Induction hob in a van — possible on batteries?

Depends what you mean by "possible" really. Single portable ring? Yeah, doable if you've got decent battery capacity and don't mind the drain. But a proper built-in hob across multiple rings? That's a different beast entirely.

The issue @FormerCop's highlighted is real — induction's efficient once it's running, but the power draw is brutal. You're talking 3kW+ per ring, which means you need either:

• Massive battery bank (15-20kWh minimum for realistic cooking)
• Solar to offset during daylight
• Mains hook-up when stationary

For a shepherd's hut that's semi-permanent, you've got more options than a van though. Ground-mounted solar array, proper sizing without space constraints. Still won't be cheap, but more feasible.

If you're genuinely off-grid most of the time, honestly consider a hybrid setup — induction when you've got power budget, and a compact gas backup. I know that's not what you want to hear, but it's the realistic middle ground. A 5kWh bank like @Louise1984's might cover

The shepherd's hut setup is interesting — that's got more flexibility than a van, which actually works in your favour here.

I ran the numbers on this a few years back when I was living aboard my narrowboat and got fed up with the smell of gas. Thing is, induction is doable, but you need to be realistic about what "doable" means.

A single portable induction ring (around 2kW) is genuinely manageable if you've got a decent lithium bank — say 10kWh LiFePO₄ minimum. That's what @Louise1984's found. The trick is never expecting to use it when your batteries are below 20%, and timing it for when your solar's generating or you're plugged into shore power.

If you're planning something semi-permanent in a shepherd's hut, though — this is where it gets different from van life. Can you run a cable from the grid? Even just for the kitchen? That solves everything. Or a decent petrol gen-set just for cooking days. I know it's not the dream, but it's more practical than bankrupting yourself on battery capacity.

I've actually got a portable induction ring in my van setup, and it's been the making of it, honestly. @FormerCop's right about the power draw, but here's what I've learned: the trick is timing and realistic expectations.

Single ring pulls about 2kW sustained, which my 200Ah LiFePO₄ bank handles, but only if I'm not running other high-load stuff simultaneously. I charge aggressively when stationary and cook during daylight when solar's contributing. Saves the batteries for evening.

For a shepherd's hut though — @AngliaCamper's spot on. You've got way more options than van folk. Could you run a decent 48V bank, add solar panels without space constraints, maybe even a small petrol gen as backup? That changes everything. I'm genuinely envious of that flexibility.

The shepherd's hut also means you're not limited by weight in the same way, so overspec your battery bank slightly. Induction's brilliant for efficiency and safety, but it demands respect on the power side. Works great if you're honest about your usage patterns and don't expect

The shepherd's hut angle is actually brilliant for this, @ExFirefighter11. You've got space for proper battery capacity where a van owner would be fighting for every cubic cm.

I ran induction in my motorhome setup for a spell — single portable ring, 3kW max. The real bottleneck isn't the hob itself, it's the inverter surge and your battery's discharge rate. A 3kW ring needs a decent pure sine inverter (I went Victron), and you're looking at roughly 25-30A draw at 12V, so thick cabling's non-negotiable.

The shepherd's hut means you could realistically stack 400-600Ah LiFePO4 without space constraints, which transforms what's possible. With that capacity you'd get a decent cooking session. Gas users will tell you it's mad, but if you're committed to electric, it works — just don't expect to boil a kettle and charge your laptop simultaneously.

What's your current battery capacity and inverter spec? That'll tell you whether a single ring's workable or if you need to think differently about your cooking

@ExFirefighter11 - good call avoiding gas, especially in a confined space like that. The shepherd's hut setup is genuinely your sweet spot here because you've got room to do this properly without the space constraints that kill van builds.

The real limiting factor is your battery capacity and how much power you're willing to invest. A single induction ring pulls around 2-3kW when running, so you're looking at a decent lithium bank (8-10kWh minimum, realistically) and a solid 5kW inverter to handle the surge. That's not cheap, but it's doable if you've got the space.

Key thing: are you planning to run it off-grid full-time, or will you have mains hookup at a permanent site? If it's mostly stationary with occasional mobile bits, run a proper three-phase supply when you're parked up and just keep a portable ring for when you're away from the hut. Saves you spending thousands on batteries you'll only need occasionally.

What's your current power setup looking like? Solar, wind, or planning from scratch?

Induction's doable but you'll need to think seriously about your inverter spec. I'm running a 3kW portable ring in my van conversion and it absolutely hammers the batteries — you're looking at 2.5-3kW draw per ring, sometimes spiking higher.

The shepherd's hut gives you a real advantage though because you've got room to go bigger on battery capacity. If you're semi-permanent, have you considered a hybrid setup? I've got a Victron MultiPlus handling both AC loads and charging, paired with LiFePO₄ batteries. Cost more upfront but it's transformed what I can actually do cooking-wise.

Few questions before you commit:

• Are you planning grid connection for periodic topping up, or purely off-grid?
• What's your solar budget looking like? Induction absolutely benefits from decent PV generation
• Is your electrical infrastructure already in place, or starting from scratch?

The portable rings (Fogstar, Renogy make decent ones) give you flexibility without rewiring everything. Worth testing that approach first before going full hardwired if you're still deciding on your setup

The inverter's only half the battle though. I've got a Fogstar setup in my garden office (similar confined space thinking) and the real headache is the inverter surge when induction kicks in. You're looking at peak draws of 4-5kW even on a single ring, so your battery bank needs to handle that without voltage sag.

If you're semi-permanent in the shepherd's hut, lithium makes sense over lead acid — the depth of discharge flexibility means you get usable capacity rather than babying a lead setup. I'd size for at least 10kWh if you're cooking properly, maybe more depending on your usage patterns.

The other thing: a dedicated 30A circuit on your board so the induction doesn't compete with other loads. That's more critical in a confined space than people realise.

What's your power source looking like? Solar plus grid tie, or pure off-grid? Makes a difference to the recharge strategy.

Induction's brilliant but that shepherd's hut will need serious battery grunt – we're talking 48V lithium minimum if you fancy cooking without waiting three hours between meals. A 5kW pure sine Victron and you'll be laughing, broke, but laughing.

Running induction means you're looking at sustained 3-4kW draws. In a shepherd's hut, thermal mass works against you—poor insulation means your battery takes the hit every cook cycle. I'd spec a pure sine 5kW minimum inverter (Victron MultiPlus ideally) and genuinely calculate your daily Wh budget. Gas backup's worth reconsidering unless you're genuinely off-grid permanent. What's your actual solar/charging setup?

Induction's doable but honestly? You'll need meaty solar to keep up with daily cooking cycles. I run a 5kW pure sine inverter in my setup, paired with 15kWh lithium. Single-ring induction works fine, but dual-ring draws too much unless you've got serious roof space. Shepherd's hut is tight for panels though—what's your south-facing area like?

Induction's definitely doable but you'll want to size your inverter for the surge — they pull 5-6kW on startup. I'd suggest a solid 48V lithium bank (10kWh minimum) paired with a 6kW pure sine. Fogstar or Victron make reliable gear for this. Morning cooking when batteries are full works best; afternoon sessions you'll struggle without serious solar.

Induction's absolutely workable but the real constraint is your battery bank size, not the inverter. You're looking at 2-3kWh per cook cycle minimum. I run a 48V Victron setup on the narrowboat—5kW pure sine inverter handles the surge fine, but I needed 15kWh usable to cook without draining below 20% daily. Shepherd's hut thermal mass actually helps you extend cooking windows between solar peaks.