Basic Solar Parts Needed for a DIY Camper Van or RV Solar Install 

HI - Enjoyed this very much. Am 70+, bought a van - want to hit the road, comfortably, affordably. Great job you are doing.

I am ADHD i am very smart but its hard to concentrate. The way you made this video was perfect for me I really appreciate you being so informative along with photos and diagrams of what you are talking about. You would be a GREAT teacher. Thank you!

Thank goodness... a van conversion video without all of the annoying fluffy shots of someone making coffee in the wilderness. Brill. Thanks man.

"Unless you strapped for cash then save up and get it anyway" love it

This young man should be made an honorary electrician if he isn't one already! I agree with the rest, he is truly informed with what he is doing and kind enough to pass it along to us out here in the RU-vid sand box. thanks Explorist Life

Awesome and informative without all the silly, irrelevant chatter! Love this guy. Have been looking for this.

After seeing all the comments, I’m glad I found this video first. 👍✌️

Excellent video, well presented. Thank you from a 62 years young newbie.

Finally an easy, informative, and great video on solar and 12v setups! Thanks for the video, best one I've seen yet!

I was having a lot of trouble finding this information online, and was getting very confused. So glad I found your video! Thank you so much for explaining everything really clearly :)

Nathan, you are a terrific help and a great teacher. I hope to convert a van someday, and I really appreciate that you are making the electrical much less frightening and mysterious. I am in need of more homework before I use your spreadsheets and diagrams, but THANK YOU for putting things together on video, and explaining the parts, connections and reasons for doing one thing or another. I think I can do this! You’re wonderful. Sincerely, CML

I'm in the UK and we have just purchased a narrowboat to live on and I have found your videos so useful when designing or solar setup.... I haven't fitted it yet so I'm sure I will be binge watching a lot more of your video. Thank you so much for passing on your knowledge in such an easy to digest format. 👍

OMGoodness love love love this conversion and the solar power...WOW! Thank you for the informative video on the setup. Best I have seen to date.

Hi !!! This is excellent !!! I appreciated being able to get an overview that actually makes sense. I look forward to watching the more detailed videos. Thanks !!!!!!

This is far and away the best description / overview of a complete solar power system I've seen on the entire internet. And I've been doing a TON of research lately. Major brownie points for the addition of the A/C input charging capability. Incredibly well done! Now I'm off to watch all your other videos! thanks so much!

Dang I didn't nod off i actually was able too stay focused and retain information ..Thank you ! Great information.

Absolutely perfect for the electrically challenged. I have been looking at so many solar system installs and DIY videos and your's has been absolutely the very best. Love the fact that you spoke of providing for future upgrades to the system and the use of current batties until they meet the use life and then upgrading to lithium. Spot on!!!

I rarely take the time to comment, however this is the best video that I've seen on this subject. It's simple and incredibly informative. Thank you!!

Thank you! I've seen so many RV solar builds where it's all about a certain product brand, and they are so light on the explanation of what part does what, and what you ACTUALLY need.

Setting up the solar for our van is the most daunting thing for me. After watching this video I definitely feel more confident about taking on this project. Thanks for all the info! I'll be sure to check out the other videos for a more in depth explanation.

Wow- Thanks Professor. You just gave the info in a 150 page textbook in 15 minutes! Excellent.

I've been looking at van life videos for years and this is by far the absolute BEST explanation of all of them ref electrical. Electrical work is my WORST skill (I'm likely to stick a fork in an outlet) and I feel like now I can confidently start purchasing and connecting a system together!!!! I'll watch this several more times and have already taken many notes. THANK YOU for a no-nonsense, simply, informative, short video....we need more like this on youtube!!!!

Thank you for keeping it simple! I'm an infant when it comes to solar knowledge but I'm trying to build my system now . Your knowledge is much appreciated!

Oh...and BRILLIANT tip re the USB ports that I had not thought of to 'future proof' your setup. Cheers mate, from Australia!

I've got two solar arrays and I have learnt a lot from this video. Thank you. I really need distribution boxes

This looks excellent. Concise, straightforward, to the point! THANK YOU!!!

You took several years of experience and condensed it to a very short but EXTREAMLY well done video. Thank you so much for sharing!

This is one of the most comprehensive videos on this subject I have seen in terms of helping with an over-all understanding of the solar system and what is needed. I have watched a bunch of them over the past couple of weeks. Thanks.

FINALLY... Found someone that has the idea and obvious insight to take what is a fairly complicated subject for newbies, and break it down into an easily understandable and very helpful video. Nice work 👌. Thanks. Paul and Rach

I normally watch and move on,but I hadta stop and say thank you,informative,well organised,and love your sense of humour,Thank you. Take a bow.

This was perfect I have been struggling for several weeks trying to get my system back up and running. But now I get a better understanding and realize that my electrician hooked up the terminals wrong, positive to negative good thing I have a fuse that blew and hopefully not my inverter. Great job

Thank you for this presentation. The step by step nomenclature simplifies the right down the line nature of the path the electric current takes from the solar panels to the power outlet, well, as far as I could tell anyway. I have a basic idea of what I will need.

What a great and informative video! I'll probably have to watch it three or four more times to get a better grasp of things, but this was a great introduction to all of the things that I am going to need to learn. Thank you!

Informative, to the point and no digression from the subject at hand. This should be seminar for others that waste half of their video on nonsense. Bravo!

After watching no less than 50 videos about solar installs, this one stands alone as the best I've seen so far, from the amount of content packed into a short space to the logical moving from point to point. If there is a better video for someone just getting started with a solar install for a camper vehicle, I'll eat my hat. Cheers

Seriously. I've watched a million of these 'solar set-up' videos and this was, by far, the best. Straight to the point!

THANK YOU for demystifying a subject that was completely foreign to me before! I genuinely appreciate the simplified explanation that doesn't make me feel dumb for not knowing before hand! Understanding each of these components takes all of the guesswork and uncertainty away and helps to explain the hefty price-point for a completed system. I feel more confident going forward and planning on this upgrade for my future travel-trailer! Bless you for producing this video! Happy to be a new subscriber! ^.^

Oh My Gosh! This! Every so often a keyword search turns up a real treasure! Hands down the best layman's intro to setting up your RV for solar I've seen yet. Began my solar adventure a year ago and most tubers give way too much detail resulting in analysis paralysis or drone on and on about irrelevant stuff. Now I have an improved understanding and vocabulary to build on. No longer will I get perplexed looks by calling everything connector doodahs, charger thing-a-mah-bobs and wire do-hickeys. Here’s to roof top dance parties and picking out movies without wearing pants. Looking forward to your next clip!! Thank you :)

You spoke the language of a simple man. Easy to understand even for a beginner. Great job and thank you

A lot of pertinent information in a little package. No fluff. Nicely done.

i just stumbled upon your channel, and i've been overwhelming myself with so much electrical info for my dream trailer/camper conversion and your video gave me so much hope!! im so excited, im binge watching your whole channel. (also to keep me sane during the coronavirus lockdowns😂😅) thanks for helping me grow my knowlege, this is gonna be sick!! thank you💕

I had several questions that I've be trying to solve. But you made this video with a lot of awesome answers

without qualification - this is probably the best explanation I have seen on these issues - out bloody standing - thank you

👍@EXPLORIST life - This is a great video not just for people doing a customized van set-up, but for anyone looking for back-up solar power. Thanks for a great overview and providing links for our "homework."👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Your timing is impeccable and this video is very informative. I am in the process of laying out my electrical system and will be making my wire runs in the next few days.

Appreciate the video. I normally watch everything at 1.5x speed as most content is slow in delivery. I had to go to normal speed and I really appreciate the fact that you are delivering the information without a bunch of fluff. The only thing I thought would have been helpful/great was if you had a graphic that built out the system as you outlined it, so... Solar panel-->charge controller-->etc. Irregardless, thanks for the video. Edit: NVM I see it in the description at the bottom, THANK YOU.

I finally get it! Watched so many other videos before and this is the only one that actually explained it sufficiently and clearly. Thx much.

Just discovered your videos and they are awesome! Perfect for my upgrade and expansion of the solar system on the 5th wheel. The detail, illustrations, and light humor make your videos informative, entertaining, and so easy to watch. What an amazing resource. Thank you so much!!!

Well done. A nice simplified explanation. I have a list I point my customers to, and I just added your video to it. Thank you.

Solar Wiring Diagrams: www.explorist.life/solarwiringdiagrams/ *Blog Post:* www.EXPLORIST.life/basic-parts-of-a-diy-camper-solar-setup/ ⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇ *THERE'S MORE* ➤Shop the EXPLORIST.life store: shop.explorist.life ➤Shop Battle Born Batteries: battlebornbatteries.com/?afmc=explorist_bb67 ✅Use code 'explorist' for $50 off per battery. *DIY Campervan Crew Facebook Group:* No longer available ⬇ ⬇ *Referenced Solar Topics:* ⬇ ⬇ Step 1: Learn the Basic Parts of a DIY Camper Solar Setup: www.explorist.life/basic-parts-of-a-diy-camper-solar-setup/ Step 2: Learn How Many Batteries You'll Need to Power Your Camper (Power Audit Calculator) www.explorist.life/choosing-a-solar-battery-bank-for-a-camper/ Step 3: Choose the Type of Batteries You'll Use to Power Your Camper www.explorist.life/how-many-solar-panels-are-needed-to-power-a-camper/ Step 4: Learn how many solar panels you'll need to charge your Batteries www.explorist.life/how-many-solar-panels-are-needed-to-power-a-camper/ Step 5: Learn how to choose the correct charge controller for your solar panels (with calculator) www.explorist.life/how-to-choose-a-solar-charge-controller-for-your-camper/ Step 6: How to size and choose the inverter for your camper www.explorist.life/how-to-choose-an-inverter-for-your-diy-camper/ Step 7: How to add Shore Power to your Camper Electrical System www.explorist.life/how-to-add-shore-power-to-a-diy-camper/ Step 8: Learn How to Charge your House batteries with your Engine Alternator: www.explorist.life/how-to-charge-diy-camper-van-batteries-with-vehicle-alternator/ Step 9: Learn How to Choose the correct Battery Isolator for your System: www.explorist.life/how-to-install-a-battery-isolator-in-a-camper-van/ Step 10: Learn how to Install and why you need a Battery Monitor: www.explorist.life/how-to-install-a-diy-camper-van-solar-battery-monitor/ Step 11: Learn how to choose wire sizes and types: www.explorist.life/what-wire-to-use-for-diy-camper-solar-system/ Step 12: How to Size Fuses in your System: www.explorist.life/what-size-fuses-to-use-for-a-diy-camper-electrical-setup/ Step 13: How to wire 12v Accessories in to your system: www.explorist.life/how-to-wire-12v-plugs-fans-and-accessories-in-a-diy-camper/ Step 14: Learn how to wire Lights & Switches (Including 2 way switches): www.explorist.life/how-to-wire-12v-lights-switches-2-way-switches-in-a-camper/ See how it all works together in our Interactive Solar Wiring Diagrams: www.explorist.life/solarwiringdiagrams/

This is sooooo helpful. Solar & energy is a totally alien language to me, so your guide is helping me make sense of it all. I was looking for a crash course in solar power for van life and this showed up. Thank you!

THANK YOU! I was having a hard time figuring out how to make a solar setup, buy you broke everything down and made it really easy to understand.

I have just spent the past 3 days trying to work out how the F I'm going to get my solar matt to actually give power to anything and this guy comes along and answers every single question and more in 14 minutes and 49 seconds. Legend

This video was awesome. I have learned so much about solar energy and how to apply it through this video. Keep it up dude!

These are by far the most thorough and professional electric overview video's I've see thus far. Thanks SO much for sharing!!!

Thanks... I know the physics involved, but I have no idea how to actual make a system work. You have good delivery, and your videos have no gimmicks, I look forward to the rest.

This is fantastic! The supplemental resources are great. I feel like I could make solar work for us now! Subscribed!

Wow I needed to see this video as I was so confused and info overload as far as how to set up simple solar for my van conversion, explained simply and to the point, thank you 🙏🏼😊

Finally somone breaks it down for the lamen...thank you!!!!

This video is unbelievably better than EVERY other one on this topic I've seen

You are an absolute genius when it comes to explaining this stuff! Thank you looking forward to flipping through ALL your classes! Keep the information and inspiration coming!

This is the best video I've seen on the subject. Thanks for sharing!

Best and most knowledgable video ive seen regarding solar, Loads of vids ive watched and they have you questioning so much, But this answers a heck of alot, Thanks.

Finally, this video gives a decent - logic explanation for a beginner like me....Thanks so much!

Well explained Amazing how many people gloss over everything after panels, MMPT and batteries

Great video, no BS! I needed this concise run through. I was able to take screen shot, hopefully meaningful, when it's time to put mine together, of each component! Makes for easy shopping, and pictures are worth a thousand words! I really appreciate this information. No one else did it this well! I have no idea why 335 idiots thumbed this down, unless they disagree with a choice, or got ripped off on something, which did not work, that normally does.... hum. That's weird! Thanks Giovanni

I bought a school about two weeks ago and I am still learning on different ways to have power. You really explained how to really well!!!I took notes and now I have a base to start from.

EXCELLENT VIDEO! Clear, concise, simple to understand, straight to the point and all of it in less than 15mins. I've spent a lot of time watching ones that are twice as long and far less informative, so yours is definitely one of the best! In our high tech age of lithium battery powered solar systems with Bluetooth charge controllers, one of the things that continues to irritate me is that we still have yet to come up with an updated 12v power outlet that we can all agree on and adopt. Instead, in 2020 we continue to use an antiquated power outlet introduced in 1956 as a convenient way to light cigarettes while driving! These 3/4 x 1-1/2 inch "tubes" are far too big for what they do, they're just plain ugly and I literally hate them! But you make an excellent point about using them to future-proof your USB outlets (ironic you have to "future proof" your rig using 65-year-old tech). As someone who has just recently changed the USB outlets in my home for the THIRD time in 12 years for the faster, smarter ones, I couldn't agree with you more. Despite my disdain for 12v outlets, that's exactly what will be going into our new rig so we can simply swap out the USB adapters as the 5-volt tech continues to evolve (the next ones will probably lose the USB-A socket in favor of USB-C or some sort of combination). Plus, you can always remove the USB outlet when you find yourself needing another one of those hideous 12v ones. Thanks again for your highly informative video. Great job!

OUTSTANDING! Best video that covers the entire RV charging system with a few entertaining comments at the right time. We need more people like you!

dude you're hilarious...but accurate and easy to understand...your parents should be proud.

Perhaps the most informative, quick to the point and valuable video... of all time.

Thank you so much for the quick, concise overview. This is extremely helpful for myself and others like me who are beginning their journey in van electrical systems! Keep up the great work!

Best video i have seen on solar setup

Finally,,, A video a dummy like me can relate to. Thank you.. have subd.

Perfect no fluff video, thank you!

One stop shop for van life solar build info! You have my undying gratitude! Thank you for this.

Aww, the info I have needed to build my electric go-kart followed by converting my 2002 Toyota Tacoma pickup with shell to electric. Seems very informative and concise. A big Thank You.

Great video it will help me understand what I'm getting myself into a little bit better, thank you. Can't wait for your next video!

This guy explains it all very well. If you want to have 'full' power off grid. It depends a lot on how much power you need for daily use. I get by with 150 watts of panel going into a regular battery, with a 300 watt. Inverter. Mostly I run lights and my cellphone, with occasional use of tools and chargers.

30s in and I knew this was going to be a good video. I was not disappointed. Explanation was done very well. My confidence has grown.

Great presentation. Thank you. Happy Holidays...

I want you to install my solar setup. That’s just how much you made me trust you after this great and thorough video.

You really don't understand the level of help you are providing with these in depth videos. I fucking love you!

I could cry because I have done so much research and felt like I was going no where! or at least in circles. Thank you so much! I Can not wait to get my camper home up and running!!!!

Dude, this is the best video I've seen. Keep up the good work. Just subscribed.

3:40 = Best edit in any online video ever in the whole world ever! :P

This is the best solar video on yt

Really clear explanation. I understood pretty much all of it and I'm a complete novice. The icecream van noise started giving me a headache but spot on video. Thanks.

I have watched this in the past. This time I caught the do not install USB chargers as stand-alone units get the ones that plug into a 12V car/truck outlet (also known as a cigarette lighter socket in my day.)

Great video. But as seems to be common with vanlife stuff, there is a bit of a disconnect between what is in use in other realms. IE. Carbon foam or lead carbon batteries, such as those from Firefly (popular in the boating world). Currently they offer many of the advantages of lithium (specifically DOD) at a lead acid price. Certainly a great option for those just building out and until lithium becomes reasonably priced.

Absolute BEST instructional description on basic solar components presented in a logical and in 'organized' way. Thanks!

I love your no nonsense descriptions being easy for the non savy to understand.I'm very interested in learning more about solar and not getting discouraged helps with videos like yours. Thank you!

I remember watching this video in the past and I felt so stupid - about 6 months later - I understand pretty much everything about what you talked and I can relax and laugh at your humor! :'D

Thank you. Great vid. You just earned yourself a new sub. I really like your idea about usb plugs for future-proofing the installation. One question: any suggestions for keeping the dang adapter in the cigarette-lighter socket? Mine kept separating so i finally duct taped the two together.

Concise, accurate and keeping it simple for those of us trying to understand solar power.

Thanks. Awesome presentation, packed with info & no waffle. One of the best presentations I have seen. Many Thanks from South Africa, where the grid is often turned off due to insufficient power nationally, called load-shedding. These presentations of yours are a Blessing.

Great job on the explanation!

Great explanations . It was easy to follow along with this "overview" presentation.

What a guy! Clear ,intelligent. Great information.

OMG!!! This has been the easiest to understand and informative video I have watched to date! One actually had me in tears and ready to sell my camper and give up. My grandson and I will be working on my 1964 Scout can ham camper, since I’m quickly running out of money, we decided to do the wiring ourselves. Your explanations weren’t condescending or splashy, making some of us feel as though you felt you were speaking to a bunch of dummies. It gave me the sense you love helping people and want them to be successful in their projects. Thank you so much!