A generator on its own only gets you halfway. To run it safely, quietly and legally around Australia, you need the right leads to carry the power, a cover to keep it dry and dust-free, and somewhere to store or run it that doesn’t cook your storage box or drive your neighbours mad. Skip the accessories and you’ll be running your generator on bare ground, tripping over a dodgy extension cord, or copping a fine for exhaust fumes drifting into the next site.
This guide covers the accessories that actually matter: the leads, covers, boxes and connectors that turn a bare generator into a proper power setup for life on the road.
Leads and Cables
The lead is what carries power from your generator to your caravan or gear. Get this wrong and you’ll either lose voltage over the run, or worse, use a lead that isn’t rated for the load.
15 amp vs 10 amp leads
Most caravans have a 15 amp inlet, not the standard 10 amp household plug. The difference is the earth pin: a 15 amp plug has a wider earth pin, so a 15 amp lead won’t fit a 10 amp socket, and a 10 amp lead physically can’t plug into a 15 amp inlet. If your van has a 15 amp inlet, you need a 15 amp lead to connect it to a generator with a 15 amp outlet.
Buy a proper heavy-duty lead rated for the current, not a thin orange builder’s extension cord. A 15 metre 15 amp lead runs around $60 to $90. Anything longer than 20 metres starts causing noticeable voltage drop, so keep runs short where you can.
Never use a 15 amp to 10 amp adaptor to force a 15 amp caravan lead into a 10 amp generator outlet. It bypasses the current protection and can overload the smaller circuit. If your generator only has 10 amp outlets, you need a proper RCD-protected adaptor lead rated correctly for the job.
Adaptor leads
Many inverter generators (like the popular 2kVA units) only have 10 amp outlets. To connect a 15 amp caravan, you need an Ampfibian or similar RCD-protected adaptor. The Ampfibian RV Mini ~$99 is the go-to here: it safely steps a 15 amp caravan down to draw from a 10 amp supply while limiting the current to keep everything within spec.
Carry both a 15 amp lead and an Ampfibian adaptor. That covers you for running off your generator, off a powered site, and off a mate’s setup, no matter which outlet type you strike.
Lead storage
A tangled lead is a slow lead to deploy at the end of a long driving day. A simple cable reel or a set of hook-and-loop straps keeps things tidy and stops the sheath getting nicked in your boot. Spend $20 on a reel and thank yourself later.
Covers and Weather Protection
Generators hate two things: water and dust. A cover deals with both, but there’s a catch. You can’t run most generators with a full cover on because they need airflow and a clear exhaust path. So there are two jobs here: a storage cover for when it’s off, and running protection for when it’s on.
Storage covers
A fitted cover keeps dust, moisture and UV off your generator when it’s stowed. Most brands sell a moulded cover made for their unit (Honda, Yamaha and the Chinese clones all have generic options). Expect to pay $30 to $60. A universal soft cover works fine if you can’t get a branded one, just make sure it fits snugly so it doesn’t flap in the wind and let grit underneath.
Running in the rain
Running a generator in wet weather is a real risk. Water and electricity don’t mix, and a soaked generator can short out or become an electrocution hazard. The safe options are a purpose-built running cover (a tent-style shelter with vented sides and an exhaust cutout) or simply positioning the generator under an awning or annexe extension well clear of the exhaust outlet.
Never run a generator inside a closed box, tent or annexe. Generators produce carbon monoxide, which is odourless and deadly. Always run them outdoors in open air with the exhaust pointing away from your van and your neighbours.
Storage and Running Boxes
Where you keep your generator matters. Petrol fumes, spilled fuel and a hot engine don’t belong in your main storage boot next to your bedding.
Storage boxes
A dedicated vented storage box mounted on the A-frame or in a purpose-built compartment keeps fuel smell out of your living space and stops the generator sliding around while you drive. Look for a box with drainage and ventilation so any fuel vapour escapes rather than building up. Front toolbox-style generator boxes for the A-frame run $200 to $500 depending on size and build quality.
Running boxes and quiet boxes
Some travellers use a ventilated running box to cut noise, but this is where people get into trouble. A true generator quiet box is a properly engineered enclosure with forced ventilation, baffled airflow and a ducted exhaust. A homemade box without adequate airflow will overheat the generator, void your warranty, and risk carbon monoxide buildup. Unless it’s purpose-built for running, treat a box as storage only.
The cheapest way to cut generator noise is distance and orientation. Position the generator 5 to 10 metres from your van with the exhaust facing away, and you’ll knock off far more perceived noise than any box will give you.
Parallel Kits and Connectors
Running two smaller inverter generators in parallel is a popular way to get more power without the weight of one big unit. Two 2kVA units linked together give you roughly 3.5kVA, enough to run an air conditioner that a single 2kVA can’t handle.
To do this you need a parallel connection kit made for your generator brand. These run $80 to $150 for genuine kits, less for clones. The kit links the two units so they share the load and sync their output. Don’t try to jury-rig this with a homemade cable; the sync circuitry matters.
Two 2kVA generators in parallel weigh and cost more than a single 3.5kVA unit, but they’re far easier to lift one at a time and give you a backup if one fails. That flexibility is why so many big lappers run a pair.
What to Buy First
Don’t buy every accessory at once. Here’s the order that makes sense for most setups.
| Accessory | Rough Cost | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| 15 amp lead Buy First | $60-90 | Essential |
| RCD adaptor (Ampfibian) | ~$99 | Essential if 10A outlets |
| Storage cover | $30-60 | High |
| Storage box | $200-500 | Medium |
| Parallel kit | $80-150 | Only if running two units |
Start with the lead and adaptor, because without them your generator can’t safely connect to anything. Add a cover next to protect your investment, then sort storage once you know where the generator lives on your rig.
- A 15 amp lead and an RCD-protected adaptor are the two accessories you can’t do without. Buy quality, keep runs short.
- Use a storage cover when the generator is off, and never run it under a full cover or in a sealed box. Carbon monoxide is deadly.
- A vented storage box keeps fuel smell out of your living space, but don’t confuse it with a purpose-built running enclosure.
- A parallel kit only makes sense if you’re running two smaller units to power an air conditioner.
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