking pot, glass lid, three-year warranty
Expect to pay £39.99
Star Player #2
Lakeland Mini Multi Cooker 1.8 Litre
A multi-function, one-pot mini cooker with eight programmes, this model from Lakeland has a 1.4-litre working capacity and can be used to cook everything from rice to cake, to yoghurt to soup, to stews and casseroles.
Dimensions are a compact 23.5cm x 28cm x 20cm high and it weighs 2.7kg, including its 95cm of cabling, rice spoon and measuring cup.
There’s a bleep warning to tell you when your selected cooking cycle is finished, as well as an automative keep-warm function.
If the 400Watt rating here is too high and you want something a bit more compact, check out the 35-litre, 200Watt variant.
Wattage 400
Key features Removable pot with non-stick interior lining, removable internal lid and handle, touch controls and LED read-out, three-year warranty
Expect to pay £64.99
Star Player #3
Henry Eco
The UK’s favourite vacuum cleaner brand sports a low-Wattage variant, perfect for caravanners and motorhomers. The Henry Eco uses some 30% less power than its siblings thanks to a motor rated at 420Watts.
Henry fans will recognise standard features like the extra-long, retractable cable and the distinctive Henry look.
It has a six-litre capacity, trapping the dust it collects in a HepaFlo bag with self-sealing tab and a two-stage filtration process. It also comes complete with a selection of tools – crevice, for heard to reach areas; dusting, for more delicate items; upholstery, for smaller surfaces including seating; and Combi Floor, for carpeted as well as hard flooring areas. All except the latter store on the Eco’s main body.
The Henry Eco weighs 7.7kg and its key dimensions are 320mm x 340mm x 345mm.
Wattage 420
Key features Henry pedigree, 10m cable, designed and made in the UK
Expect to pay £169.99
Star Player #4
Daewoo 20L 700W Microwave
Reduced from its previous £139.99 and with free delivery at the time of writing, this free-standing microwave oven has a 20-litre capacity and fiver power levels, including defrost.
It weighs 11kg. Size is 34.7cm x 46.7cm x 26.7cm. Daewoo also offers microwaves rated at 800Watts, but just be wary you’ll need to double that figure on initial start-up.
Wattage 700
Key features 25-minute timer, three year warranty
Expect to pay £69.99
Star Player #5
Outdoor Revolution Double Induction Hob
An environmentally friendly as well as safe way of cooking? The other key advantage of an induction hob like this is it’s very easy to wipe clean. And it’s a low-Wattage appliance.
Each of the two rings comes with temperature control, over-heat protection and a timer. It can provide temperatures in the 60degC to 240degC range and automatically recognises the diameter of the pot you place on it.
Dimensions are 59cm x 31cm and it sits just 4cm high. Weight is 4.3kg. It comes pre-fitted with a standard UK mains plug, but there’s also an EU converter for use from two-pin outlets abroad.
There’s also a single variant.
Wattage 800 (per ring)
Key features Timer range one-180 minutes, overheat protection, non-slip feet
Expect to pay £119
Star Player #6
Swiss Luxx 1ltr White Low Wattage Cordless Kettle
One of two additions to the Swiss Luxx range of low-Wattage kettles and toasters, this 5081 model has a one-litre capacity and uses 1,000Watts (sister newcomer the 5111 is 1.5 litres and 1,500Watts, at £2 more).
It swivels a full 360 degrees on its cordless base and has a flip-top for easy filling. Plus there’s a filter that’s removable for cleaning.
Wattage 1,000
Key features Stainless steel heating element, double wall housing, water level gauge, automatic cut-off, on/off switch with blue LED indicator light
Expect to pay £13.49
Star Player #7
Quest Rocket Toaster
In a choice of stainless steel (as here) or coloured (Cream or Slate) exteriors, this two-slice toaster comes with a browning control as well as reheat and defrost options.
It weighs 1.2kg and dimensions are 26cm x 14.5cm x 17cm high. Quest’s Rocket range also includes kettles.
Wattage 1,000
Key features Removable crumb tray, power indicator light, manual override, 75cm cable
Expect to pay £56
Star Player #8
Russell Hobbs Satisfry Small Air Fryer
Air Fryers are something of a flavour of the month right now (2024), and it shouldn’t prove too hard to track down a lower Wattage version for use in your caravan or motorhome.
Something like this, from Russell Hobbs. Keeping your foods almost completely oil-free has health benefits as well as making for a less messy way to cook – something that’s even more important when you’re touring.
The basket and crisping plate are removable and can be cleaned in the dishwasher when you get home. It’s 281mm high and has a diameter of 215mm.
Russell Hobbs says it can cook some 700g of chips, although a typical load of 250g-300g will give the best browning results.
Wattage 1,100
Key features Seven auto cooking functions, adjustable thermostat and temperature control, 200degC maximum operating temperature, automatic switch-off (when basket is removed), non-slip feet,
Expect to pay £64.99
Star Player #9
Leisurewize Low Wattage Electric Oven 14L
Another useful multi-functional cooking product – this can grill, roast and bake.
It also comes with a grill rack, baking tray and handle. It could be the dream answer if your motorhome or caravan lacks an oven and/or grill.
It cooks at up to 240degC and its 14-litre capacity is, says supplier Leisurewize, suitable for a small steak or pizza.
Wattage 1,200
Key features 60-minute timer with bell ring, stainless steel heating elements, automatic shut-off
Expect to pay £65
Star Player #10
Go Travel Hair Dryer
Yes, you can use a hair dryer from the mains supply to your caravan or motorhome – if you go low-Wattage. They don’t come more compact than this, either – packing down to 174mm x 105mm x 72mm and weighing just 374g.
The detachable nozzle can be used to concentrate the flow of arm air and there are twin heat/speed settings.
Wattage 1,200
Key features Fold-away handle, dual-voltage, hanging loop, 165cm power cable
Expect to pay £19.99
Insurance considerations
Of course your caravan insurance policy will protect these types of items under your equipment cover. As always, the combined value of these items soon adds up so it’s worth checking your equipment sum insured at every renewal to make sure it accounts for all your latest appliance purchases and make sure they’d be replaced in the unfortunate event of a total loss such as theft or fire.
Over to you…
Got any advice on low-Wattage electrical items you’d like to pass on to fellow caravanners or motorhomes? Please feel free to add a comment below or share your favourite low-Wattage appliance with us.
Please note: Prices, features and links correct at time of publication (March 2024)
in the same ballpark
vango sizzler single induction hob
cosori 2 l air fryer 800 w
have used both in mh – excellent
He would reply, but he’s waiting for his soup to heat up from last Sunday :-)
Useful reading. The outdoor hob looks interesting. Russell Hobbs travel kettle for us at 1000W. A bit quicker than the whistling kettle and of course it uses the site electric to save our gas
an 800W microwave is the output power: the input is probably nearer 1000w as measured on my caravan microwave at service time.
Ernie Sollis
John, please be kinder when commenting. This is a genuinely helpful article introducing items readers may not know existed
I regularly use a 800watt microwave to complement the dual fuel hob. Even with the kettle on at the same time, a 10amp supply coped. In nearly 40 years of caravanning I have only ever tripped the supply when the heating, kettle and microwave were all on at the same time. Easy to fix. Just turn one appliance off for a few minutes.
Very informative. Food for thought, get it? (Food) oh well, everyone’s a critic!
Some good info.
Any info on Romeskas?
Hi Keith, this one from Lakeland is only 400W – perhaps we should have included!
https://www.lakeland.co.uk/31945/standard-remoska-electric-cooker-with-glass-lid-2l
Thank you for this. The mini muliti-cooker looks interesting, especially considering it can cook cake!
As Keith mentioned you could bake a cake in a Remoska – this one form Lakeland is only 400W:
https://www.lakeland.co.uk/31945/standard-remoska-electric-cooker-with-glass-lid-2l
Please check microwave, 700w is cooking power the wattage it uses will be nearer 1200w
Excellent advice and very useful thank you.
Excellent and informative article.
I would not buy any of these items. I did buy a microwave for my camper 320 watts. Anything near 1000 w is not low wattage. Very poor article, badly researched, poor choices.
Thanks for your feedback John. Generally, around the 1,000 mark is considered low-Wattage in the touring caravan/motorhome sector. It’s also worth noting most manufacturers fit microwave ovens rated at around the 800Watt mark as this is considered the most efficient for a leisure vehicle.
Good luck with your 320Watt microwave. We’d love to hear more about it and how it works for you.
Excellent and really useful newsletters