Here is a list of chapters in the guide and the beginning text of each. Most chapters also have a ‘Going Deeper’ section below with more technical details and information.

There are close to 12,000 words and most chapters have at least 2 or 3 images or diagrams.

The Basics – If you understand the basics of electricity by all means skip this section but if you need a refresher and in particular need to understand how the principles apply to DC power in your RV then read on. I don’t like formulas myself but there are a couple here that actually make understanding the topic easier.

Safety – This is of course, the most important section and so it comes first before we go into any wiring details. As I’ve said above, any work on 240V power must be undertaken by a licenced electrician. This is even more important when working on an RV because many older models don’t have an RCD circuit breaker fitted. These safety devices protect you…

12V Wiring Methods – To protect DC circuits, I generally use DC circuit breakers (see example image below) for any higher current circuits…

Batteries – This is an area of DC electrical systems that is constantly improving and it is important to be aware of which battery type you choose if you are planning a new installation to ensure you don’t have to do things twice. NOTE: I will refer to batteries used primarily to power the RV electrics, as ‘house batteries’ and those used to start and power the vehicle system as ‘starting batteries’. Batteries are available in the following types…

Solar – An essential part of every RV system, especially if wanting to spend more than a day or two ‘off the grid’ is a solar battery charging system. However, solar panels aren’t just a ‘fit them to the roof and plug them in’ thing. It is important to understand the limitations…

Charging Equipment – Keeping our batteries in good condition and enabling us to run our appliances as long as possible depends on also having good charging capability. Battery chargers for RV use are of three types and depending on how much free camping you wish to do will decide if you need all three. In my opinion, if you want to…

Lighting – Most modern RV manufacturers use LED lighting exclusively now and the power savings are considerable. Retrofitting older RVs is actually very easy and I’ll go through some of the methods to do this. External vehicle lighting can be changed if desired and…

Fridges – This is a topic that causes a lot of argument and discussion so it is worth devoting an entire section to it. RV fridges are available in two types, absorption (often called 3 way) and compressor (or 2 way, 240V/12V). These use completely different technologies to work so let’s discuss the…

Other Appliances – In this section I’ll discuss some of the devices we want to be able to use while on the road. In my experience, finding devices and appliances that work on the DC battery voltage in your RV is more efficient and makes more sense than using inverters to run 240V appliances. Why? This is simple…

Inverters – Do you need one? This depends. As I’ve discussed before converting low voltage to high voltage to run appliances isn’t very efficient but there are times when running a 240V appliance is necessary. However before you decide to…

Generators – Travellers that spend months or even years on the road eventually run into power problems, either failing batteries or long periods of overcast weather and generators certainly provide a source of battery charging and 240V power when this is really needed. As I mentioned above…

Communications & Entertainment – While not really related to DC power, I often get questions about phone, internet and TV when on the road. There are challenges with all these kinds of technology when travelling so I’ll go over some of the methods you can use to receive all the communications and entertainment options we take for granted these days…

Appendix –
Circuit diagram 1 – Dual battery circuit (for an under bonnet secondary battery)
Circuit diagram 2 – Dual battery circuit (for rear cab/tray AGM or Lithium batteries)
Circuit diagram 3 – Typical battery/solar charging circuit for caravans/campers