Campervan Electrical System: Electrics for a Van Life Sprinter Conversion
We have partnered with Tiny Build Electrics to not only share our current electrical breakdown of our off-grid sprinter campervan, but to also share how they would upgrade and improve our system.
We have spent the last three months travelling Scandinavia in our converted van. We had this dream of working on the road since 2019 and it finally came true. We've explored: Norway, Sweden, Denmark and more... all off-grid. Our electrical system has worked brilliantly so far and has allowed us to work fully remote jobs. Below we share our setup.
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We moved full time into our converted DHL van in July 2023. We knew we needed a robust electrical system for our needs. Mike works a full 9-5 job, meaning we regularly run Starlink, two laptops, a monitor and still need to charge our phones, toothbrush etc… We have both 12v and 240v in our campervan as well as three different ways of creating power.
This blog talks through our electrical breakdown, products we use and explains our campervan electrics. To make this blog even more valuable we have partnered with Tiny Build Electrics* to suggest upgrades to this current system. We spent an insightful hour with Tom the CEO of Tiny Build Electrics who shared his wealth of knowledge on how we could improve our system and may help you answer the question, what electrics do I need for my campervan?
Campervan Electrics Explained
We're not professionals so here's a simple explanation... first you need to source off-grid power. In campervan conversions there are three ways you can harness power, from the sun (solar), DC-DC charger (alternator of the van) and shore power (plugging in). This power is then stored in your batteries and finally leaves through your power outlets which are either 12v or 240v. An inverter will convert the 12v direct current to 240v alternating current that you can use in your plug sockets.
How to create off grid power for your Campervan (power in)
1. Solar Array
Harnessing energy from the sun! Great for hot, sunny climates (not so great in Norway as we found out!)
Our set up: We have one 540W solar panel that stretches the length of our Long Wheelbase Sprinter. We have a Victron MPPT Solar Charge controller which allows us to convert the power converted from the solar panel and charge the 12v batteries. It has built in Bluetooth connectivity which is very handy for reading the solar analytics on your phone.
We have a Victron DC-DC charger meaning when we drive the alternator charges our batteries pulling in 30amps of charge. This is essential as it means when the suns not shining you can still be powered off-grid without having to plug in.
3. Shore power
We have a Victron blue smart charger to allow us to charge our batteries when we are plugged in at a campsite. We have used this a couple of times in Norway as it tend to be pretty cloudy. On average we plugged in every two weeks so this was a great option for us. It's also worth noting in Norway and Sweden some places even have free electricity for campervans and motorhomes.
How to Store Power in you off-grid campervan?
We have 2 Lithium 100Ah batteries from Renogy, they can be bought with Bluetooth connectivity however ours are not compatible. This is one of the biggest drawbacks of our electrical system as we can only track our battery level through our solar charging on the VictronConnect app.
240v in a camper – Power out
The convenience of 240v was a must for us, also having to charge laptops and Starlink meant we needed 240v. We have a Renogy 2000w inverter which converts the 12v to 240v allowing us to have 240v sockets around the van.
Campervan Electrical systems diagram of our off-grid Sprinter Campervan:
Our electrical bench inside our campervan. Here you can see all the components we use. We keep all our electrics at the back of our van inside a bench seat. This is super accessible in case we need to access it.
If you are doing your own build or fancy some upgrades to your off-grid setup we can't recommend Tom and Tiny Build Electrics enough. Our consultation was full of knowledge leaving us not only with a better understanding of our own electrics but inspiring us to upgrade and improve our system. If you would like a consultation GO HERE!
Essential Items For a Campervan
 | Omnia Oven Perfect for vans without an oven. You can cook bread, pies, cakes and more just by using your gas stove. This really is a game changer in the kitchen. |
 | Pocket Sized Projector For cosy nights in the van, this is the perfect projector. This projector is small, lightweight but has great picture quality. We love this and use it all the time. |
 | Kärcher Window Vac A must have for condensation which will build up quickly in your van and cause mould. We used this daily in Norway and was a real life-saver in colder weather. |
 | Solar Trickle Charger If you don't drive your van or motorhome enough then this can save the battery from dying. Plug it in and solar energy will top up the battery. |
Tools To Make Your Trip Stress Free
These are some of the travel tools we love and use, by booking through our links you support our blog and help us grow, thank you!
Thank you for reading and enjoy your Van Life adventure. Reach out to us over on Instagram @KateandMikesTravels. We always love to hear from people who read our blogs!
*Tiny Build Electrics involvement in our installation is purely from remote feedback provided through observations made during a Zoom call. Tiny Build Electrics were not directly engaged in the sizing, design or implementation aspects of our installation.
*Some links in this article are affiliate meaning we may earn a small commission with no extra cost to you! It helps grow the blog so thank you for supporting us.
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