How To Upgrade Your Truck Camper's Electrical System

This video will show you, start-to-finish, how we upgraded an existing electrical system in a truck camper.

In this DIY truck camper electrical install, we cover a wide range of topics, so we have included chapters at the bottom of this description if you need to find a specific part of the install.

This comprehensive video will cover wiring and mounting a 12V Battle Born Battery Bank, wiring a Victron lynx distributor with a BMV-712 Smart Battery Monitor and master disconnect switch, installing a rooftop solar panel array, retrofitting existing solar panels to communicate with the new MPPT solar charge controller, wiring a Victron MultiPlus 2k and splice kit so we can run 120V outlets without the generator, and alternator charging using Anderson connectors. Each chapter will also include a segment on programming and testing each component to best understand your system.

✅Use code 'explorist' for $50 off per battery.

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

00:00 Introduction
00:15 OEM System Walkthru/Electrical Upgrades
03:42 Wiring the Battery Bank
06:27 Wiring the Lynx Distributor
14:00 Battery Bank Relocation
17:53 Wiring the MultiPlus and Splice Kit
26:41 Wiring Solar Panels
35:31 Solar Retrofit
39:50 Alternator Charging

[berthaduniverse]

These real world demos are perfect. So good to see you start this series...

[bradleylasher]

I enjoy your videos and appreciate how thoroughly you explain everything. One thing that killed my OCD though is drilling the hole for the alternator charging. Personally, I would have rather seen a smaller hole drilled, pushed the wires through, and then attached the anderson connector. But I was not there, so I don't know any of the obstacles that may have been in the way. Thanks for all the great videos.

[The_Other_Rock]

This is the best, most thorough video on youtube!
Bravo guys-wow! I watched from beginning to end, riveted. Can’t wait to implement what you just taught me. 👊🏼😎and of course I liked and subscribed.

[terrymcneilly]

Perfect timing for this video; I downloaded the schematic a couple days ago and have been searching in vain for the accompanying video - It just showed up! I'm in the process of installing solar on my Northern Lite 9-6 right now. I'll be placing my order shortly. Thanks for these well-crafted videos and explanations.

[JeffKershner-cu]

Thanks guys. Great video as always. Used the wiring diagram a year ago to do this build in a similar Northern Lite adding 500 W Solar and 4 100 W BB batteries. Replaced the non working three way frig with 12v and the system has worked great. One thing you didn't show and I'd love to know is how you ran the cable from the existing battery compartment and back to the linx distributor. Thanks again for giving us all the knowledge to get this work done. You guys are great.

[eo]

I just bought the exact same camper. I’ll be buying your kits from you for this exact upgrade. Perfect video. Thanks!!!

[reedprior]

Thanks so much for this detailed video! I installed much of this about a year ago, but it wasn’t working as expected (charging from both the truck and solar were at lower than expected rates). Your video walked me through the Victron setups, and it turns out I had just left the default settings. When I changed to your suggested settings, everything started working great!!

[maxa.million]

I have just discovered your page, wow, I have no problem with women and quite frankly I prefer it as it makes my wife see a woman doing the tasks. It really inspires her a LOT. thanks. Chuck Max

[AllanMain]

Amazing. This may be the video that gets me over the finish line.
I'm installing the Orion XS 50A to a Cirrus 920 that already has a lot of Victron, and an F350 with two batteries and two starters. Learning that the starter battery is on the passenger side, I'll run the cables accordingly. The Victron components are also on the passenger side.
I'll watch this again, and maybe some parts a 3rd time.
Lastly, I saw that! 😄

[alanharness]

Another gem of a video. Thank you guys! 🥰

[tomwilliam]

You two are awesome. You provide such detailed information on every video you do. I like how you both switch off on camera time I must say watching the young lady is sleuthing to the eye, and you sir I love your radio voice.

[buzzuti]

This is just brilliant!
Truly invaluable for us!
A complete guide that enabled us to perform our own upgrade on our AF 1150.

One question you asked concerning wiring into the ATS with your new “Multiplus splice kit”… Our 2023 AF 1150 wiring was way too complicated to work in that box.
It was easier to go straight to the ATS itself with In/ Out wiring to and from inverter. The ATS sits right next to the main fuse panel and wiring is nearly impossible to work into.

We purchased a full kit from you and were blown away with the professional packaging and high quality!
Took all the guess work out!

[chrissims]

I wish I had this video 3 years ago. Exactly what I needed. I have the same setup on my lance. I just ordered 3 more batteries for a total of 600ah. I will check all the settings that you showed and wiring for optimal flow and usage. Thank you for taking the time to video every detail. This video should be linked to every Victron unit sold.

[cgmsc]

Most information RV, electrical system I have ever seen.
Thanks for sharing.

[roberts]

Thank you so much; your guidance is excellent. I must say I agree with all the positive comments below from previous entries. Superb quality.

[dalemajesticwandarer]

Thanks Nate and Stef, greatly appreciate the video and all the information you shared. You guys do a great job ! I purchased a 2011, 30 ft class c three years ago when my wife passed away. Something that we were going to do together after attending numerous RV shows over the years. I have worked to renovate and make it my own, even taking it on a 6000 mile roundtrip from Florida to California. Solar continues to be a work in progress as I purchase components to make Solar a reality. I will in the future consider using your store to help take the guess work out of what else I might need to complete this project. Again you guys are awesome, and hope you will always put out such great content. Hope to meet you on the road someday.

[michaelmcclure]

Love the way you guys did this video. Very informative. The breakdown on the install was better the way you showed the visual diagram as you were going as opposed to the whole schematic as completed while you were just getting started. Very inspiring, I’ve been following you guys for a few years it seems. Best installers I’ve seen. Keep it up. It’s beat when you 2 work together, keeps the interest energy up while watching

[silvanocometta]

Possibly your best video ever. You two are masters of clarity. Thanks and keep going strong!

[EngineerK]

Just planning the exact install for my sprinter class C and this checks all the boxes. Thank you!

[robertharding]

Very informative video. Thanks. We just sold our camper/pickup setup which was exactly the same as yours. We had 200A of Battleborn, added 200W of solar. We didn't have a U shape seat for the dinette so it limited the space for all the electronics. Now we are building a 14' box on a Ram 5500. Your videos are very helpful. Keep them coming.