Campervan manual: gas, water and power without losing your mind
First time round it's daunting: how long does the battery last, will you run out of water, could the gas bottle explode? Relax. Ten minutes reading this and you'll understand your campervan's three systems and stop worrying about them for good.
Before we get into detail, the good news: on the Winkles the gas, water and electricity come already fitted, filled and tested from base. You don't have to set up or configure anything — this is just so you understand how it works and enjoy it with confidence. The Winkle Índico, for example, comes with 57 L of hot water and solar panels ready to use.
The first time you take a campervan out, three questions nag at you before you've even started the engine: will the battery run out, will the water run out, is the gas bottle safe? It's a bit daunting, and that's normal. The good news is all three systems are simpler than they look, and by the time you finish reading this you'll stop worrying about them for good.
Let's take it step by step, because that's how it clicks.
Electricity: two batteries, not one
Here's the key point that puts everyone's mind at ease: your campervan has two separate batteries. One starts the engine, like in any car. The other, the leisure battery, powers everything to do with living inside: the lights, the sockets, the water pump and the fridge.
Why does it matter? Because you can leave the fridge running all night, charge your phone, read with the lights on, and the engine will still start fine in the morning. You're drawing from the leisure battery, not the starter one. It's impossible to get stranded just from using the van the way it's meant to be used.
And that leisure battery isn't working alone. The Báltico and Índico models come with solar panels that recharge it during the day, even under cloudy skies. So: you use power at night, the sun tops it back up during the day, and the cycle keeps itself going under normal use. For charging you've also got 220V sockets and USB ports, so your phone and camera never run flat.
When does it get tricky? Only if you go several days without sun with the fridge running flat out and lots of devices plugged in. The fix is common sense: spend a night at a campsite, plug into the mains and start fresh. The Báltico also comes with an external campsite hook-up for exactly that.
Water: in, used, out
The water runs through a circuit that's easy to picture. There's a clean water tank (for drinking, cooking and washing) and, when you wash up or shower, that used water goes into a grey water tank that you empty at designated points.
The amount depends on the model. The Báltico and Índico carry up to 57 litres and, importantly, with hot water, which is a real treat on a trip. The Adriático has a 20-litre clean water tank, and the Caribe has a portable shower. All of them come with an outdoor shower for rinsing off after the beach or a day in the mountains.
How long does it last? If you shower at service areas and campsites and use the van's water for cooking and washing, the tank will easily cover a day or two without you thinking about it. And refilling is easy: motorhome service areas, campsites, petrol stations and drinking-water fountains. The natural approach is to top up as you go, without stressing over it.
The golden rule, same as ever: grey water gets emptied where it's supposed to, never out in the middle of the countryside. That's what keeps these spots open for the people coming after you.
Gas: the same bottle you've got at home
Gas powers the cooker. And it's, quite literally, the same bottle you'd have at home: nothing unusual, nothing about to explode for no reason. Treat it with respect, not fear.
Two rules and that's it. One: if you cook inside, ventilate by opening a window or the skylight. Same as you'd do in any kitchen. Two: in good weather, take the portable cooker outside and cook in the open air, which is honestly one of the best parts of the trip. A freshly made coffee watching the sunrise is worth more than anything — and there's a coffee maker in the kitchen kit for exactly that.
When you're done, turn off the gas at the bottle. A ten-second habit that lets you sleep easy.
What's really worth remembering
If you take away three things, make it these:
- The leisure battery is independent from the engine one, so living in the van never leaves you unable to start it.
- Water goes in clean and comes out grey: top up as you go and empty it in the right places.
- The gas is a normal bottle: ventilate when cooking inside and turn it off when you're done.
With that, you'll be handling the van like you've been doing it for years. The rest you'll pick up on the first afternoon, almost without noticing.
And if you're unsure, just ask us
Every Winkle is handed over freshly checked, and we walk you through its systems at pick-up, no rushing. And if a question comes up halfway through the trip, message us on WhatsApp and we'll sort it out on the spot. That's what being a small, close-knit team is for.
Check the specific kit and systems for each Winkle, find quick answers in the FAQs and, once you're clear on everything, choose your dates and book. "I don't know how it works" gets sorted out on day one.
Related articles
- What to bring (and what not to) on your first campervan trip
- Winter in a campervan: how to sleep warm with the parking heater
Before you book
Check requirements, pricing and how booking works in the guide to renting a campervan in Spain.
All clear? Choose your dates and book →
Frequently asked questions
How long does a campervan's leisure battery last?
For normal use (LED lights, charging phones, the fridge and the water pump) a leisure battery will easily see you through a night, and with solar panels it recharges itself during the day. What really drains it is several days in a row without sun with the fridge running flat out; in that case it's worth stopping at a campsite and plugging in, or cutting back on usage.
Does the engine battery run flat if I use the fridge overnight?
No. The campervan has a leisure battery that's separate from the engine one for exactly this reason: you draw from the leisure battery while the starter battery stays untouched. You'll start the engine without any trouble in the morning even if the fridge has been running all night.
Can you cook inside the van with the gas cooker?
Yes, but with ventilation: open a window or the skylight while you cook. It's more comfortable to take the portable cooker outside in good weather. The gas bottle is the same one you'd use at home — no mystery and no danger as long as you use common sense.
How much water does a couple use in a campervan?
It depends on whether you shower inside or use the facilities at service areas and campsites. For cooking, washing up and basic washing, the tank comfortably covers one or two days. You refill at motorhome service areas, petrol stations, campsites and drinking-water fountains. The Báltico and Índico carry up to 57 litres with hot water; the Adriático has a 20-litre clean water tank.