HOW TO BUILD A 12-Volt VEHICLE SYSTEM

Today we are going through a layout of an off-grid 12-volt system that has can be installed into your vehicle. Having this system allows you to run loads full-time and power large appliances such as your fridge, coffee machine, or even a microwave.

The goal here is to have a system that is reliable, easy to use, and low maintenance with the ability to put out a lot of power. To level up your solar game, research off-grid solar setups as these will allow you the freedom to go off-road and off-grid for extended periods of time in any situation.

First thing we'll need is a deep cycle battery, this is the heart of our 12-volt system which allows us to store and use our power. Having the battery placed in a battery box makes it easier to use, due to the available terminals, plugs and connectors and the display screen for the readings. To position our battery, we will need to place it as low as possible in our vehicle to stabilize it, while also keeping the temperature in mind as we want to avoid the battery from overheating. An AGM deep cycle battery is recommended in such a system, since only about 50% of its capacity would be utilized. For example, if we are running a hundred-amp hour battery, it's still got about 50-amp hours to play with.

After setting up the second battery in our vehicle, we are going to need a fuse or circuit 

breaker positioned as closely as possible to the battery so that if anything does go wrong, it’ll pop instead of causing a short.

In a dual battery system, a separate solar panel could provide the ability to charge while moving, and if camping or during any off-grid situation, this type of setup will prove to be most beneficial. Have a DC-to-DC charger with a solar input or an additional solar panel input socket to help with charging your battery efficiently. An AGM battery needs a higher charging voltage and a DC to DC charger’s selectable charging profiles to make sure you’re getting the most out of the battery.

Thinking about running some more power-hungry devices? The best way to do that is with an inverter. An inverter takes the 12-volt DC from the battery up to the voltage and converts it into AC. Inverters come in a wide range of sizes and they work most efficiently when they're near full capacity, so if you’re only planning to run a couple hundred watts or even a thousand watts, then you wouldn’t need a 5,000-watt inverter. However, it’s always best to size up slightly when selecting your choice of inverters, to allow yourself the option to add an additional appliance if needed.

Once you start running more power-hungry devices like coffee machines or power tools, you will also need to think about increasing your charging capacity as well. The first option would be to add a more permanent solar setup to the vehicle itself. Secondly, and most often recommended, is a portable solar panel, because it's convenient and easily fits into your vehicle when going on an extended trip, and is extremely easy to set up. Adding an MPPT regulator with each solar panel installed means each panel is working independently and using its full potential before charging the battery most effectively.

Another option is to add a 240-volt charger into the setup, plug the system in and make sure the batteries get a good charge. If you’re heading to a more remote location, you can run the generator throughout the day by plugging it into the 240-volt charger. Knowing the battery is getting a good charge, you’re now able to use the generator or the powered site to run your larger appliances.

Hopefully, this article has provided you with a good understanding of going about setting up a robust and reliable off-grid 12-volt system. This is completely modular giving you the freedom to upgrade your 12-volts and add more circuits, put a bigger battery bank or generator in, or add more solar panels as you expand.