Wiring & Safety

AWG wire sizing for 12V van and RV electrical systems — the correct gauge for every circuit, the voltage drop formula, and a printable reference chart.

Anderson Powerpole and SB connectors in van and RV builds — what they're used for, how to crimp them, and where they make wiring cleaner and safer.

How to size battery cables for a van or RV — main positive and negative cables, inverter cables, and what gauge you need based on current and run length.

How to choose and wire a battery disconnect switch in a van or RV — manual vs solenoid, where to install it, and what it does and doesn't protect against.

What a bus bar does in a van or RV electrical system, how to size and install positive and negative bus bars, and why they're essential for clean wiring.

Circuit breakers vs fuses in a van or RV — when to use each, the tradeoffs, and where fuses are required vs where breakers make sense.

Heat shrink connectors, butt splices, and ring terminals for RV and van wiring — when they're appropriate, when they're not, and how to use them correctly.

How to crimp ring terminal lugs onto battery cable for a van or RV build — the right tools, the process, and how to tell a good crimp from a bad one.

How to wire an inverter safely in a van or RV — DC input cable sizing, fusing, AC output wiring, grounding, and the clearances that prevent fires.

How to route 12V wiring through van walls, floor, and ceiling — grommets, loom, cable management, and where to find factory holes in common van models.

Where to install a house battery in a van or RV — the best locations for access, safety, cable length, and weight distribution, plus what not to do.

How to design and build an electrical panel for a van or RV conversion — what goes in it, how to organize bus bars and fuse blocks, and how to lay it out cleanly.

Step-by-step wiring for a van or RV house battery — connecting the battery to bus bars, fuses, and charging sources correctly the first time.

How to wire a 30-amp shore power inlet for a van or RV conversion — the components, wiring sequence, safety requirements, and connection to a battery charger or inverter-charger.

Wire color codes for RV and van 12V DC wiring — the ABYC and industry conventions for positive, negative, ground, and load circuits.

A practical electrical safety checklist for van builds before you power up and hit the road — fuses, connections, grounding, and testing every circuit.

Electrical fire prevention for van and RV builds — the most common causes of 12V electrical fires, how to prevent each one, and what safety equipment to carry.

How to ground a 12V van or RV electrical system — chassis ground vs dedicated return wire, when to use each, and common grounding mistakes that cause problems.

How to waterproof electrical connections, wire entry points, and components in a van or RV — what products to use and where it actually matters.

AWG wire size chart for van and RV 12V electrical circuits — ampacity, voltage drop, and what gauge to use for each common load.

Why a fuse keeps blowing in a van or RV 12V circuit, and how to diagnose the real cause instead of just upsizing the fuse.

How to size fuses for a van or RV 12V electrical system — the fuse-protects-the-wire rule, fuse types, and Class T fuses for LiFePO4.