This list will show you some of the more common parts and pieces necessary to wire all of the 12V branch circuits in your camper.
Duplex wire consists of 2 separate conductors in a single sheath and will be the main type of wire you will use for your 12v Branch Circuits. Size will depend on the load and distance that the wire will need to run. The wire linked is high-quality marine-grade wire with 105° C Insulation ratings.
Triplex wire consists of 3 separate conductors in a single sheath and will be the type of wire you will want to use for 3 way switches.
For DC applications; Red is usually "Positive" and Black is usually "Negative". It's difficult to source triplex wire with the proper wire colors, so the proper way around this is to put a 1" piece of RED heat shrink on the Green and Wire wires at each end of the wire to denote that they are "Positive" wires.
Size will depend on the load and distance that the wire will need to run. The wire linked is high-quality marine-grade wire with 105° C Insulation ratings.
WAGO Lever Nuts are a great way to connect 2-5 wire together. The Wago 221 series can accept wires as big as 10 AWG and as small as 20 AWG and are rated for up to 30A.
This is a 12V Single-Pole-Single-Throw switch necessary for turning 12V circuits like lights or a water pump.
This is a 12v Single Pole Double Throw on-on switch necessary for 3-way switches a.k.a. lights that switch from 2 separate locations.
This fuse holder is used for switch panels where smaller wire is used downstream of the switch panel than upstream of the switch panel. This particular fuse holder holds 4 fuses and is, therefore, able to protect 4 circuits coming from the same switch panel location.
Sean
Monday 25th of April 2022
Just researching now, but great info and I’m learning a lot!
Rich Colestock
Monday 7th of February 2022
Hey Nate - been following you for a while and think your videos are awesome. Looking forward to more as you guys grow your channel. We recently picked up a 2021 Sprinter and wound up taking a low cost approach to our electrical system and purchased a BLUETTI AC200P. Now we are trying to figure out a way to safely get the most charging out of our stock Mercedes charging system and battery when driving from point to point. We are hoping a DC-DC charger is the answer, but it's hard to get straight answers from charger vendors. Basically, what we'd like to do is use a DC-DC charger to mimic solar panel input when we are driving (the solar input is 35 -150 VDC and is limited to 12A) and get a little faster charging than just using the standard cigarette 12VDC output (about 100W). Eventually we'll build a real electrical system for the van, but this is what we for now. Would love any advice you could offer!
Thanks for your time! Rich
Armand
Tuesday 4th of January 2022
Purchased your 12v accessory guide. Really helpful! I wanted to confirm the diagram for a 3 way switch for a 12v light would also be suitable for a water pump? I am using the same SPDT ON-ON switches but rocker style rated for 20a. Thanks!
Jack B
Sunday 28th of November 2021
Hi Nate, Sure would like to see a products page or YouTube covering wire management. The wire diagrams look nice and neat. I'm not sure what wire holders or wire channels to use on all the different wire sizes and wire runs so it doesn't turn into a big pile of spaghetti. Any chance of some tips and products to help manage the wiring in a neat, organized way? You seem to be the best guy for that job.
Nate Yarbrough
Wednesday 1st of December 2021
Great idea! These are by far my favorite for 90% of wires: https://amzn.to/3EdUiT9 But proper wire management always starts with a good plan. Without a good plan and diagram, it gets out of hand in a hurry. The diagrams I have at https://www.explorist.life/solarwiringdiagrams are designed so that the parts can be laid out as shown so that the wiring can end up as shown as well.
Siva
Tuesday 23rd of November 2021
First, thank you for doing a high resolution diagram... which I purchased bc my eyes are not what they once were. (The diagram I am using is for a 2000w inverter, 200-400ah, and 200-520 watt solar)
I am following every part exactly but have a question regarding the 2000 inverter charger. I hope to add more solar and more batteries at some point. Can I purchase a 3000 inverter charger now? I rather not be forced to repurchase in the future so what items can be used in both set ups? Have I made a mistake following this diagram rather than the 6 battery diagram?
Also I had no idea when I got into this that it would be so expensive to run the few things I want to run in my little short bus... but my goal at some point is to be able to run a roof top a.c. unit so I am trying to prepare for the inevitability of 6 batteries.
Thank you so much for your blogs posts and videos and for having a following that asks great questions of which I have also learned from.
Thank you in advance for your thoughts. -Siva Aiken
Nate Yarbrough
Wednesday 1st of December 2021
Nope. Adding a bigger inverter means more batteries (200Ah minimum vs 400Ah minimum as well as bigger wires, lugs, fuses, etc.