How to Correctly Size Wires & Fuses In A Camper Van Conversion | Crafter Van Conversion | 30 |

This week we explain how to choose the correct wire size and fuse size for your campervan electrical system. This is critical to ensure a safe electrical system and prevent electrical fires due to overheating wires.
Starting from the appliance maximum current rating, multiply this by 1.25 to get to the minimum recommended fuse size (size up if needed). Then ensure your chosen wire has a higher current rating than the chosen fuse size so that in the event of an over-current situation the fuse will blow BEFORE the wire has time to overheat and break or catch fire.
Always remeber, the fuse is there to protect the wire!
Following on from this we discuss Voltage Drop which is significant in van conversions due to the low (often 12V DC) starting voltages and provide some options for how to overcome these issues. You need to keep this below 3-4% maximum otherwise your appliances might not work as expected!
Voltage Drop Calculator - www.12voltplan...
Disclaimer: We are not professional autoelectricians but we do both have a solid background in physics and therefore understand electrical systems. If you do not feel 100% confident installing your own electrical system then please speak to a professional. We accept no liability for your installations.
--------- About Us -----------
We're Alex & Ayesha (AKA MountainAdvantures) and together we're building an off grid camper van to tour Europe and maybe further afield! We're complete beginners at DIY and van conversions so follow along to see all the mistakes and the good times as we convert our trusty VW Crafter, Wilson, into our own off-grid tiny home on wheels and head off on a vanlife adventure.
Stay tuned for the future where we hope to take Wilson with us on some snowy adventures in lots of remote places around the world. We enjoy skiing, ice climbing, mountaineering, rock climbing and walking to name a few so there are plenty of adventures on the horizon.
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Thank you guys! Super helpful (and fun) content. One thing to note in the appliance consumption calculation is that often manufacturers show the average consumption, that 48w fridge might consistently draw more than 5amps when you turn it on and blow the fuse.

[@mountainadvantures5968]

Great point! Fridges especially tend to have very high initial currents. Glad you enjoyed the video :)

[@keithdawe4866]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. It was very informative.

[@aajaanron]

Good video guys, keep going! I'm an old geezer working on auxiliary wiring and decision making on whether to include a second battery in a scooter for all the accessories and an up-converter for my laptop. Decided to make a video on it and needed a break from drawing diagrams so thought I'd see what others are doing. I'm a bit late to the game I see, there are so many 🥴 but for sure this video is top quality. 👍👍

[@mountainadvantures5968]

Thanks, glad you liked it! Good luck with all your wiring projects

[@joeyswindells6922]

Really helpful & easy to understand video! Thank you!

[@benjones8977]

Glad I came across your channel. 🖖

[@mountainadvantures5968]

Welcome!

[@jjmellooldscool7649]

Great Job! Subscibed!!! Awesome

[@matthewallred72]

Yay! Ohms law class!!!!

[@angelp9658]

Great job ! !

[@joeonthegoe3027]

really concise info, thanks

[@mountainadvantures5968]

Glad it was helpful!

[@1dowsey]

Very helpful thank you

[@projet2907]

thank You ! :-0)

[@lachlanbird9688]

Thank you for the video .

[@mountainadvantures5968]

You're welcome :)

[@backspace2esc]

Thank You

[@mountainadvantures5968]

You're welcome

[@brianchetelat6601]

Great job guys... : )

[@mountainadvantures5968]

Thanks, glad it was useful

[@sakthicon]

Prefect. Thank you❤

[@avifeldman1447]

thanks!! helpful Good video

[@peterrider3471]

Many thanks love your video

[@mountainadvantures5968]

Glad it was useful :)

[@Snailmailtrucker]

Great video...thanks ! Liked/Subscribed ! *Let's Go Brandon !*

[@mountainadvantures5968]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@wondimagegneassefamolla1289]

Hi, I need your discussion how to install extra (other than factory made) speakers and TV on your van. Totally beginner, need explanation. Maybe audio and video signal generating needs connection to tape/dvd player of ca-bane of the car or need other device?

[@mountainadvantures5968]

Hi, The speakers and TV can be connected as explained in the video if they are both compatible with 12V systems. If not, you may need to install an inverter or a DC voltage regulator to get to the required voltages. For the video signal it's probably easiest to get a smart tv or a plug-in TV stick (e.g roku / chromecast) and use a mobile 3G/4G/5G connection, or you'll need a satellite/antenna signal for the TV which can get complicated with mounting more things to the roof. The audio is likely to just be a cable between the TV and speakers, or the speakers can probably be connected to the TV through bluetooth / WiFi.

[@peterrider3471]

120w solar panel going to mppt duel controller what wire and fuse would I need to run to vehicle battery

[@mountainadvantures5968]

Hi Peter, This would depend on the maximum current output of the charge controller (you should be able to find this either on the controller or on the spec sheet). From this you can follow the steps in the video to work out the required fuse size. As for the wire size - this will depend on the fuse size but it is likely to suffer from voltage drop unless your cable run is very short so I'd suggest you use the calculator linked in the description and upsize the cable as required. Hope that helps!

[@renewrecoverrevive]

Hello hope you guys are well....and tks for the video. I'm located in the US...calculating the fuse size multiplying by 1.25 is that only for your location. Will it also work for the US??? Tks

[@mountainadvantures5968]

Hi, The multiplication by 1.25 is to make sure the fuse doesn't nuiscance blow regularly and so will work anywhere. From a safety perspective - the wire size, based on the fuse and appliances, is the most important part.

[@peterrider3471]

The mppt controller is 15 amp

[@mountainadvantures5968]

In that case, 15 * 1.25 = 18.75A. The next available fuse size is 20A so we would go with that. As for the cable size, you'll need a cable rated to at least 20A, or larger based on voltage drop. Anywhere that supplies cable should tell you the current rating for that wire size. Once you've found a wire size that can carry more than 20A use the calculator at www.12voltplanet.co.uk/voltage-drop-calculator.html Put in 12 volts, 15 amps and enter the length of your cable run. Start at the cable size (in mm2) you found and work up until the voltage drop is acceptable. This is just what we would do. If you're in any doubt we'd recommend you get your installation checked by a professional.

[@Chobie]

That is a THICC cable

[@mountainadvantures5968]

That's our 50mm^2 batttery cable

[@DAZZA6061]

👍🍕🍰⚠