Camper van & off-grid power planning

A useful way through

1. Build an energy budget

List each appliance in watts and hours per day. Multiply to get watt-hours, and account for duty cycles and the days you expect to spend without charging.

2. Check simultaneous loads

Size the inverter for loads that can run together and check startup surges against manufacturer specifications. Battery current at low voltage can be much larger than expected.

3. Take the plan to specifications

Use the calculator as a planning worksheet. Final cable protection, installation, grounding and battery compatibility need equipment documentation and an appropriately qualified installer.