Camper Van Wiring Diagram (Free PDF)
Don’t reinvent the wheel. Leverage our RV & camper van wiring diagrams to set the foundation for your system. Complete your build FASTER and start your journey.
Van Wiring Diagram Overview
Get everything you’ll need to assemble the perfect electrical system in your camper van. Our free wiring PDF helps you install the following:
What’s Inside Our PDF?
12-Volt Wiring Diagram
The 12-volt system is the foundation for most van electrical systems. Our wiring diagrams show you how to connect the 12V leisure batteries to each of your devices, such as:
- LED lights
- Ventilation fan
- USB sockets
- And more…
We’ll show you exactly what components and which tiny connectors you’ll need to build a 12V system that is safe and effective.
RELATED: Learn How To Build A 12V System
What You’ll Need: 12V Product List
If you follow our wiring diagram, below is a list of all the components you will need to build a 12V electrical system in your camper van.
Our best recommended LiFePO4 lithium battery for camper vans.
100% pure copper wire. Perfect for battery and 12V wiring when used with 2000W inverters.
This specific copper lug size (M8) crimps onto 2/0 AWG wire and connects to most battery terminals and inverters. These are pure copper lugs for efficient power transfer.
Use these lugs when working with 2/0 AWG wire. These lugs crimp onto the wire and attach to all components with 3/8" posts, such as bus bars & battery monitors.
Protects 2/0 AWG wire from overheating and potentially catching on fire. This fuse accepts 5/16" lug terminals. Comes with backup fuse.
This heavy-duty master switch is used to disconnect & isolate the leisure batteries from the rest of the electric system.
Bus bars are power distribution centers that collect and distribute electricity to/from multiple sources.
100% stranded copper wire. Rated for 150 Amps of continuous current and is ideal for connecting the bus bars to the 12V panel. Resists UV, water, oil, and salt corrosion.
Protects the 4 AWG wire that connects the bus bars to the 12V fuse panel. The Blue Sea Systems fuse panel recommends a 125A breaker, but this 120A will also do.
Save money with this convenient lug terminal set. It covers 12 different lug sizes from 2-8 AWG wires and M6-M10 ring diameters. Heat shrink is also provided.
A 12V fuse panel is essential for distributing power from the leisure batteries to each 12V device. This panel accommodates up to 12 circuits with slots for blade fuses. The plastic cover with labels helps keep everything organized and safe.
Use these ring terminals to connect the 14 AWG wire to the 12V fuse panel. Heat shrink is built into the terminals to reinforce and protect the connection.
Get this 14AWG wire for all your 12V device connections. We like the tough outer jacket that protects the inner wires from the constant vibrations when driving. These tinned copper wires are 'marine grade' for superior resistance against corrosion.
Use these butt connectors to extend the red & black wires from each 12V device to the fuse panel.
We use 12 of these 12V puck lights in our camper van. They fill the van with bright, warm white light and only consume 3W per device. Slim profile means they take up minimal ceiling space. Easy to wire to batteries.
Solar Wiring Diagram
Utilizing solar panels is one of the most popular ways camper vans charge their leisure batteries. Our solar wiring diagram will help you build your ideal system with recommended:
- Solar panels
- Charge controller
- Wires & breakers
- Entry gland
- Connectors
RELATED: Learn How To Build A Solar System
What You’ll Need: Solar Product List
If you follow our wiring diagram, below is a list of all the components you will need to build a solar charging system in your camper van.
We use Newpowa panels on our van, and they've been working great for over five years of van life. Newpowa also tends to sell the lowest cost panels, dollar-per-watt.
Pure copper wire encased in a chemically crosslinked polyethylene jacket for UV/sunlight resistance. Manufactured in accordance with National Electric Code protocol and UL tested/certified. 100% made in the USA.
This solar entry gland protects the solar wires as they pass through the van's roof to the interior. If sealed properly, a solar gland also prevents water leaks from entering the camper.
A DC Solar Breaker is used to protect the solar wires between the panels and the charge controller. It also provides an easy way to disconnect the panels during regular electrical maintenance.
We love this Victron controller not only for it's high quality build, but the Bluetooth feature is rock solid. The Victron smartphone app provides an amazing interface to monitor all your solar data. This 30A charger is good for solar systems up to 440W (for 12V batteries).
This circuit breaker protects the solar wire from overheating and is installed between the solar charge controller and the positive bus bar.
We like WindyNation wires for their ultra flexibility (high strand count) and tough EPDM rubber insulation. We use these 8-gauge wires for wiring the solar charge controller to the bus bars.
Save money with this convenient lug terminal set. It covers 12 different lug sizes from 2-8 AWG wires and M6-M10 ring diameters. Heat shrink is also provided.
120V Inverter Wiring Diagram
Installing an inverter will allow you to power common 120-volt devices and appliances, such as:
- Computers & laptops
- Water kettles
- Instant Pot & blenders
- Induction stove
- And more…
Our inverter wiring diagram will help you choose the best components for your 120V system.
What You’ll Need: 120V Product List
If you follow our wiring diagram, below is a list of all the components you will need to build a 120V inverter system in your camper van.
A cost-effective brand-name inverter that provides up to 2000W of power. This is perfect for powering a water kettle, espresso machine, rice cooker, hair dryer, and other medium-sized devices.
This specific copper lug size (M8) crimps onto 2/0 AWG wire and connects to most battery terminals and inverters. These are pure copper lugs for efficient power transfer.
100% pure copper wire. Perfect for battery and 12V wiring when used with 2000W inverters.
Protects 2/0 AWG wire from overheating and potentially catching on fire. This fuse accepts 5/16" lug terminals. Comes with backup fuse.
Holds up to two 15A circuit breakers for 120V circuits. Cost-efficient household design that can also be used in camper vans.
This 15A circuit breaker is sized specifically to protect the 12 AWG wires in 120V circuits from over-current situations.
Perfect for 110V inverter wiring. The rugged outer jacket resists cuts and abrasions, and the wires are tinned to resist corrosion.
When installing standard "household" style light switches, you will need a gang box for the switch to mount to and protect the wires. We recommend this gang box for it's narrow profile design, which takes up only 1.25" in depth.
Alternator Charging Wiring Diagram
To charge the leisure batteries while driving, you must install a DC-DC charger. Our alternator charging diagram will help you achieve this. We include:
- DC-DC charger
- Recommended wire size
- Fuses & breakers
RELATED: Learn How To Install A DC-DC Charger
What You’ll Need: Alternator Charging Product List
If you follow our wiring diagram, below is a list of all the components you will need to build an alternator charging system in your camper van.
Charge your leisure batteries quickly with Victron's 30A DC-DC charger (up to 360W). Works great for both lithium and AGM batteries. But the highlight is the charger's Bluetooth connectivity, which pairs with Victron's UX-friendly smartphone app.
Recommended size for DC-DC chargers. These 100% pure copper stranded wires are what you'll need. Perfect for high amperage environments (up to 115A)
This 60A ANL fuse pairs with our recommended 6AWG wire for all DC-DC charger wiring. The fuse protects the wire from overheating during over-current situations.
Save money with this convenient lug terminal set. It covers 12 different lug sizes from 2-8 AWG wires and M6-M10 ring diameters. Heat shrink is also provided.
Why is the electrical System important for a camper van?
A camper van electrical system supplies the power to run all your essential devices. It provides light, controls the climate, helps you cook, and much more!
But with so many different components, wires, and calculations required to get your design right, it’s a daunting journey if you’ve never built an entire system before.
Our electrical beginner’s guide (blog post) brings clarity to your build. The downloadable electrical wiring PDF compliments that post.
How does our electrical Wiring Diagram PDF work?
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