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So I finally found the time to make this post which will detail my journey converting a passenger van into a campervan. I can attribute most of the solar setup and electrical system to spending time on this forum and largely the help of @John Frum, who really designed the system and answered all...

Thanks for looking out. Lighting will be very simple led fairy lights with a usb connection to one of the combo sockets. They also have a remote with dimmer. Cooking will also be simple with a coleman propane stove and a little 5lb propane tank. Simple sink with marine foot pump. Bathing in...

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After this discussion, I think I'll use 12awg with 15A fuses for the low current circuits.

Thanks for clarifying those details. I'll be sure to charge it to 100% and recheck the voltages at that point.

TBH I don't plan on having a microwave in there ever. Propane stove is good enough for me, but I appreciate your point. Startup power is probably commonly over looked.

I am finishing up the full build. Everything is wired except the feeders to the fridge, water pump, and USB sockets. Most of the furniture is built. The sink is built, but I still have to plumb it. The roof rack is finished, but I have a couple things to button up. I'm closing in on completion...

Yes, I have since found an explanation. At high rpm, the alternator generates more heat due to it's ~50% efficiency. More heat means it needs more fans for cooling, adding more load to the alternator to power the fans.

Actually it'll be more like living "out of" the van, which I like. While my design will be more comfortable than living in a tent, it's definitely not the deluxe sprinter van apartment.

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Oh I guess I meant the textual legend, I like it. Ladder is cool too.

@smoothJoey Also I plan to use marine grade duplex wire for the loads like you recommended.

I'm going with a 115A, shop manual says so, but thanks camel for that info to verify further. I'm not going to upgrade my alternator to a higher amperage capacity. A manual on/off switch will allow me to turn off the DC-DC charger when running high current loads like the A/C compressor. I just...

It seems like I've settled on 2X 200w Rich solar panels. They are the right size for the van roof. On Mike's suggestion, I looked a couple 250w panels to see if I could get that extra 100w on the roof, but I wasn't able to find any new ones sized like I want. Looks like it's 2X 200w rich colar...

Do you think it's unwise to jump right into a DIY LiFePO4 for my first system? Maybe get a system under my belt before I get so deep into something new? Get a 206ah SOK and get on with it?

So actually the deal with carbon monoxide, smoke, and propane instead the van is this: CO will only be be present in small amounts when I'm burning the propane. Proper ventilation will be provided by the Maxxair fan and an open window. When I'm not cooking with the propane, the concern would...

Total noob, first Solar system, first wiring diagram I've ever made for anything. Please review and help me make sure I'm not gonna burn down my van with me and my dog inside it! I haven't ordered components yet. Outside of the fuse block for DC appliances where else do I need breakers/fuses...

I appreciate your realistic perspective. I think it would better suit me to consider the pre-built. I may be getting a bit ahead of myself jumping right into a diy build when I'd just like it to work and move on with building the van.

Why for both statements? So you like lever nuts?

Does anyone out there feel like a 20A DC-DC charger would somehow be too much for the alternator with the other loads or is there nothing to worry about?

Got all that. Thanks. Ok. Is 6 awg good enough or 4 awg since the battery wires are 4?

Right on, but to be fair your 170A alternator is rated for 55 more amps than mine... (your engine is also almost twice the size of my 4.6L too). There would be much less concern about whether you alternator could handle that extra load with the figures I've mentioned.

Where's positive connection for future inverter? All I see is a negative connection to the neg bus.

So you think it unwise to add a 20A DC-DC charger smoothJoey? When I took the readings, I had a hunch adding a 20A charger could be too much for the alternator, but I wanted to see what the forum had to say.

The only thing I really need an inverter for is my laptop and I'm gonna build a little DC charger for it with a cig socket plug to a 19V 5A DC step up to my magsafe 1 connection. Otherwise I have a cheap 410 MSW inverter with a cig socket plug I can plug into the cig socket coming out of the...

UPS?

This is my negative bus bar right? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0753F35Q8/ref=twister_B07N8VXF5S?_encoding=UTF8&th=1 Still using this as my positive bus bar right?

Ha, still running after almost 14 years, and I dropped it twice out of a bed on hard floor, with the screen open (cracked for 12 out of 14 years). Using it as a power supply is fine because that's already what I do with my ac adapter at home, the laptop's batteries are shot and have been. My...

Just to be clear. We changed these from the 100A fuses to 80A fuses in my other final legend. You don't have to repost another drawing, but keep them at 80A right? I was looking at that one on donrowe.com and the 1000w pst. Just can't justify the cost yet for what I predict is something I'll...

~14-15 ft. I should be able to find a spot No. I was trying to figure out specifics on these last couple main components, then try my hand at drawing up a wiring diagram for y'all to critique. You did suggest in previous posts to maybe try a diagram first with basic figures, then the forum...