What Does Wanderful Wheels Typically Install?
Our standard electrical system works well for the majority of our customers and is designed to provide a practical amount of off-grid capability without unnecessarily overbuilding the system.
A typical Wanderful Wheels electrical system includes:
300 Ah Victron lithium battery capacity
300 watts of solar
3000W Victron inverter/charger
Victron solar charge controller
Charging while driving
Victron system monitoring
30 amp shore power
AC and DC outlets throughout the van
For many customers, this setup can support roughly two to three days of typical off-grid use before significant recharging is needed.
That number is only a general guideline. Someone using air conditioning heavily will use their battery much faster than someone primarily powering lights, a refrigerator, phones, and a laptop.
The Victron monitoring system makes it easy to see how much energy you are using and how much energy is coming back into the batteries through solar, driving, or shore power.
How Much Battery Capacity Do I Need
People who often need more Battery are;
Travelers Spending a Lot of Time in Hot Climates
If you plan to spend significant time in places such as Arizona, Utah, Texas, or other hot climates, a larger battery bank can give you much more flexibility when using air conditioning.
People Traveling With Dogs
Dogs are actually one of the most common reasons our customers choose air conditioning.
If keeping your pets comfortable while you are away from the van is a major priority, we can design the electrical system with additional battery capacity and charging capability to better support longer AC use.
Remote Workers
If your camper van is also your office, a larger electrical system may make sense.
Daily laptop use, monitors, internet equipment, cameras, and other electronics may not individually use huge amounts of electricity, but they create a consistent daily load.
Long-Term Off-Grid Travelers
Someone who regularly camps away from hookups for several days at a time will generally benefit more from additional battery capacity than someone who stays at campgrounds with shore power.
People With Higher Electrical Usage
Frequent induction cooking, air conditioning, entertainment systems, additional appliances, and other high-power equipment can all increase battery requirements.
We have built systems with significantly more capacity, including battery banks up to 1,200 Ah, when a customer's travel style called for it.
Bigger Isn't Always Better
It can be tempting to simply install the largest battery system possible, but more battery capacity also means more cost, weight, and space.
Our goal is not to sell everyone the biggest electrical system we can build.
We would rather understand how you plan to travel and design a system that actually makes sense for you.
What Affects Camper Van Battery Needs?
Air Conditioning
Air conditioning is usually one of the largest electrical loads in a camper van.
Our vans can be equipped with a 12V Dometic RTX 2000 air conditioner that runs directly from the house battery system. How long it can run depends on outside temperature, thermostat settings, solar production, battery capacity, and what else you are powering at the same time.
If you plan to spend a lot of time in hot climates or regularly rely on air conditioning, additional battery capacity is one of the first upgrades we recommend.
Cooking
Induction cooking is fast, convenient, and eliminates the need to carry propane for the stove, but it can draw a significant amount of power while it is running.
Most people only cook for short periods, so an induction cooktop does not run continuously like a refrigerator. Still, frequent cooking should be considered when deciding how much battery capacity you need.
Laptops and Remote Work
Laptops and small electronics usually use much less power than air conditioning or cooking, but daily use can add up.
If you plan to work remotely from your camper van, you may also be powering monitors, cameras, internet equipment, chargers, and other electronics throughout the day.
For occasional laptop use, our standard system is generally plenty. For someone working from the van every day, we look more closely at their total power needs and how often they will be able to recharge.
Refrigerator
The refrigerator runs throughout the day, but modern 12V compressor refrigerators are designed to be very efficient.
We commonly use the Dometic NRX 80S, which runs directly from the 12V electrical system. Because it cycles on and off rather than operating continuously at full power, it is generally much easier on the battery bank than appliances such as air conditioning or an induction cooktop.
Solar
Solar helps replace some of the energy you use throughout the day.
Our standard system typically includes around 300 watts of solar, but solar production changes constantly. A sunny summer day in Colorado may provide plenty of charging, while several cloudy days, winter conditions, shade, or a campsite surrounded by trees can significantly reduce solar production.
For this reason, we do not design a camper van electrical system around solar alone.
Driving
Driving can be one of the most useful ways to recharge your house batteries.
Our systems can charge the house battery while the vehicle is running. For customers with larger electrical demands, we can also install a secondary alternator dedicated to charging the camper van battery system.
A secondary alternator can provide much faster charging than a standard charging setup, which can be especially helpful for people who move frequently or use a lot of electricity.
Weather and Travel Style
Weather has a surprisingly large effect on electrical use.
Hot weather may mean more air conditioning. Cold weather can reduce solar production and increase the amount of time you spend inside using lights and appliances. Cloud cover and shade also affect how much energy your solar panels produce.
Your travel style matters just as much. Someone driving every day and staying at campgrounds occasionally will have very different power needs from someone parking in the backcountry for a week at a time.
How Much Battery Capacity Does a Camper Van Need?
It depends entirely on how you plan to travel.
Our standard 300 Ah lithium system works well for the majority of our customers.
People who spend more time off-grid, work remotely, travel in hot climates, or use air conditioning frequently may benefit from additional battery capacity.
We have built systems with substantially more battery storage, including systems up to 1,200 Ah.
During the design process, we would rather understand your actual electrical needs than simply sell you the biggest battery bank possible.