Installing the ULTIMATE 12V Off-Grid Electrical Setup
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
- Join us as we DIY install our 400AH lithium 12v system into our vintage caravan. To be totally honest- we are shocked at how smoothly this week went for us 😆
⚡️ Our Electrical Setup:
(Use code JM30 for $30 off any order above $300 at Caravan RV Camping)
The entire bundle (free portable power station included for the first 10 orders!):
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Renogy 12/24/48V 200Ah Core Series Deep Cycle Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery
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DCC50S 12V 50A Dual Input DC to DC Battery Charger with MPPT
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3000W 12V Pure Sine Wave Inverter Charger w/ LCD
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200W 12V Monocrystalline Fixed Solar Panel
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40 Amp MPPT Solar Charge Controller
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Renogy One Core Monitor
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Renogy Battery Shunt 300
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BT-2 Bluetooth Module for Renogy Products w/ RS485 Port
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Cable used:
95mm2/000 gauge (battery & inverter wiring)
35mm wire (alternator to dcdc)
Fuses:
Mega fuse 80ah (DCDC)
Midi fuses 40ah (Solar )
Class T fuse 225-400ah (main battery fuse)
300-350ah kill switch
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🛠️ Products we have used to rebuild Myrtle -
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#caravan #renovation #vlog
About us:
We're Jack & Megan, and in late 2020 we sold our belongings and packed our lives into our 2005 Toyota Troop Carrier to travel Australia. Our original plan was to complete a full lap of Australia and return home to Perth to resume our 'normal' lives. We decided we wanted to document our lap for the future and began sharing weekly travel vlogs of our life on the road and fell in love with filmmaking and sharing our lives with you. We completed our first lap and couldn't imagine living any other way so we decided to continue travelling and calling the Troopy home. We have gone on some crazy adventures since then and it is all thanks to you tuning in to join us every week.
You have done an awesome job with the electrical. Glad you went 400ah worth of batteries because now you won’t have any energy anxiety. Renogy is an awesome brand, high quality. You will be super happy with everything to do with Renogy.
Great work on the electrical. Looking very professional. A suggestion is that you wire in an external Anderson plug onto the DCDC for a solar blanket in case your parked in shade or need an extra boost.
The caravan is hooked up to the cruiser with an anderson lead, when the caravan i parked they can use that plug :)
@MrDolly195 All the DCDC chargers I've seen (and I haven't seen them all) have a separate input for solar.
Absolutely right, I've even got my canopy wired up with an extra Anderson plug for our solar blanket. Had a brain fart this morning 😂
I wish I had invented the Anderson plug.
Hey!
From someone who has built a number of offroad touring setups;
You should be super proud of the quality of your install. Especially considering you dont do it day to day.
I have seen “reputable” companies do work that doesnt come close to how this looks.
Keep it up you two!😘
Well done. Really neat. ❤
Cheers mate! I’m so happy with how it turned out. Thanks for watching!
You guys are killing it! Well done, love watching your achievements with this van build. Actually got a little emotional when the lights came on 🤣
Glad it wasnt just me.
😂😂😂😂
Great job on the electrical install, it looks amazing! Just an FYI, Pos and Neg only need to be same lengths if going from each battery individually to bus bars (To ensure same resistance on each cable, Path of least resistance will draw down first)
When you are linking the batteries together in parallel (pos to pos, neg to neg and taking pos from battery 1 and negative from battery 2, cable length does not matter. Great job team 🍻
Hey Muzz! Thanks for this appreciate it.
@@itsJackandMegan Yes was thinking same thing, anyway you've done a great job and it looks really clean. Ah yeh just another thing, you can only measure voltage drop when you've got current running through the circuit, the voltage you were measuring was open circuit voltage. If you want to measure voltage drop, run the car again and hook it up, measure the incoming voltage at the van and then at the car. The difference in voltage under load will give you the voltage drop, hope that makes sense. Other than that you've done a really good job.
Jack, mate, I can't even place my batteries into my TV remote the right way - you're a legend.
Bruce is a great name for a car! My granddaughter named our new Defender Bruce and we treat him like a fully fledged member of the family now.
The name rolls off the tongue well. 💛💙💛
You will only get voltage drop when drawing current, Voltage drop = current x resistance of cable.
Enjoying the build very much guys. Just a concern though. I thought the lithium batteries had to be outside now (new law) with new build or major change. Possibly something you should check.
Can be inside if in a sealed box that prevents vapours or gasses escaping. Box needs to be vented to outside.
This is the way new vans are doing it in line with new standards.
Mate be very proud of your efforts. I have seen plenty of so called tradesmen sparkies do work no where near that quality. It’s pretty clear you did your research and followed manufacturers instructions 👍
Hi Jack, may I ask why you did not use one bluetooth module and connect all devices to the renogy hub? Also the gauge of your main battery cable makes the route length inconsequential at these short lenghts. All in all good job.
Hey Steve, I was not aware of the hub until after. I would have definitely used it if I had known. Also thanks for the tip in regards to the cabling.
29:38 Nah! The Dc/Dc charger max's charge at 51 amps (so it doesn't overload your Alternator. If you had a solar input into the Dc/Dc charger it would accept only 26 amps from the car and the remaining
Wow you guys had us on the edge of our seats. Loved the moment when the lights came on! Such an impressive installation can't wait to see Myrtle in the final stages :)
Bit of overkill with the 2 regulators when you have 3 all up, but if you wanted to add more solar (maybe some foldable panels on the ground), you could route that through your regulator with the DC2DC. You won't really need the DC2DC with your massive solar setup and 400ah of storage, but overkill is good. :D
Way to go, you two, great video 🤙🤠
Myrtle would look good in the same colour as Sir John .... Glad to see you go big with the wires, so many people reduce all their hard work by a couple of thin wires limiting the system.
Thanks for watching mate! Very happy with the choice to go bigger on the wires!
Terrific build and 400ah should be perfect for this caravan, if you do 200ah in the car (when you get to it) you will be set 👍
Awesome job. This whole electrical thing is doing my head in lol. What size cables did you run from your solar to the MPPT. Thanks in advance
Great progress. Jack the 12V System Master. 😁 FYI... typically it's referred to as "Shore power" if you're on a boat. For land, it's referred to as "mains power".
Renogy have a 1 BT module to many devices adapter, I would use this instead of multiple BT modules
Old saying. Measure twice and cut once, same for wiring. always make sure you leave a bit of extra, never pull the wiring tight,
Srry guys was following but haven’t been back for a
While nvr not have an island bed but good luck with it all 👍👍
Hey Jack, just a question, except for the batteries (which need to be in a specified box now to be compliant) how come you didn't put all the rest of ghe gear under the bed instead of it taking up a whole section in your kitchen? Phil
coming along great, have you got any plans for structural upgrades to the chassis an axles ect? if your going to be doing off road work definitely something to consider you don't want it cracking apart underneath all that hard work.
All to complicated and expensive for me. I hope the roof is strong enough to take the weight of the solar panels.
Hey guys so good! I’m wanting to get into doing a Reno 😅 how did you fix your framing of cupboards to the wall is it just screwed into the metal frame?
Nice neat setup, renogy stuff really is decent for the price.very curious to see six panels on the roof,thats gonna be like tetris.
Well done, Jack and Megan Gold❤
Nice work! Just put a 400AH system in my rig, is bloody awesome when you flick that switch for the first time and it all works!
Love your channel but please stop wearing a inside.
I would have thought that the bcdc + wire would have gone straight to the + on the battery . As going to the busbar you will need to keep the isolated on all of the time .
why does the positive and the negative wire have to be the same length
first, damn im early, love you guys thanks for the entertainment
You even beat us to it this morning 😆 hope you enjoy the vlog!
How about Lennie the landcrusier
Great job and an Informative video.
Megan, just paint when it needs to be painted 🎨
Tidy as. I know from experience how difficult it is to do all those cable runs and keep it neat. You’ve done a great job mate, way neater than me! And mines neat enough.🙂👍🎯🍻🇦🇺
Thanks Andrew! Was a bit of work but came up really nice hey!
Your solar power system looks so neat and tidy. Nice video. Greetings from Jamaica.
Hey thanks so much!!!!
As a qualified electrician I’m gonna say good on u for having a crack! I will say however probably the worst thing u could have done is watch a thousand RUclips videos on this subject & could have just got assistance from one person who is actually qualified to do so. I also watch a lot of videos on this stuff & I’m yet to see one from someone who truly knows what they’re doing.🤣 Just an FYI, dual mppt’s is never a good idea. It’s the same with any charger, a charger looks at the battery to be able to adjust it’s voltage & current though the charging stages. Each mppt gives the other mppt false information. So for example if your battery is at 12v & one charger kicks in & brings the voltage up to 14.5v the other charger sees that 14.5v & thinks the batteries are full.
Hey, thanks for watching, also thanks for your input very interring to know. go check out explorist life on RUclips.
This is looking great! Question: are you still on track to finish before Megan’s trip to Japan? If not - you will make sure Jack is otherwise occupied so that he doesn’t end up becoming hyper focused & starving himself while you’re away Megan? 😉😘😂😂
Great work mate well done 👏 ✔️ 😊
Great video , very detailed thank you!! Just a question on how you vented the battery bix to the exterior, currently going through the same sorta build but not sure what vent to use? If you could shed some light on that?
Hey Evans thanks for watching, the battery’s are vented through the floor. Will be installing a filter type material also so it’s stops dust.
Well done, awesome 👏 guys
Nice work installing that guys! I remember the feeling of getting our camper and figuring out how the DC/DC charger settings worked correctly, not alone installing it from scratch 🤣
Nice work, I'm still a basic solar woman. I have a Coleman trailer I'm working on. So exciting to see you so happy.
Amazing!!! I'm so impressed and inspired every week. Megan is very similar to me, and Jack is very similar to my partner, very tech and car loving and how everything works. 😂 So it's extra fun to watch together. Always excited for a new video ❤
That’s a quality install, congratulations to you both. We upgraded our new motorhome a year ago to Renogy equipment and recently added the Shunt300 and the Core One, we are super happy with the result. The leveller is also a cool and useful addition. Enjoy your hard work when you start producing Solar and Alternator power to your batteries. After 2 months in Tasmania in Feb/March we did not use shore power once to charge our batteries, Renogy is a great system when installed properly.
Bloody brilliant job, was feeling your excitement, so very happy for you. Everything is coming together nicely.
Looks awesome guys, electrical is definitely one thing that I’m super nervous about trying to tackle but I feel like I might be able to use this video to get through haha
another great video from you guys!!!!!!......laughed, cried (from remembering my experience)and was left fulfilled.......great sunday wake up video. Having done a caravan reno recently i totally understand the effort that goes into it. Love you guys! perfect job! I really think the car should be called " THE CAPTAIN"
Loving watching your caravan build. Great achievement Jack. Looking forward to part 2. I agree that Bruce is a great name for the 4x4. Bruce and Myrtle. ❤😅
Well done Jack 👍 ha it’d be funny if you call the car Humphrey 😂 love your style cheers Myrtle and Humphrey
This is phenomenal!!! Incredible set up, excellent walk through and explanation. So happy for you both 👏👏
🎉🎉🎉 how exciting! It was great to share your "buzz" 😂 ha, there was no punn intended there to begin with, but hey, I'll just roll with it...thanks for sharing, really amazing
Awesome job. I have just brought an old UK Caravan that needs a rebuild, I hope that I can do that half as well as you guys. Look forward to seeing the next episode.
Hey guyz been watching ur electrical setup, bloody great job, u should b proud of urselves.
I was going to add a similar set up to our camper, I’ve got a job for you JACK, cash of course.
Well done.
You pair are simply amazing . . . Hunter Valley NSW ... I love it & the life you want to live xxx
Is the cavity behind the power board going to be creating a perfect place for a mouse nest? Warmth and lots of chewables? They can be super destructive buggers when they want to.
Hey peeps,
I love all your videos and I have been following you since you started touring.
This video was in particularly more impressive due to the level of technology you both had to learn and enforce.
I also love Sir John. I have an 80 series Land Cruiser and a 1988 Viscount Sea-Breeze caravan that I renovated both over the last couple of years as they have both been in my family since the early 1990s
In my mind you two rock and with regards to marriage I agree don’t waist your time or money.
Great to see how much is involved with a modern power system. Thanks for showing us. You’re doing a great job 👏
Nice job guy's, little point with your dc to dc charger, your orientation is better with fins vertically to naturally cool the device especially wth WA heat!
I’m so glad you guys didn’t blow yourselves up.Good job..🤗
Run the DCDC solar port to the an accessible outdoor access plug for portable solar only, don't have to use it but its there for early morning late afternoon sun.
Wooooweee, thats very pro like Jack, you should be very proud.
One tip, I highly recommend installing a battery isolator off the car battery, so the caravan doesn't (possibly) drain the car battery and leave you stranded.
Safe builds guys, 🤙🤙
ABSOLUTELY LOVING THIS BUILD SERIES! 😍 …must say you either make this look easy or have all the right tools/parts every time haha! Love ya work guys!
Awesome job Jack! so rapt for you guys you can do anything. This is going to make you love your travels even more.
You did a fantastic job of explaining the electrical set up. Thank you!
Hey Jack and Meg, does the renogy core need wifi to operate?
@@DylanHannah20 hey yes it does for the initial install, for updates ect. But haven’t needed it since. If you did need to do any updates or access the wifi option. You could use hotspot via your phone if your off grid.
What about Brutus?
Glad you nailed it 🎉 know how frustrating and exciting this can be, especially for your first time. Have a massive smile for you both ❤
Great job!!! I've done 2 van conversions and the electrical system is always the most fun to build. I built a renogy/hardkorr system in the latest van build, using the same inverter/charger you're using there, and with a 960ah hardkorr battery bank. It's been rock solid. Keep up the good work.
Great job, that's a lot of work, well done❤ little tip if you want your batteries to last much longer only charge them to 95 % they will last almost double the life span, ❤
Probably my favourite episode. I love all my 12 Volt camping setups. I love building them and using them. Got my own that I've built for my ute and I'll be doing it all again soon on the next ute I'll be getting in the near future for the missus! You've done well that's for sure. Call the car Cecil - I call my nephew Cecil for a laugh - he hates it.
Doing well in this build. Electrical is always my favourite part of a build whether it's a 4wd or caravan/camper followed up by the metal fab which is my trade. Keep up the great work and videos
huge effort well done guys, can’t believe how well you pick up all this stuff!
WELL DONE... Its great to watch someone who is a novice. And not trying to push products down ya throat every 5 min of their video. Keep being you...
Awesome vid guys! The way Jack took that on made it look like he's been doing it for years. Big brains for days!
congratulation you guys did a good job i was hoping to set up my van to be solar self sufficient but i don't believe i could do anything as good as you
Super effort, guys. The electrical system looks shcmick as.
Great stuff Jack and Megan with her moral support, what a good job. I loved your excitement ❤😄
Loving your work. I need to get the old 1976 Franklin van into the shed and start.
Such a clean install guys! Incredible work :)
You guys have done an amazing job on this. So excited to see your power set up. Take a bow!
Super bloody proud of Jack for giving this a go. I absolutely froth 12v setups and have also watched countless videos on it. but this is unreal!!
It takes a bit to get your head around hey, but once you get started and the tunnel vision kicks in, you just cant stop hahaha.
Brilliant job guys. I cant wait to watch more on this with the solar.
Electrical work is so neat and tidy. Well done. Sir John sounds like Surgeon 😂
I was trying to comprehend the money in that electrical system but couldn't... I assume you also had to purchase the terminal crimper? Care to scare us with the cost of the entire electrical set up? Getting a van soon and may require 12v upgrades
$6400 including wiring. $5600 for the electrical system including solar panels. I purchased way to much wire as well so could have saved a couple hundred other.
@itsJackandMegan oof! Heavy hit.
Justified if you plan for long term travel, maybe overkill for the weekend warrior or school holiday getaway I suppose.
Regardless, awesome job on the install and envious of the set up 👌
Great job you are making Myrtle shine again. Hey just wondering what happened to your beautiful dog Ollie ❤
Thanks Jay! He’s keeping my lovely mum company 🥹
@@itsJackandMegan so glad to hear I was worried that something happened to him 😊
Well down guys- I’ve got zero idea of anything that youve spoken about, but I remember the absolute joy my husband had when he did similar, and got to the end and it all worked as it should! 👌🏼
Don't worry about showing us the setup in the dark. It made the controller really easy to see.
Does that battery install actually comply with the latest legislation? I haven't been able to read the actual legislation, but I thought the batteries need to be in a box that is sealed from the living compartment and vents to the outside. That looks like there is a big air gap where the wires come through, so the box isn't sealed from the living compartment. 🤔
Yes it complies with the new legislation. Batteries are fully sealed from the living space and vented through the floor. The lid has closed cell tape and screwed down. The wires coming out are sealed with the grommets.
@@itsJackandMegan ahh, perfect. I didn't notice the grommets. Such a neat install, and 400 ah is a good amount, especially with all that solar. 👍
Woah well done Jack. Your excitement is contagious. 🎉
Very impressive you two have done a fantastic job so good to watch ❤
Bruce is a killer name
You may need your dcdc solar input if your roof is in shade you may need to use external solar panels to change your batteries.
Great job guys it's a great feeling when you finally turn it on and it works keep up the good work as you asked are nearly there all the best Ron
Job well done guys, great job to you both. Cheers Michael
Wow what a fantastic effort, learning all about and then installing it. It looks fantastic so tidy. Well done.
Job very well done guys! All way above my skill set, but you managed to get it done without blowing it all up!
Amazing work to Jack and Megan. Nailed it. Top notch 😊 ❤