5 Different Ways to Charge Your RV Batteries
There are many different options available today for charging and running an electrical system in RV or conversion van. I like utilizing many of them in tandem for system redundancy. Here are 5 options for charging your RV batteries to consider and that I am using in my conversion van build.
DC to DC Charger
DC to DC Charging is a method of charging your RV battery bank or leisure batteries, by using the power from the alternator as you drive. A DC to DC Charger connects your RV’s main battery to your leisure battery system. As you drive, the alternator charges the main battery. The extra voltage is then utilized by the DC to DC charger to charger to charge the additional batteries. Though slower, this method of charging is appealing as it allows you to charge your system while you drive similar to having a separate alternator, but with a lower cost to entry. Depending on the rating of your alternator, a second alternator may be the better option long term, but a DC to DC charger is a great starting point! I am doing both in my Adventure Van build. I went with the Renogy 40A DC to DC Charger which has been great so far and was easy to setup. It uses a remote power which means it automatically shuts off when the van is turned off.
Renogy DC to DC Charger
Victron DC to DC Charger
2nd Alternator
A second alternator on a camper or van build is an excellent way to add power to your rig and charge more batteries. The factory alternator on most vehicles is designed and rated for the standard power consumption of the vehicle and not additional batteries or a leisure battery bank. Adding an auxiliary alternator can be pricy, but will give you a lot more power and charging capacity for your dedicated house batteries. Keeping your power needs within the ratings of the alternators will keep them from overheating and ensure a longer life.
You’ll have to shop for the specific auxiliary alternator kit available for the base model of your RV or van build. Nations Starter & Alternator has kits available for most systems including Ford Transits, Dodge Promaster, Mercedes Sprinters, and more.
Auxiliary Alternator Kits
Shore Power
One of the best ways to charge your RV batteries is with a shore power charger. Shore power charging is the most common method of charging RV batteries as this can be done at a campground or from your home. The advantage of shore power is that it allows you to run all of your appliances at once whereas DC systems may not always be able to keep up with the demands of some RV setups depending on the luxuries you have. The disadvantage is that you are often limited by the number of amps available at the site. If your system isn’t overly power heavy though, this may not be an issue. Most Van builds are just fine on 30A shore power inputs. For my Van build I installed an AIMS all in one 3000w Inverter Charger which charges and maintains my battery bank from shore power as well as inverts DC power to AC for running my 120v system. The install of this is extremely easy. Its a matter of mounting the shore power port and routing the wire to the input ports on the battery charger. The charger connects to the terminals on the battery or battery bank, and that’s it. The charger does the rest!
Shore Power Connection Port
AIMS Inverter Charger
Solar Power (Roof, Hood, Portable)
Solar panels absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity. The energy can then be used for a variety of purposes, including powering lights and appliances, or charging the RV batteries.
Solar power charging is a great way to charge your RV or van batteries when you don’t have access to shore power and may be stationary for awhile. The disadvantage is of course that you need sunlight, but Solar charging can be an effective way of maintaining your batteries and extending your time out! Solar panels are most commonly installed the roof of your RV, van, or trailer and wired directly into the battery bank through a Solar Controller.
Additional Solar charging options that are often overlooked and equally appealing to me are portable solar chargers, and hood mount solar panels.
Portable solar panels fold away and stow easily and offer a rapid way to extend your charging capability. Portable Solar panels are commonly offered in 200-300 watt kits which can nearly double the capacity of most conversion van style RV’s. This option also means you can park in the shade when camping and still be able to charge or maintain your batteries by placing your portable solar array in the sunlight away from the RV. Portable solar panels are a great option for van builds where roof space for mounted panels may be limited.
Another great option is Hood Mount Solar. Like the portable panels, this option is great for smaller RV’s and conversion vans where roof space is limited as it gives you the option to add 80 -90 watts of solar charging from your hood. I am doing this on my Sprinter Van build in tandem with the roof array. My roof space is limited and currently sporting one 100 Watt and two 30W Newpowa Solar Panels for 160 total watts. The Hood mount Solar option boosts me to 250 Watts of Solar Charging capability without compromising any more of my much needed and valuable roof space. 250 Watts is still on the lighter side of most builds, but well suited for its purpose as an adventure van and boosted even further to 450 watts when needed and feasible with the aforementioned portable solar panel kit!
NewPowa Solar Panels
Victron MPPT Solar Controller
Portable Solar Panels
Hood Mount Solar Kit
Portable Generator
For those times when there’s no sun and you still need some juice for your devices, a portable generator is a good option. Portable generators are designed specifically for outdoor use and situations where a permanent generator might not be appropriate such as RV’s, trailers, vans, etc. They come in different sizes from around 1,500 watts up to 10,000 watts or more. Portable generators are very popular and easy to use for charging RV batteries. With the shore power input on my adventure van being on the rear quarter panel, I have the option of placing a small generator on a hitch rack in the back and plugging direct into the shore input. The AIMS Inverter Charger I mentioned above is well suited for generators and has the ability to remotely turn the generator on and off based on the electrical needs of the batteries. For van RV conversions, I recommend the Honda EU2200i 2200-Watt Portable Generator. This model has plenty of power for most van RV uses, and is one of the quieter models available.
Portable Generator
Final Thoughts
I like to use multiple methods of recharging batteries, so that if one method breaks down or stops working I’ll still have backup energy sources. There are a variety of systems available today for charging and running an electrical system in an RV, and these are my top 5 that I currently use in my own adventure van and recommend considering!
