A generator is only half the setup. The leads, covers, storage boxes and connectors you pair with it decide whether your power is safe, quiet, weatherproof and legal to run. Get these accessories wrong and you’ll be running a fire risk off the tailgate, tripping over undersized cords, or watching your $1,500 inverter generator get soaked in a downpour.
This guide covers the accessories that actually matter for a Big Lap: the leads that carry your power, the covers that protect the unit, and the boxes that store, secure and quieten it. We’ll be specific about sizing, ratings and prices so you can buy once and buy right.
Leads And Cables: Getting The Right One
The lead running from your generator to your caravan is doing more work than people give it credit for. Too thin or too long and you’ll get voltage drop, which starves appliances and can damage motors in fridges and air conditioners. Too short and you’ll be forced to park the generator right beside your van, defeating any effort to keep the noise down.
For a standard 15amp caravan inlet, you want a heavy-duty 15amp extension lead. The critical spec is the conductor size, measured in square millimetres. Cheap 15amp leads use 1.5mm² cable; that’s fine over short runs but drops voltage badly past 10 metres. Step up to 2.5mm² cable if you plan to run 10 to 20 metres, which most people do once they want the generator away from the annexe.
- Amperage: Match your caravan inlet. Most vans use a 15amp inlet, so you need a 15amp lead with the larger earth pin.
- Conductor size: 2.5mm² for runs over 10 metres. Don’t bother with 1.5mm² if you want to keep the generator distant.
- Length: 15 to 20 metres lets you position the generator away from your camp and your neighbours.
- Rating and tag: Buy a lead that’s Australian-approved and get it tested and tagged if you’ll be in caravan parks that require it.
- Weatherproofing: Look for a lead with a moulded, sealed plug rather than a rewireable one.
A 15amp plug will not fit a standard 10amp household socket because the earth pin is larger. If your generator only has 10amp outlets, you’ll need a proper 10amp-to-15amp adaptor lead, not a shaved-down plug. Shaving pins is illegal and dangerous.
How much length is too much?
Voltage drop is cumulative. A 20 metre run in 2.5mm² cable at 15amps loses very little, but stack two 15 metre leads together in thin cable and you can drop enough voltage to make an air conditioner struggle to start. If you need distance, use one properly sized long lead rather than joining several short ones.
Connectors, Adaptors And RCDs
Most modern inverter generators put out power through regular 15amp or 10amp sockets, and many now include a built-in RCD (residual current device). If yours doesn’t, an inline portable RCD between the generator and your van is cheap insurance against electric shock, especially in wet conditions.
~$55
Adaptors are the other essential. Carry a 10amp-to-15amp adaptor and a 15amp-to-10amp adaptor so you can connect regardless of what outlets your generator and van present. Buy Australian-approved units with moulded plugs, not the mystery imports that show up online for a few dollars.
Never run a generator and shore power into your van at the same time, and never back-feed power through an outlet. Both can destroy your electrical system or injure someone. Switch your source over cleanly at the inlet.
Covers And Weather Protection
Generators hate two things: rain getting into the electronics and dust getting into the air intake. A cover solves the first for storage and the second while running, but the two jobs need different products.
Storage covers
For transport and storage, a fitted padded cover keeps dust, moisture and UV off the unit. Honda, Yamaha and the generic 2kVA inverter shape all have off-the-shelf covers for around $35 to $60. These are not designed for running; the generator will overheat if you run it fully wrapped.
Running covers and canopies
To run a generator in the rain, you need a purpose-built running cover or tent that shields the top and sides while leaving the exhaust and intake clear. These pop-up shelters cost $80 to $150 and are the difference between charging your batteries through a wet afternoon and shutting everything down.
Never run a generator in an enclosed space or under a fully sealed cover. Carbon monoxide is odourless and deadly. Any running cover must leave the exhaust well clear and allow airflow around the unit.
Generator Boxes And Secure Storage
Generators get stolen. They’re valuable, portable, and easy to grab from a campsite while you’re off exploring. A lockable box solves theft, keeps the unit clean during transport, and can dramatically cut running noise if it’s a purpose-built acoustic box.
Storage and transport boxes
A basic lockable steel or poly box mounted to your drawbar or ute tray keeps the generator secure and out of the weather. Expect to pay $150 to $400 depending on size and material. Drawbar-mounted boxes are popular but add weight to your ball weight, so check your tow figures before bolting one on.
Acoustic and running boxes
A ventilated acoustic box lets you run the generator while it’s boxed, cutting noise by several decibels and keeping it locked at the same time. Good ones cost $300 to $600 and use baffled airflow and exhaust venting so the unit stays cool and safe. If you camp in national parks or busy free camps where noise matters, this is the accessory that keeps you popular with the neighbours.
Chain your generator to a fixed point even when it’s in a box. Thieves will take the box and all if it’s just sitting on the ground. A coated security cable and padlock costs under $30 and buys real peace of mind.
Running Your Generator Quietly And Safely
Accessories only pay off if you use the generator considerately. Position it downwind and away from your neighbours, run it on a flat surface so the oil sensor doesn’t cut out, and keep it off bare dirt to avoid dust in the intake. Many free camps and national parks have generator hours or outright bans, so check before you fire it up.
A parallel kit is worth mentioning here. If you run two matched inverter generators, a parallel lead lets you link them for double the output, enough to start an air conditioner. The kit costs $80 to $150 and is far cheaper than buying a single large, heavy generator.
- Use a 2.5mm² 15amp lead of 15 to 20 metres so you can position the generator away from camp without voltage drop.
- Carry both 10-to-15amp and 15-to-10amp adaptors, plus an inline RCD if your generator doesn’t have one built in.
- Buy a fitted cover for storage and a separate ventilated canopy for running in the rain. Never run under a sealed cover.
- A lockable box stops theft; a ventilated acoustic box also lets you run quieter and keeps the unit secure.
- Check for generator hours and bans before running, and always leave the exhaust clear to avoid carbon monoxide risk.
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