Electrics for ford transit custom

[Ctg174]

Hello. I'm very new to forums and to campervans. I've bought a Ford transit custom swb and I'm not sure the best electric kit to get. And what's the best battery?
Thank you in advance.

Chris

 

[Otter Spotter]

All depends on what you are going to use the van for and what sort of kit you will be powering, TV, microwave , etc and what your budget is. Lead acid leisure battery less than £100, lithium’s £500 plus

 

[Ctg174]

All depends on what you are going to use the van for and what sort of kit you will be powering, TV, microwave , etc and what your budget is. Lead acid leisure battery less than £100, lithium’s £500 plus

Thanks for the reply.
We'll be using the van for 4 led lights, led strip, 12v fridge, water pump for sink and sockets.
Would you know what electric kit is the best to use?

 

[Jo662]

There is a newish option of a stand alone kit from Ecoflow explained in this Liam the Terrible video.

 

[Otter Spotter]

Money no option, then Victron have great kit, batteries, take a look at battery megastore. Be careful with the cheaper Lithium battery options, those in the know on Funster will advise you that their construction is poor.

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[gus-lopez]

 

[autorouter]

Motorhome manufacturers buy in electrics boxes from specialist suppliers, and these boxes are also available to self-converters. Have a look at several options. Some of them are obviously dual caravan/motorhome boxes, with switches to power from the leisure battery and starter battery. Some are designed just for motorhomes.

Some have the 12V DC distribution and 240V AC distribution in separate boxes, others have both in the same box. They mostly come as a distribution/fusebox, with a data wire connecting to a control/display panel. So the box can be sited near the batteries, and the panel in a convenient place on the wall.

There are several brands with a good reputation. Sargent is a UK brand, and there are others like Nordelettronica, CBE, Schaudt Elektroblock, Reich etc.

Even at this very early stage it's worth thinking about whether you will want lithium batteries instead of lead-acid types. Lithium packs more energy storage into the same size/weight compared to lead-acid, and is a good idea for small campers with limited space. The chargers for lithium are a bit different from lead-acid types, so worth getting chargers (mains, solar, alternator B2B), that can do both types if you initially go for lead-acid.

A straightforward way of charging a leisure battery while the engine is running is to connect it directly to the starter battery via a relay called the split charge relay. When the engine stops, the relay disconnects to keep the batteries separate. This works if the leisure battery is a lead-acid type (flooded, sealed, AGM, Gel), but not so well if it's lithium. It also doesn't work very well if the vehicle has a smart alternator.

The alternative is to use a Battery-to-Battery (B2B) charger, also called a charge booster or DC-DC charger. This takes power from the alternator and outputs a voltage optimised for charging the leisure battery. A very popular upgrade from a split charge relay, and essential on a new van with a smart alternator.

 

[autorouter]

We'll be using the van for 4 led lights, led strip, 12v fridge, water pump for sink and sockets.
Would you know what electric kit is the best to use?

From that list, the main energy user would be the 12V fridge. I'm assuming this is a 12V compressor fridge, and not the 3-way 12V/gas/240V fridge that is also popular in caravans and motorhomes.

A compressor fridge will use maybe 35 to 40 amp-hours of charge per 24 hours. The exact number depends on the weather, how often you open the door, etc.

A single 100W solar panel will give you about that much power on a good sunny day. So it's generally reckoned that you need 200W of panels to keep a fridge running in average weather in summer plus late spring/early autumn. 300W is better if you have the space and the budget.

There are two types of solar controller, PWM and MPPT. In hot sunny weather they are about equal, but in cloudy weather, early morning/late evening the MPPT type can give you more, maybe 20% or so. So if it's only for a long summer holiday then the MPPT is not much benefit, but for all-year use it's worth it.

Most motorhomes come with a single leisure battery of about 100Ah, and the first thing that's usually done if for more off-grid use is to add a second battery. 200Ah of battery and 300W of solar is a good arrangement that many people find is OK for a compressor fridge.