DIY CAMPER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FUSE PLACEMENT

This video will teach you where you need fuses in your DIY Camper Electrical System.

Here are some additional resources that you may find helpful with planning and installing your DIY Camper:

[pavelmarchenko]

Hi Nate! The video is awesome (as always) but... Looks like the capacity of Lynx 1000 system and mega fuses are exceeding for campers needs. Al least for 48V systems. Ok, we can connect big battery bank to 3000VA inverter and protect it with megafuse. However if I would like to connect MPPT controller, let's say SmartSolar 150/35 we'll find that it has maximum wire gage 16 мм² / AWG6. It's something 80A or so. The problem is that the minimum rate of MEGA fuse I found is 125A/58V, which requires AWG4 cable. The same problem with step-down Orion-Tr's.

[jerrym]

wish i would have found your channel before i started buy my solar parts, you make it much more understandable

[natecostello]

It's worth noting that current flowing from a self-limiting source like a solar charge converter into a short circuit is "safe" as long as the wire is sized with sufficient ampacity to carry that self-limited fault current (which it should be). Yes current will flow, but you will not overheat the wire and/or start a fire. That is one reason for the exception in ABYC that allows not installing overcurrent protection on the charger side of the wire.

[GaryNichols]

Very timely, Nate. I am just getting to the point of my van build where I need to plan for fuses and wire sizes. I had already made a note to go back and rewatch your wire size video and look for your worksheet. And I was going to see if you had a video on fuse sizes. So, at least for me, this was not at all a "filler video" as you referred to in this morning email newsletter update. Thanks again.

[cowboyyoga]

Nate... a super helpful video! This video really helped me see details more clearly. Thanks for breaking everything down, and sharing all your knowledge!

[andyjholloway]

Great addition to your video collection Nate! This topic took me a long time to get my head around when I did my van last year. Everything else made sense quickly and easily thanks to all your other helpful videos.

[GadgetMan]

Great videos on solar! To simplify, I'd just go with an all-in-one charger/inverter. All these modules is way more complicated.

[kristinf]

Flawless timing. This is exactly what I am tackling today. Thank you for another excellent video!

[HuangXingQing]

Another great video. I enjoy watching these because they remind me of details I've not thought of for a spell.

[jimhanty]

i just went through this brain twister about fusing the victron 150/100 charger.. it can be tricky... thanks fora great vid....it confirmed alot for me..

[KJC]

This was great, and exactly what I needed....thank you so much for making the video. I'll be moving my 200amp fuse.

[randyschultz]

Great presentation. You covered everything very well.
I guess for the 30a charge controller I better ensure I have wiring that can handle the 30 amps. In the case of a short neither the wire nor charge controller will care that there is 30amps of current, during a short.

[craigj]

Excellent job, I like how reference the Reg’s.

[wjhann]

Nate, as far as I can remember from boats: There is always a fuse right at the input (receptacle) at the stearn. I assume the thought is not to trust some unknown power outlet from outside.
As another explanation: There are often bigger outlets in the shore box than my ship needs. So people have that (not legal) adapters from 50A plug to our 16A line into the boat.
That box at start shall protect all the internal wiring - or is responsible for the internal wiring, not pretending on proper fusing outside.

[JMX]

Great info - really well explained - thanks for posting !

[PeterBetancourt]

As always, great content Nate. FYI, I had previously emailed you regarding my battery controller that was not working after getting a new phone and updating it with the Victron app… long story short I was able to reset the battery monitor after fully charging the batteries and resetting the controller. I purchased almost all of the electrical system through your site and now that my van is almost complete I would love to have you look at my system and get your thoughts. Thanks for all you do to help us DIY’s.

[mr.goldenrod]

Informational video, but consider including source references (ABYC for example) in the video description. No mention of UL Standard 458.

In any system that interconnects DC (which has the potential of “unlimited” amperage) to AC requires circuit protection because most AC wiring can’t handle DC amperage, thus creating a fire hazard. Many installers and DYIers disregard/don’t understand why the protection is required.

Circuit protection is more than just fuse/breaker size. It’s also maximum amperage, and the ability to prevent and extinguish an arc.

[olivierhecht]

I think the first part of the video could be confusing to some people because you describe power flowing “through both wires”. DC circuits (almost all) flow power from the positive side of the power source, through the load, and then back through the ground. Yes there is power going through both wires, but the direction matters and you can’t really short circuit the ground side of the circuit. Clarifying that might help people who are confused about where to put the fuse to remember to always put it on the positive side of the circuit…

[leandrosphotostudio]

Niiice!! Greetings from copan ruinas, Honduras.

[CBikeLondon]

Super clear, excellent video. Thank you