SOLAR WIRING

eBOOK
FOR DIY CAMPER VANS

Detailed Diagrams & Clickable Products

TABLE OF CONTENTS
p3 Solar Wiring Overview

p4 Part 1: Connecting Solar Panels

p5 Part 2: Wiring Through The Roof

p6 Part 3: Solar Charge Controller To Bus Bars

p7 Product List

p8 Product List

p9 Product List

p10 Additional Resources

Safety Disclaimer
The following photovoltaic (aka 'solar') system diagrams are based on our own build and
research. But we are not licensed electricians. For full safety, we recommend reading all
product manuals and consulting a professional prior to installation.

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This free eBook contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may earn a commission
at no extra cost to you. Visit our disclaimer for full disclosure.

Click any product picture for more info! Our full van build guide, click HERE.

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 SOLAR WIRING OVERVIEW
Click Product Images To Purchase!
C l ic k T
o Read
!
・How Much Solar Do You Need?
・Best Camper Solar Panels (2021)
・How To Install Panels On A Roof
Solar Panel Solar Panel

C l ic k T
o Read
!
Do You Need A Solar Fuse?

ad!
o Re
Cl i ck T
Series vs. Parallel MC4
Panel Wiring Connectors Entry Rubber
Gland Grommet

ad! Charge Controller

o Re
Cl i ck T
・What’s A Solar Charge Controller?
・Victron Charge Controller Review

Circuit
Breaker
C l ic k T
o Read
!
Bus Bar Bus Bar Best Wire Size For Solar Systems
(+) (-)

Deep Cycle Batteries

 PART 1.
CONNECTING SOLAR PANELS
Click Product Images To Purchase!

Best How Much Solar?

Camper Panels?
How much solar do
We identify several of you even need?
the most popular 100w? 200w? More?
types of solar panels To calculate how
used in the RV and much solar you need,
camper van commu- click to read our
nities today. We article.
review our own
panels and discuss
Click To Read
why we prefer ours
the most.

Click To Read

Series vs. Parallel

Installing
This diagram shows
Solar Panels
solar panels connect-
We installed our ed in series. To learn
panels directly to our more about series vs.
camper’s roof with a parallel solar connec-
super strong bond tions (and their pros
and water-tight seal. & cons), click to read
To learn how we did our article.
this, click to read our
article. Click To Read

Click To Read
Part 2
Wiring Through
The Roof

Do You Need This?

This is a solar fuse. If you decide to connect your solar panels in
parallel, you MIGHT need one of these. To learn more, click to
read our solar fuse guidelines.

Click To Read
 PART 2.
WIRING THROUGH THE ROOF
Click Product Images To Purchase!

Part 1
Connecting
Solar Panels

What Size Wire?

Using 10AWG wire is the norm here.
But making sure you select
the correct wire thickness is critical
for electrical safety. To learn more,
click to read our article.

Click To Read

This rubber gasket fits Entry

snuggly inside the hole Gland
you drilled through the
roof. It protects the solar
wires from the roof's
sharp metal edges.
Rubber
Grommet

Part 3
Wiring To Solar
Charge Controller
& Batteries
 PART 3.
SOLAR CHARGE CONTROLLER
TO BUS BARS
Click Product Images To Purchase!
Solar
What’s A Solar Charge Controller Part 2
Charge Controller?
Wiring Through
You 100% need a solar The Roof
charge controller. Click to
read our article below to
learn what a charge
controller does and how to
select the right model.

Click To Read

Victron Charge
Controller Review
We love ours! We review
our Victron Solar Charge
Controller. It’s Bluetooth
enabled and pairs seem-
lessly with our smartphone
app. Click to to learn more.
Click To Read
What Wire Size?
Circuit Using 10AWG wire is the
Breaker* norm here. But making
sure you select the
correct wire thickness is
critical for electrical
safety. Read our article
to learn more.
Click To Read

Bus Bar Bus Bar

(+) (-)

* (Circuit Breaker Note)

The amp rating of your circuit
breaker depends on the wire
size, which depends on the amp
rating of your charge controller.
In the diagram, the charge
controller is rated for 30A, so a
30A circuit breaker is used.
12v Wiring Setup
Want to learn how to set
up your camper’s 12v
system and wire your
batteries to the bus bars?
To Batteries Click below to read our
12v wiring article.
Read Our Camper
12v System Post Click To Read

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 PRODUCTS
PRODUCTS

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*EXCLUDES BATTERIES

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PRODUCT LIST

Solar Panels Mounting Z-Brackets

We’ve found that the Whether you’re mount-
dimensions of two 180-watt ing directly to your
solar panels fit the best vehicle’s roof or onto a
when mounting these panels roof rack, you’ll need
side-by-side on a commer- these Z-bracket mounts.
cial van, such as a Transit, One set per panel.
Sprinter, or Promaster.
Buy On Amazon
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Buy On Renogy
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Lap Sealant Branch Connectors

3M VHB Tape

We use this tape to

keep our panels
firmly bonded to
our van’s roof. 100%
recommended.
You’ll need these branch
This sealant is viscous connectors if connecting solar
and makes applying panels in parallel. Branch
Buy On Amazon around the z-bracket numbers depend on total
mounts quick and easy. number of panels.

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Buy On Renogy

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 PRODUCTS
PRODUCTS
PRODUCTS

7% OFF
*EXCLUDES BATTERIES

GET COUPON HERE

PRODUCT LIST
Solar Fuse MC4 Connectors
If you calculated that you’ll You’ll need a few of these
need a fuse, this one works to complete your solar
great. It’s what we use. wiring project.
Solar Wire
Durable and able to withstand
the elements, these marine grade
wires are the way to go.

Buy On Amazon Buy On Amazon Buy On Amazon

Buy On Renogy Buy On Renogy

MC4 Assembly Tool Entry Gland Rubber Grommet

Important tool to help affix MC4 Protects solar cables when Protects solar cables from
connectors to solar wire ends. routed through the camper roof. chafing against camper roof.

Buy On Amazon Buy On Amazon Buy On Amazon

Buy On Renogy Buy On Renogy

www.asobolife.com
 PRODUCTS

7% OFF
*EXCLUDES BATTERIES

GET COUPON HERE

PRODUCT LIST

Solar Charge Controller

Both models below are MPPT charge
controllers, meaning they give you the great-
est charging efficiency. Both are also Blue-
tooth enabled/capable, allowing you to pair
the device to each brand’s smartphone app.

Buy On Amazon
Buy On Amazon
Buy On Renogy

M6 & M10
Circuit Breaker Bus Bars Ring Connectors
Helps protect your down- Power distribution blocks that
Connects your 10AWG wire
stream devices and wires help keep your wiring neat
to your circuit breaker (M6)
from unexpected surges. and orderly. A must have.
and bus bars (M10)

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Buy On Amazon

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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Click Image To Read Click Image To Read

Click Image To Read Click Image To Read

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 THANK YOU FOR READING!
We hope you found this eBook useful and an inspiration for your own solar system build.
Building your own photovoltaic system can feel daunting at first, but if you take your
time and are organized, you can absolutely put together a system yourself.

If you have any questions or comments, please let us know by contacting us at

hello@asobolife.com

Thank you, again, for reading through out solar wiring guide eBook.

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