Campervan Electrical Parts List: Everything You Need

A complete campervan electrical system involves more individual components than most people expect. This parts list covers a typical UK van conversion with LiFePO4 battery, solar, DC-DC charger, and inverter.

Core components

Battery

• LiFePO4 leisure battery (100–300Ah depending on consumption)
  • Options: Victron Smart LiFePO4, Fogstar Drift, Battle Born, DIY cells
  • Terminal covers (usually included)
  • Battery hold-down brackets or enclosure

Solar

• Solar panels (100–400W total)

  • Rigid panels (most common) or flexible (for curved roofs)
  • Panel mounting brackets or Z-brackets
  • Cable entry glands (one per cable pair entering the roof)
  • Solar cable (4mm² twin-core, UV-rated)
  • MC4 connectors (male and female pairs, and waterproof MC4 junction boxes for parallel wiring)

• MPPT charge controller (matched to panel voltage and current)

  • Victron SmartSolar 75/15 (up to 200W / 12V), 100/30, or 100/50
  • Mounting screws

Alternator charging

• DC-DC charger (B2B charger)
  • Victron Orion-Tr Smart (12A, 18A, or 30A)
  • Mounting screws
  • Ignition sense wire (thin single-core, 1mm²)

Mains charging (hook-up)

• Mains battery charger
  • Victron Blue Smart IP67 25A (most popular) or similar
• 230V shore power inlet (CEE17 blue, 16A)
• Hook-up lead (16A, blue CEE17 both ends, 25m)
• RCD (30mA, double-pole) — inline after hook-up inlet
• Consumer unit or MCB enclosure for 230V distribution
• 230V sockets (BS1363) and back boxes

Inverter (if required)

• Pure sine wave inverter — sized for largest AC load
  • 1,000W: Victron Phoenix 12/1200, Giandel 1000W, etc.
  • 2,000W: Victron Phoenix 12/2000 or similar
• Remote on/off switch (for mounting on a control panel)
• Inverter ventilation — ensure mounting location has airflow

Protection and distribution

• ANL fuse holder (× 2 minimum: one for main cable, one for inverter)
• ANL fuses (rated for cable ampacity: 100A, 150A, 200A, 300A as required)
• Positive bus bar (copper, rated for total system current)
• Negative bus bar (copper, rated for total system current)
• 12V blade fuse box (6–12 circuits) or DIN rail MCB enclosure
• Blade fuses (assorted: 5A, 10A, 15A, 20A, 30A — spares of each)
• Main battery isolator switch (optional but recommended)

Battery monitoring

• Battery monitor / shunt — Victron BMV-712 or Victron SmartShunt 500A
  • Shunt: 500A recommended for most builds
  • Connecting leads (usually included)

Wiring

• Main battery cable (high-current flexible copper — amount depends on run length)

  • Main positive: 25–70mm² depending on inverter size
  • Main negative: same size as positive

• DC-DC charger input cable (6–16mm², from starter battery to DC-DC)

• MPPT output cable (4–10mm², from MPPT to bus bar)

• Fuse box feed cable (10–16mm², bus bar to fuse box)

• Circuit cables (1.5mm², 2.5mm², 4mm² for individual loads)

• 230V cable (2.5mm² 3-core flex for AC wiring)

Connectors and terminals

• ANL fuse lugs (ring terminals matched to cable size — hydraulic crimp required for 16mm²+)
• Blade terminal crimps (assorted sizes for fuse box connections)
• Adhesive-lined heat shrink (assorted sizes — buy more than you think you need)
• Cable ferrules (for stranded wire ends at screw terminals)
• Ring terminals (for chassis earth connections, MPPT battery connections)

Smaller items people forget

• Cable grommets (rubber, for all panel penetrations — assorted sizes)
• Self-amalgamating tape (for sealing cable entries and connector joints)
• Cable clips / P-clips (for securing cable runs — every 300mm)
• Spiral cable wrap / trunking (for neat cable looms)
• Cable labels / label printer (label every cable at both ends before connecting)
• Dielectric grease (for terminal connections in damp areas)
• Insulated screwdrivers (work on live circuits safely)
• Multimeter (essential for commissioning and fault-finding)
• Cable stripper
• Crimping tool (ratchet type for small terminals; hydraulic for large cable lugs)
• Heat gun (for heat shrink — a cheap one is fine)

Total budget guide (2026 UK prices)

FAQ

Can I mix budget and quality components?

Yes — most van builders use quality Victron components where it matters most (MPPT, battery, inverter) and save money on cables, bus bars, and minor fittings. The smarter Victron components communicate together (VE.Smart network) which is an advantage in a Victron-heavy system.

What's the one component I should not cheap out on?

The MPPT charge controller. A poor-quality controller can damage batteries through incorrect voltage settings and will not have the configuration options needed for LiFePO4. Victron SmartSolar or Renogy Rover are the safe choices.

Do I need all of these components for a basic system?

No — a simple van with just a fridge and lights needs only: battery, MPPT + panels, DC-DC charger, fuse box, and wiring. The inverter, mains charger, and battery monitor are additions for a more complete setup.