Cargo Van Conversion

  The van is internally a 12V system fed by solar panels, with some 110V outlets powered by an inverter. Only the battery charger needs access to an exterior power source. For this, a 15A power inlet is installed next to the rear door, on the passenger side of the van.  

The compartment under the bed that will hold the charger, controller, inverter, etc. is a small enclosure and needs some form of cooling.  I choose a 5” computer fan with thermal control, that automatically adjusts its speed as the temperature rises. Other considerations were low noise level (<18dB), high airflow volume (up to 42cfm) and…

Having batteries, doesn’t automatically mean access to 12V. Thus, two access points are planned in the van. One 12V socket is located at the solar components (controller, charger, inverter, etc.) compartment, under the bed. It’s immediately next to the pull-out shelf and serves to power my laptop.   12V Power Socket

Another post on wiring of the van. Two heavier wire gauges will support the appliances to be installed on the driver’s side.   Appliances Most of the wiring has now been done on the passenger side, except for the #4. The focus is now on the appliances that will be featured in the row of…

I never liked tile or vinyl floors. Of course, the quality of vinyl flooring has improved substantially over the years, yet getting up in the morning and having my warm feet struggle with the coolness that a tile floor can bring, still raises my anxiety level. And then there is the cleaning: whether it’s a…

Continuing with the wiring of the van, gives me the opportunity to search for and order some of the materials, needed in the coming weeks. My list currently consists of wire connectors, heat shrink, 12V outlets and power inlet. I still haven’t found decent and affordable 12V LED light fixtures either.   LED Lights Several…

  Do you feel it’s time to move up the ladder and replace your old conversion van with a Class A or Class C RV? Always dreamt of a nice slide-out? You can reserve your special edition Mercedes-Benz Sprinter at Leisure Travel Vans for fall delivery. But don’t forget your wallet, prices start above $100,000….

While working on the multi-use cabinet, I started with some of the wiring. Before I can continue building new cabinets, the majority of the electrical wiring has to be installed.     Battery Monitor The monitor will be located on the wall next to the side doors and connected to the batteries with 4 small…

The introduction to off-grid power (upgrading to off-grid power, power storage and power generation) is concluded with a post about monitoring and maintenance. With all this knowledge we can finally begin with the installation.   Daily monitoring the off-grid system is crucial for the longevity of the system. Maintaining a sufficient battery charge will extend…

  After upgrading to off-grid power and power storage, this post elaborates on the available power generating tools for a small RV. The electrical calculations are comprised into a detailed schematic overview, that serves as the basis for the installation. Alternator The extra power from the alternator can be directed to the battery bank, to…