Guides
Plain-English guides to 12V, solar and camping power: working out what you need, wiring it up and sorting it out when it plays up. The trade-offs are left in, including the times a cheaper part or an auto-electrician is the better call.
Guides
Lithium vs AGM for touring: which battery, and ...
Lithium wins on usable capacity, weight and cycle life for most touring setups. Here's why, in the makers' own numbers, and where AGM still has a case.
Lithium vs AGM for touring: which battery, and ...
Lithium wins on usable capacity, weight and cycle life for most touring setups. Here's why, in the makers' own numbers, and where AGM still has a case.
Fusing a 12V system: what size, where it goes, ...
A fuse is there to protect the cable, and with lithium it also has to be able to stop a very big fault current. Here's how to size, place and...
Fusing a 12V system: what size, where it goes, ...
A fuse is there to protect the cable, and with lithium it also has to be able to stop a very big fault current. Here's how to size, place and...
12V cable sizing and voltage drop: how thick do...
On 12V, a cable that's a bit thin wastes power, undercharges batteries and gets hot. Here's how to size it properly, with Victron's table and a quick rule of thumb.
12V cable sizing and voltage drop: how thick do...
On 12V, a cable that's a bit thin wastes power, undercharges batteries and gets hot. Here's how to size it properly, with Victron's table and a quick rule of thumb.
Fixed, folding or blanket solar: which one suit...
Roof panels work every time the sun's out, even while you drive. Folding panels and blankets let you park in the shade. Here's how the three compare.
Fixed, folding or blanket solar: which one suit...
Roof panels work every time the sun's out, even while you drive. Folding panels and blankets let you park in the shade. Here's how the three compare.
How much solar do you need, and will your contr...
How many watts of solar comes down to what you use and where you camp. Then the controller has to cope with it. Here's how to do both.
How much solar do you need, and will your contr...
How many watts of solar comes down to what you use and where you camp. Then the controller has to cope with it. Here's how to do both.
MPPT vs PWM solar controllers: which one do you...
A PWM controller is a switch; an MPPT controller is a converter. Here's when the cheap one is perfectly fine, and when MPPT earns its keep.
MPPT vs PWM solar controllers: which one do you...
A PWM controller is a switch; an MPPT controller is a converter. Here's when the cheap one is perfectly fine, and when MPPT earns its keep.