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
Alphonse
Tuesday 20th of September 2022
Thanks for the great resources! But for the shore plug, is the wire 10/3, or 10/2? I am wiring my shore plug, and bought the 10/3 in the diagram, but can't figure out what the 4th wire is for. And for the 6/3, is it the same situation? Just a little confused. Thanks!
Missy
Monday 5th of September 2022
Hello, I am currently building a 24V system in a Dodge Ram 3500 however I do not notice you have any specific diagrams for a 24v system. Is there a way you could review my diagram? Do you offer consults? I attempted to join the private group but it wasn’t available. Willing to pay for assistance. Im also wondering what your thoughts are when it comes to charging the “house” batteries by alternator. Do you suggest a secondary alternator or would a 12-24 dc isolator convert work? Im afraid of burning out and ruining my cars alrernator.
Thank you Missy
Andy
Friday 2nd of September 2022
Hello from the UK. Great resource both here and YouTube, thanks so much for for your efforts, your videos etc. are a superb resource and clearly a lot of effort goes into them. I have to ask, and apologies if I look stupid, but the one bit I struggle with is your fuse sizing at your +ve busbar (or Lynx Distributor often in your case). For example, feeding your 12V distribution panel is a 6AWG cable (roughly 60AMP cable capacity I believe), but the fuse is a 100AMP Mega Fuse (which if a Victron one would not actually blow until about 250AMP), so how does that protect the cable? Would the cable not just set on fire before the fuse had a chance to blow, so theoretically once the current exceeds the 60AMP cable capacity? I feel I've missed something obvious here, but happy to take the embarrassment to understand this better. Thanks again
Beni Ros
Thursday 1st of September 2022
Hi,
What would be the losses in a solar PV (%) - as a rule of thumb Say you have 1kW of pv installed and produces 1kWh of DC in 1 hour. And you also have a 12V 100Ah battery (2kWh) How much of that you end up using in a 220V appliance Taking in consideration wire losses, battery losses in charging and discharging, inverter losses etc.
Is there a quick rule of thumb? I'm thinking in terms of knowing my 220V load, how much extra solar pv do I need to cover all the losses and have my needed out put at the appliance
Say, I have a 300W load @ 220V How much PV do I need installed And let's take a scenario for 1 hr only It would definitely more than a 300W solar panel? But how much more? And I wouldn't like to go in deep calculations if possible, more a percentage increase in solar PV size
I appreciate all your time and input to help community
Beneamin
Tiffany
Tuesday 23rd of August 2022
Hi Nate, I have a 3000w aims inverter that was given to me, I bought 4 200ah chins lithium batteries. Would you be able to draw up a wiring diagram that would work best for what I'm working with so I know what I still need to purchase? I've purchased your wiring diagram for campervan, and airstream wiring but I believe these wont work for me. Your awesome at what you do and thanks for any input you have!!!