Wiring your camper van is one of those essential improvements to get the most out of your campervan. It can make a big difference, as having electricity in your camper van will allow you to power everything from induction cookers to televisions and computers.
Basically, by electrifying your camper van, you won't have to give up any of the comforts you already have at home. Not to mention the money you'll save by improving your van's range.
If you are interested in discovering how to have electricity in your camper, read on, in this post we show you how.
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What do you need to do an electrical installation in your camper?
To make an electrical installation in your camper, there are a number of components that you will need:
Auxiliary battery
Although your camper already has a battery, it is not designed to sustain all the power consumption involved in devices such as induction cookers, computers or portable refrigerators.
Therefore, to install electricity in your camper you will need an auxiliary battery, which will be responsible for giving you the energy you need for your van to have more autonomy and can sustain the consumption of several different electrical appliances.
With an auxiliary battery of 200 Ah, and a low consumption, you could easily have an autonomy of up to 3 days, without any recharging. In that case, a battery like the LiFePO4 Victron 12.8V-200Ah Smart could give you everything you need.
However, keep in mind that the higher the power consumption, the more auxiliary batteries you will need. So if you're looking for a lot of range, a single auxiliary battery won't be enough.
Power inverter
The power inverter is the device that is responsible for converting the 12 V current produced by the camper to 220 V. It is necessary so that you can supply electrical power to appliances that use 220 V current.
Certain inverters include current regulators and chargers, which means that they can be used to charge your camper's batteries from external sockets or through solar panels.
Without an inverter, you will have a very limited electrical installation, as many appliances that use 220 V current will not be able to be switched on.
When looking for an investor, you must ensure that it has sufficient power to support your level of electricity consumption.. For example, with an inverter such as the Multiplus 12/2000/80 has a continuous power of 1600 watts, which could support the consumption of a microwave or an induction cooker.
Relay or Booster
The relay or booster is an essential part that manages the connection between your van's battery and your auxiliary battery. The relay ensures that power is only used from the auxiliary battery when the van's engine is not running, and also charges the auxiliary battery when you are driving your camper van by connecting it to the vehicle's battery.
In this way, the relay prevents the 100% from relying on external power sockets to charge your auxiliary battery, which is certainly convenient when you're on the road. And, apart from that, it also prevents you from discharging the camper's battery when you're not driving.
Although there are automatic and non-automatic relays, it is best to always opt for an automatic relay, otherwise you will have to manually control the charging of the batteries. In addition, an automatic relay will also facilitate charging with solar panels.
Beyond the relay, you also have the booster, which for all practical purposes does the same thing as the relay, but in a more efficient way. In fact, with the booster, you don't need to reach much speed to fully charge your auxiliary battery. However, a booster is usually more expensive than a relay.
Solar panels
A camper van electrical installation is not complete without its solar panels, after all, they are a reliable source of energy and can greatly extend the autonomy of your van, allowing it to support a higher level of electricity consumption.
As far as solar panels are concerned, there are different types:
- Monocrystalline solar panelsThe most recommended for places with cloudy climates because they absorb more radiation, so they tend to overheat if they receive too much (which would be the case in very sunny places).
- Polycrystalline solar panelsare designed for very sunny climates, with high temperatures, which makes them extremely efficient in places where the sun is very intense.
- Rigid solar panelsRigid solar panels are thick and require a heavier structure on top of the camper, which makes them more visible on your van. They are often more efficient and durable.
- Flexible solar panelsFlexible solar panels are light and inconspicuous, they can also be adapted to the curvature of the van roof. Despite their performance and characteristics, despite their adaptability, they are less durable and can generate less energy at very high temperatures. In addition, they are also more expensive than rigid panels.
Depending on what you need (and your budget), any of these types of solar panels may be suitable. For example, for low consumption, a 500 W solar panel installation with a panel type like the Victron BlueSolar 175W-12V monocrystalline you could do quite well.
Of course, it is best to choose your solar panels not only for their price or type, but also for how well they will suit the general conditions of your van.
Will you be mostly in very cloudy places? Go for monocrystalline panels. Will you be staying in very sunny areas? Go for polycrystalline.
Solar charge controller
The solar charge controller is the device that protects your auxiliary battery from problems such as excessive discharging and overcharging. It also ensures that charging the battery with your solar panels is not only safe, but also efficient.
You will find different types of charge controllers:
- PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) is the most basic and common, which simply interrupts the battery charge when it is at 100%.
- MPPTs (Maximum Power Point Trackers) are the most advanced regulators, which not only prevent overcharging, but also optimise battery charging to make it faster.
In the case of PWMs, their main advantage is that they are cheaper. But if you are concerned about getting the most out of your solar panels, it is best to opt for an MPPT regulator such as the Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/30.
Load display
The charge display is not an indispensable device, but it can be very useful for keeping track of the charge level of your auxiliary battery. It also shows other interesting data, such as the amount of energy you are consuming.
There are many types of load display, and while they all do more or less the same thing, some tell you more basic data and others give you more detail.
So at this point it is up to you and how much information you want to have at hand.
Cables and fuses
You can't have an electrical installation in your camper van without wiring and fuses. Good wiring will not only ensure that your installation works, it will also make it much safer and more efficient.
It is crucial that you choose cables with the right characteristics for the type of installation you will be doing and its power and consumption levels.
Along with the wiring you will also need fuses, which function as a safety mechanism: in the event of an overload or short circuit, the fuses blow, preventing damage to the entire installation and its devices.
To lay your wiring, you will need to choose the right cross-sections (cross-section is the thickness of the power cable itself). This will ensure that overloading or other problems do not occur.
Although there are formulas for calculating the cross-section that each cable should have according to its use, the following cross-sections are generally recommended:
| Device | Suggested cable cross-section (mm2) |
|---|---|
| Auxiliary battery | 16 – 25 |
| Solar panel | 6 – 10 |
| Solar charge controller | 6 – 10 |
| Investor | 16 – 25 |
| Power socket | 2,5 – 4 |
| Remaining components | 1,5 – 2,5 |
Although these are suggested sections, it is always advisable to consult a professional to ensure that your installation has the correct wiring.
As for the fuses, you should install those with an amperage that matches the amperage of the line on which it is being installed. In other words, if you are planning to connect an appliance on a line that consumes 12 A, the fuse on that line must be 12 A or slightly higher.
A fuse must not have an amperage lower than that which will be used in your line, because there is a risk that it will blow.
As always, it is highly recommended that you seek specialist advice at this point to avoid problems and to ensure that your installation is safe.
Other ideal accessories for a complete electrical installation in your camper van
Beyond the essential components of an electrical installation, there are others that may be useful to you, such as:
- External 220 V charger: An external charger is a component that will allow you to recharge your auxiliary battery via an external power socket (something that can be very useful in a camper van). You'll find many types, from basic to smart chargers. Make sure you choose one that is compatible with your auxiliary battery and that you already have a power inverter.
- USB sockets: ideal for recharging electrical devices such as mobile phones. You can place them in different sections of your camper.
- LED lights: LED lighting is a must if you are serious about using your camper van. And thanks to their low power consumption, they will have little impact on your battery charge life.
- Cigarette lighter sockets: other types of sockets needed to power electrical appliances and connect chargers.
- Water pump: water pumps are responsible for supplying the water you will use in your van. Many of the van water pumps can be adapted to the electrical installation of your camper van.
Types of electrical installation you can do in your camper van
There are two types of electrical installation that you can do in your camper van:
12 V system
This electrical installation works with the type of current already produced by the van by default. In a 12 V system, the van battery is connected to the auxiliary battery and the wiring is routed from there.
The system can also be connected to solar panels to improve its autonomy and make the van more self-sufficient.
This is a simpler installation, but the voltage means that not all electrical devices or appliances can be connected to it.
With a 12 V electrical system, you can connect:
- Fans
- Lights
- Cigarette lighter sockets
- USB sockets
- Portable coolers
Because of its limitations, the 12 V system is better if you are going to make standard use of your van. However, if you are interested in having a camper van with all the comforts, you will have to opt for the 220 V system.
220 V system
The 220 V system is more complex and requires an inverter to convert the voltage from 12 V to 220 V, which is the voltage used by many everyday electrical appliances. To approve this installation, an electrical bulletin issued by a professional is required.
In general, the 220V system is more complicated and can be more demanding on your camper van. However, it will make your camper much more habitable and allow you to connect devices that would not work with the usual van voltage.
With a 220 V electrical installation, you will be able to connect:
- Fans
- Lights
- Cigarette lighter sockets
- USB sockets
- Portable coolers
- Televisions
- Air conditioning
- Microwave
- Water heater
- Blender
- Dryer
- Oven
Due to its versatility, this system is ideal if you are interested in having a camper van with the best possible autonomy and if you want it to have all the facilities of a house.
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Steps to install electricity in your camper van
These would be the steps you would have to follow to carry out an electrical installation in your camper van:
- Gather the tools you will useYou will need pliers, screwdrivers, a multimeter, spanners of various sizes, a drill to make the necessary holes in the installation, a silicone gun to seal certain connections and a saw.
- Define your installationThink about what you will need according to your electricity consumption, the type of appliances you are interested in using, the level of autonomy you are looking for for your van. In this way, you will be able to define the type of installation you will make, and it will be easier for you to choose the components, from the batteries to the wiring.
- Choose the devices you will use according to the needs of your installation.At this point, you must choose each of the elements that will form part of the electrical system that you will install, including the batteries, the inverter (if you will use a 220 V system), the solar charge regulator, the solar panels, the relay or booster and all the accessories that you will use.
- Pre-install the electrical systemIdeally, the wiring and most of the electrical system components should be located behind the paneling of the van. Therefore, pre-installation is recommended. To do this correctly, you must be clear about the location of each appliance, socket and system component in the van. This way you can place the entire installation in a way that does not take up space in the van.
- Fit the auxiliary battery and the inverter.This is the first thing you will need to install. Make sure that the auxiliary battery is in a safe area of your camper and that it will not be exposed to too much heat. Connect the battery to the charging socket and then to the inverter which will convert the current from 12V to 220V (only if you are using this system).
- Install the solar panelThe panel should be located in a stable area of the van where it will receive the most exposure to the sun (this will maximise the amount of energy your solar panels produce). Remember that your panel should be fixed in the manner suggested by the manufacturer, depending on the type of panel, the method will vary.
- Place the regulatorMake sure it is in a safe area, connect it to the battery and your solar panel.
- Finalise the connection to the rest of the components that require it.At this point, all that remains is to connect the fuses, cables, switches and other components of the electrical installation. The wires should be either behind the paneling (if you are pre-installing) or in conduits that prevent them from breaking or getting tangled.
- Test your systemHere all that remains is to check that everything is working properly, that the sockets are working, that the panels are charging and that, in general, the whole installation is operational.
These would be the steps you would have to follow, broadly speaking, for an electrical installation in your camper van. Of course, we recommend that if you do it yourself, you always check that everything is in order with a professional.
After all, a good electrical installation can save you a lot of money and last a long time, so it pays to get it right from the start.
