To Denmark and Sweden with Ruud’s Explorer System
Being able to stay off-grid for a few days, make coffee on the road, and have enough power for everyday appliances: that was Ruud's starting point. Faraday Energy calculated the energy balance with him and built a custom Explorer electrical panel.
Why a 24V system?
When choosing the system, we looked at both the daily energy consumption and the appliances Ruud wanted to use without shore power. We opted for a 24V setup with a lithium battery and a Victron MultiPlus. At the same power, 24V draws less current than 12V.
The 12V appliances were connected to the system via a separate voltage converter. This allowed us to combine the benefits of a 24V household system with a dedicated 12V supply for the camper.
Solar panels that fit on the roof
The available space on the roof rack also influenced the choices. Ruud wanted to keep part of the roof free. We therefore discussed three identical 100 Wp solar panels instead of panels with different power ratings. This kept the charging setup tidy.
Faraday Energy built the electrical panel; Ruud took care of the further installation and connections in the camper, with our guidance.
The first trip: power from the sun
In August, Ruud traveled through Denmark and Sweden. From the Danish island of Ærø, he sent photos of the camper at the beach. He wrote about the electrical system:
“It's working great; so far the solar panels have provided plenty 😎”
A great practical experience during that trip. How long you can stay off-grid still depends on your consumption and the output of the solar panels.
This project was custom-built. The layout and components may differ from the current Explorer model.
Looking for an electrical system for your camper too? View the Explorer system as a starting point.
