Batteries and Electrical System

The electrical system consists of

• Two 320 W solar panels (described in the Solar Panels page)
• Five 100 Ah AGM batteries (FuelZero)
• 2000W Inverter-charger (Cosuper, on Amazon).
• Solar charge controller (Victron  SmartSolar MPPT 50A)
• Battery monitor (Victron)
• Misc. items (cables, circuit breakers, battery isolator, distribution box, lights, etc)

All electrical components, except distribution box, are in the electrical box under the seat. Originally I was thinking about four batteries, but there was a room for one more under the seat, so I got five - the price was so good.  To have all those in one place under the seat was a hard task due to very tight packing. It would not be possible to do if I could not rotate the seat up.

The circuit diagram is quite typical. The batteries can be charged from: 1) solar by Victron controller that connects to cell phone and shows all info; 2) shore power by inverter charger; 3) by the van generator connected via the isolator and circuit breaker attached to the driver seat for convenience.

Distribution box is attached to the left wall panel in front of the seats and has 4 AC circuit breakers and DC fuse panel with 6 smallround DC switches.  I used the  4-Circuit 2-Space  Main Lug Load Center from Lowe's in which I put the AC breakers and DC fuse panel.

The switches and the battery monitor display I put inside the small plastic box from the digital caliper, which is attached on top of the  distribution metal box and serves as main electric control center.

Inside the battery box, by the side of the inverter, there is a small connection center, where I have the 500A DC breaker, AC breaker to the shore power, van battery disconnect relay, battery monitor control block with the Hall effect current censor.



 There are additionally two inline DC breakers for the solar (30A between panels and Victron charger and 50A from charger to batteries) on the top of battery box under the seat.

Also I have inline 30A breaker between the van battery and  house batteries , which I put on the side of the driver seat.