Camper electrical questions, answered
We read the forums and the search boxes, picked the questions that come up again and again, and answered each one from the people who should know: battery and charger makers' manuals, Victron's technical papers, and Blue Sea Systems' ABYC-based guides. Short answer first, then the detail, then the sources. If we couldn't back an answer, we left the question out.
Lithium batteries
- How long will a 100Ah lithium battery last?
- Is a 100Ah lithium battery the same as 200Ah of lead-acid?
- Can you charge a LiFePO4 battery below freezing?
- Can you mix lithium and lead-acid batteries?
- Can I charge a lithium battery with a lead-acid charger?
- Should RV batteries be wired in series or parallel?
- Do I need a shunt or battery monitor for a lithium battery?
- How long does it take to charge a 100Ah lithium battery?
Solar
- MPPT or PWM: which solar charge controller do I need?
- Should I wire solar panels in series or parallel?
- What size charge controller do I need for 400 watts of solar?
- Do I need a fuse between the solar panels and the charge controller?
- Can I connect a solar panel directly to a battery?
- How much solar do I need for a van?
Alternator and DC-DC charging
Shore power and converters
- What's the difference between 30 amp and 50 amp RV power?
- Can you plug an RV into a regular household outlet?
- Can you plug an RV into a dryer outlet?
- Is it OK to leave an RV plugged in all the time?
- What's the difference between an RV converter and an inverter?
- Why isn't my RV battery charging when it's plugged in?
- Will my RV converter charge a lithium battery?
Wire, fuses and inverters
- What size fuse do I need between the battery and the inverter?
- What size wire from the battery to a 2000 W inverter?
- What gauge wire do I need for 30 amps, or any 12 V load?
- Do I need a Class T fuse for a lithium battery?
- Should I ground my van's electrical system to the chassis?
- Should I build a 12 V or 24 V system?
- How big an inverter do I need?
Boats
Need numbers for your own rig? The power planner sizes the battery, solar, charger, inverter, wires and fuses from what you run.