Vanlife Outfitters

How much does a complete camper van electrical system cost?

Budget $2,000–$4,000 for a simple system. Advanced off-grid builds with a large inverter/charger, a sizeable lithium battery bank, and a secondary alternator can run $10,000–$15,000+. Your exact cost depends on how much battery power you need, whether you want solar, require a secondary alternator, and many other factors. The best place to start is to think about how you will use your van, perform a load calculation , and go from there.

Is a 24V or 48V system more powerful than a 12V system?

We recommend 12V systems for most simple camper van electrical systems. If you're interested in smaller cables and higher efficiency for extended off-grid camping with high power devices, consider 24V or 48V systems. The secondary alternator kits available for our 24V and 48V systems do have a higher power output than 12V kits, so in that way, they provide more charging capability. But, technically the battery voltage does not make your system "more powerful" - a 10Kwh battery bank has the same capability to run your appliances whether you're at 12V, 24V, or 48V!

Which size inverter/charger is right for me?

By far, the most popular choice of inverter/charger in a camper van is a Victron Multiplus "3000". These units can power a coffee maker, toaster oven, water heater, and of course your phones & laptop chargers, and the "3000" units can provide enough surge power to run multiple devices at once. Simple electrical systems with only few AC loads may consider a Multiplus "2000". Large rigs desiring 50 Amp split phase power may require a Multiplus 2 x 120 VAC unit, and other large rigs with lots of AC loads should consider a Multiplus "5000".

What fuses and wire sizes do I need for my camper van electrical system?

Your fuse should always be sized to protect the wire, and your wire should be sized to safely carry the load of the devices on that circuit. Fuse sizes are also commonly recommended in each device's manual. We provide a suite of example wiring diagrams that show fuse and wire selection for many of the popular items in our electrical bundles.