Our Budget Camper Van Battery Set-up

When we started our camper van conversion, we knew we needed to have electricity in our van. We need to power our fridge, our lights, and our fan. We need to charge our electronics, get online, and Instagram the veggie burritos we’re eating in the wilderness.😉 And sometimes we just want to watch a little Netflix on a cold rainy night. Even without prior electrical skills we were able to build a DIY camper van electrical system that’s been working great for almost 2 years.

While researching, we found numerous options for DIY camper van electrical systems and all-in-one solar generators. Prices range from $500 to $5000. Spending literally thousands of dollars on an electrical system was not an option for us. We wanted to take a more budget-friendly approach with our set-up. We were able to build our camper van electrical system with solar for just $300.

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How much Electricity do you Need?

While we need electricity, we really don’t need that much. We don’t have a microwave, television, margarita maker (hmmm, van goals), or an electric heater. We were able to figure out how much electricity we use and design our electrical system to our needs. This allowed us to build our camper van battery setup without the huge price tag.

In fact, the first two months of our travels we didn’t have a solar panel. We were moving a lot so charging our batteries only when we drove met our needs. We decided to add the solar panel because we knew that going forward, we’d be camping in areas longer and going days without driving to charge.

To help determine the size of your electrical system, it’s important to ask: What do you need to power? How many days will you be going without driving for 30-60 minutes?

If your power needs are minimal, like ours, you can always start small and build a system that can be expanded. You could begin with one or two batteries charging from the alternator, and after a few weeks of daily use, determine if and how much solar you need.

What our Camper Van Electrical System does

• Runs our refrigerator, lights, and fan
• Charges our computers, cameras, phones, and other electronics
• Charges from solar when parked, and the alternator when we drive
• Provides 4-6 days in full-sun conditions and 2-4 days in low/no sun conditions of power without having to drive to charge.

How it Works

Before we get too far, I have to say: I am not an electrician. Electricity is dangerous. If you’re not comfortable, consult with or hire someone who is. Play it safe around electricity, folks!

Here’s a detailed video that shows all the components of our DIY camper van electrical system and how everything is connected and works together. Enjoy!

Let’s go a bit further into how the our camper van electrical system works.

The batteries are wired to charge from two places:

1. They’re connected to the van’s starting battery under the hood, and when the van is running, they charge from the alternator.
2. The system batteries are also connected to a 100-Watt solar panel mounted to the roof of our van. The solar panel charges our batteries when parked. Between the panel and the batteries, the solar controller monitors and regulates the charging process.

The batteries store enough electricity to keep our refrigerator running 24/7 as well as our interior lighting and fans. They also power our 400-Watt inverter, which changes the direct current (DC) from the batteries to alternating current (AC) to charge electronics that use a standard plug, such as our computers and cameras.

Cost Break-Down of Our DIY Camper Van Electrical System

Components of a Camper Van Electrical System

Battery Box – Basically, this is just a homemade wooden box with several holes for wire access and ventilation. It’s big enough to have a little storage for extra parts, but also sized so the batteries do not shift when driving. The materials were from the scrap wood bin at Home Depot, so we got them super cheap.

Batteries (2) – EverStart 29DC. These deep cycle batteries are 12 Volt at 110 Amp hour (Ah). Deep cycle batteries are designed to be “deeply” discharged over and over (something that would ruin a car battery very quickly). These 2 batteries are connected with battery cables to make a battery bank of 220 Ah. You might be able to use just one if you don’t have a fridge. We found our batteries used on Craigslist. You can save some serious money buying used batteries, but make sure you test them to see if they hold a charge.

Isolator – This component is important if you are planning to charge your “house” batteries from the alternator. The isolator allows current through to charge the batteries when the vehicle is on, and it disconnects (and isolates the house batteries) when the van is off. This ensures your starting battery won’t be drained when the vehicle is off.

Solar Controller – displays your battery voltage and regulates charging through the solar panels. A lot of people have been moving to more expensive MPPT (maximum power point tracking) controllers. If you’re designing a larger electric system, this may be the way to go, but if like us, your electrical needs aren’t huge, this controller is affordable, easy to use, and works great.

Inverter – this turns the DC power from the battery to AC power to charge electronic devices with a standard AC plug. We only use this to charge our computers or camera and this 400-Watt inverter has worked great for our needs. It has 2 AC outlets and 4 USB ports. Note: you don’t have to turn the inverter on to use the USB ports.

Solar Panels – these convert sunlight directly into electricity. The “size” of the panel will influence how much electricity it produces. Example: a 325-Watt panel makes over 3 times the electricity as a 100-Watt panel. They can also be connected together. Example: Two 100-Watt panels will give you 200 Watts.

Accessories & Tools – here is a list of miscellaneous accessories you’ll need to put your system together:

• Battery Cables
• Electrical Wire
• Fuses
• Ring Terminal Connectors
• Splice Connectors
• Inline Fuse Holders
• Cut-off Switch
• Wire Cutter/Stripper
• Electrical Tape

With a basic understanding of how much electricity you will use on a daily basis you can custom design a camper van electrical system to fit your needs. While your system may be a bit smaller or larger than ours, building your own electric system will you save hundreds – even thousands of dollars during your camper van conversion.

See our full post about How to Build a Camper Van on a Budget for even more money saving tips.

We have a lot more van life tips and resources in the works. If you aren’t already getting emails from us, make sure to sign-up in the box on the right so you don’t miss any posts. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel here to get all our budget travel and van life videos. Happy travels!

Related Posts:

• How to Build a Camper Van on a Budget
• Top Van Life Gear Guide
• 5 Considerations if you Want to be a Digital Nomad

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