This blog post is an index of ALL of the DIY solar wiring diagrams for campers, vans & RVs you can find here on EXPLORIST.life. There are several options below to choose from. There are varying sizes of systems and this list is constantly changing and expanding to fit your needs. All of the diagrams below feature:
- Lithium Battery Bank Storage
- Ability to Power Devices via Shore Power
- Ability to Charge the Battery Bank via Shore Power
- Ability to Charge the Battery Bank via Solar Panels
- Ability to Charge the Battery Bank via Vehicle Alternator
- Ability to Run both 12V and 120V Appliances
- Applications for DIY Campers, 30A OEM RVs & 50A OEM RVs
How to Best Use This Page – (Video)
This video will show you how to best use this page. Although this page is just an index of all of the wiring diagrams, it’s always helpful to have a bit of a page orientation as you are looking for the right diagram for your needs:
DIY Camper Solar Wiring Diagrams
The following diagrams will get you well on your way to getting your camper prepared for off-grid adventures. There are several diagrams below for various applications of, not only ground-up DIY campers but also OEM RV retrofits. Each of the following diagrams are high end diagrams using primarily Battle Born Lithium Batteries and Victron Energy Components. The solar array size is incredibly flexible depending on the roof space you have available. Check them out and leave any questions/comments you have in the comments section below.
This diagram and parts list is perfect from ground-up electrical installs into campervans, skoolies, or expedition vehicles. This system is most suitable for systems that do not have a pre-existing house electrical system installed.
This diagram features:
- 3000W Inverter Charger
- 400+ Amp Hours of Battery Storage Capacity
- 400W-1200W Solar Array Capacity
- Alternator Charging
- Shore Power Charging/Passthrough
This diagram and parts list is perfect from ground-up electrical installs into campervans, skoolies, or expedition vehicles. This system is most suitable for systems that do not have a pre-existing house electrical system installed.
This diagram features:
- 2000W Inverter Charger
- 200+ Amp Hours of Battery Storage Capacity
- 200W-700W Solar Array Capacity
- Alternator Charging
- Shore Power Charging/Passthrough
This diagram and parts list is perfect for retrofitting solar and an upgraded Inverter into a factory build OEM RV with 30A shore power. This system is most suitable for systems that do not have a pre-existing house electrical system installed.
This diagram features:
- 3000W Inverter Charger
- 400+ Amp Hours of Battery Storage Capacity
- 400W-1200W Solar Array Capacity (Optional)
- Alternator Charging (Optional)
- Shore Power Charging/Passthrough
This diagram and parts list is perfect for retrofitting solar and an upgraded Inverter into a factory build OEM RV with 50A shore power. This system is most suitable for systems that do have a pre-existing house electrical system installed.
This diagram features:
- 3000W Inverter Charger
- 400+ Amp Hours of Battery Storage Capacity
- 400W-1200W Solar Array Capacity (Optional)
- Alternator Charging (Optional)
- Shore Power Charging/Passthrough
This diagram is for users requiring extensive power demands through 120V/240V split phase at up to 3000w per leg. This diagram also shows how to wire multiple solar arrays through multiple charge controllers into the Lynx Distributor. This diagram also features full system monitoring through the Victron GX line of devices.
This diagram features:
- Dual 3000W Inverter Chargers for 120V/240V Split Phase
- 600+ Amp Hours of Battery Storage Capacity (12V Battery Bank)
- Up to 5800W of Solar (expandable at a rate of 2900W per charge controller)
- Alternator Charging at a rate of 100A (optional)
- Shore Power Charging/Passthrough
This diagram and parts list is perfect from ground-up electrical installs into campervans, schoolies, or expedition vehicles. This system is most suitable for systems that do not have a pre-existing house electrical system installed. This diagram features high-performance wires, fuses, and fuse holders but chooses more budget-friendly components like Renogy, Aims, Kisae, or similar
This diagram features:
- 2000W Inverter Charger
- 200+ Amp Hours of Battery Storage Capacity
- 200W-520W Solar Array Capacity
- Alternator Charging
- Shore Power Charging/Passthrough
This wiring diagram is a full guidebook for all of the 12V branch circuits like likes, fans, 12v outlets, USB outlets, 12V Refrigerators are other such devices commonly used in DIY Campers.
This wiring diagram shows a typical 6-circuit 120V branch circuit wiring diagram that is commonly used in DIY Campers for 120V outlets, water heaters, air conditioners, and other high wattage devices.
Not sure what size you need? Start with a power audit here: https://www.explorist.life/what-size-of-solar-system-is-needed-to-power-a-camper/
If you are looking for old wiring diagrams you can find those here:
https://www.explorist.life/solarwiringdiagrams-archive/
Need Personalized Help? Join my private group today: https://www.community.explorist.life
Jason Detwiler
Tuesday 7th of February 2023
Hi, Nate! Thank you so much for the care and detail of your blogs/vids. I am looking to upgrade/replace electrical in my 2004 Prowler (30amp). I will primarily be on shore power and would like to purchase separate components. Generally, do I need a convertor charger, automatic transfer switch and pure sine wave invertor?
Mikel Chio
Saturday 28th of January 2023
Great channel thank you for this
Terrence Williams Sr
Saturday 14th of January 2023
Hey Nate, Amazing site and YouTube channel. I took your advice and purchased from your site all the products except 2 things. My Victron 12v /3000w / 120 inverters. So how do I wire them up together?
Nate Yarbrough
Sunday 15th of January 2023
Here is a playlist of full installs that will show you how to wire everything according to the diagrams found on the page you left this comment on: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmvhcyi4n0TUU8FUc6LE38TBkdSLjdw_5
Ted
Wednesday 11th of January 2023
Hi Nate - I have your 12v wiring diagram- and im having a problem with a simple wiring install; all my 12V overhead lights i want on a dimmer (with on /off) and a simple on / off switch in another location. I followed your diagram- but it is still not working. could this be the type/ model of switch on these LED lights? any help would be great- thanks
Nate Yarbrough
Sunday 15th of January 2023
This should help: https://youtu.be/WRQuVMFlric
Keith
Monday 2nd of January 2023
Happy New Year! My planning is still in the infant stages for setting up a system for my utility trailer for work lights and a charging station for small electronics and equipment batteries. Your tutorials, spread sheets, and calculator tools have been very helpful. I would like to also incorporate a small gasoline generator into the system which leads to the question of does the controller equipment require an inverter generator or would a non-inverter generator be ok? It would not be good to install a system only to find out a non-inverter generator fries the controller and inverter electronics.
Thank you,