Van Build Electrical System - Why You Should Consider Goal Zero
WELCOME TO TRAIL VAGABONDS VAN BUILD BLOG SERIES! In this series we will cover everything Van Build related. We will include as much detail and “how-to” tips and tricks as possible. Where applicable we will include free downloadable schematics, charts and other resources. If watching the process is more your style head on over to our Youtube Channel to our Van Build Series.
The specific Videos that accompany this Blog Post are
Van Build Electrical System - Why You Should Consider Goal Zero
Including a comparative view of the Yeti 3000X and 1000 Core models
Van Build Electrical System
When it comes to the electrical system for your van, the two most important aspects are 1. The system works and 2. The system is safe. These often go hand-in-hand. If you don’t know what you are doing when wiring up your van it probably will both, not be safe, and not work! The two main options that you have when choosing how to power your van are - a full system put together from the ground up OR a pre-made all-in-one “generator” battery option.
In this blog post we will talk briefly about how to figure out what size system you need and then we will dive deeper into our decision to utilize an all-in-one “generator” battery system from Goal Zero in our van build.
**There is no one-size-fits-all electrical system, so it is very important to identify your specific needs in your van and your budget as these will be key factors in determining how you set up your van’s system.
What Size System Do You Need?
Before you decide what kind of system you will need in your van it is important to identify your power needs. Here are some questions to ask yourself in your planning process:
What are your energy requirements
What will you need to power - think appliances (blender?, fridge?, AC?), lights, outlets, gear (cameras, phones, laptops, etc). Make a list.
How long will you need to be able to provide power to your van? - Will you be off grid for long periods of time or plan to spend more time in populated areas with access to shore power hook ups?
What charging capabilities do you plan to add and utilize in your build? - Do you have solar? How much solar? Will you add in a shore power option? Do you want to have the capability to charge your batteries with your alternator while you drive?
Consider utilizing an Energy calculator to help you figure this out - like this one from FarOutRide: https://faroutride.com/van-electrical-calculator/
Our System
We elected to go with an all-in-one portable, generator-style system in our van. After much research and consideration for our individual needs, our ideal generator ended up being the 3000X Model from Goal Zero. This system more than serves all of our battery needs for the smaller/shorter trips we are currently doing and is powerful enough that we feel confident it will support us through full-time travel with extensive time off-grid - when that time comes.
A large part of our decision in utilizing a Goal Zero product permanently integrated into our electric system centered around the ease of use of a plug n’ play, all-in-one system. With this type of system putting together your electrical system is a much simpler process. This often translates into a higher safety as there are less errors to be made which could result in catastrophic failures and fire in your system. That being said, you still will need to have some basic electrical knowledge to connect your fuse panel and the wiring to your components that will be powered by electricity (heater, water pump, lights, etc). The How-To of this installation is beyond the scope of this blog post, but if this is something you need assistance with you can find more information in our YouTube Vanbuild Series in the select videos listed below.
Just like you, we had to assess our overall plan for our van including charging inputs and our energy needs on a day-to-day basis. If you are traveling with a partner it is important to discuss expectations of day-to-day activities such as cooking and comfort. Let’s look at an overview of the energy needs that we took into consideration when making this decision. First, our charging capabilities in our van include Solar Power (200 Watts) and Shore Power charging capabilities. We also knew that we wanted to include the ability to charge our system via the alternator. All of these inputs were installed in our van by us (see associated videos below!). The outputs we have elected to include in our van are puck lights, a water pump, a Webasto heater, electric kettle, blender, and outlets for charging devices and electronics. In the future we will also include a Dometic Fridge.
Here are the specifications we reviewed during our consideration of the 3000X Model from Goal Zero:
2000 Watt inverter with 3500 Watt Surge
Max Output - 12V High Power Pole - 30 Amps
Alternator Charging Capabilities w/ Yeti Link Car Integration Kit.
Bluetooth and Wifi Capable.
OTHER OPTIONS
Goal Zero has also just come out with their newest generator - the Yeti 1000 Core. We believe this model would be another great option for powering many types of vans with a variety of budgets. The 1000 core could easily be utilized as a portable option or permanently integrated into a system. Pro’s of this model when compared to the larger 3000X model include a lighter product and a lower cost point ($999.95) but the best capabilities when compared to similar sized models from other companies.
Other Goal Zero Models:
For further comparison, please reference our chart below:
Additional Information
For a full list of the Electrical Components and Tools we used in our build Click Here!
If you are interested in additional “How-To” of wiring your van and integrating your electrical system check out the following videos on our YouTube Channel!
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