One of the biggest questions people ask when planning an RV solar system is, “How many solar panels do I need?” The honest answer is: it depends on how much power you use and how much battery capacity you’re trying to recharge. For most RVs, roof space is the biggest limitation. You don’t have as much room as you might have on a house, so a good rule of thumb is to use as much available roof space as you reasonably can, especially if you’re running lithium batteries. Here’s w

Before you plug your RV into shore power, it’s worth taking a minute to verify the pedestal with a multimeter. Whether you’re at a campground, RV park, rally, or borrowing power from someone else, a quick check can help you avoid plugging into a potentially unsafe outlet. In this Two-Minute Tech Tip, Todd from Big Beard Battery walks through the basics of checking 20 amp, 30 amp, and 50 amp RV pedestal outlets. Know Your Hot, Neutral, and Ground On a standard 20 amp outlet, t

If your RV solar equipment is getting hot, Victron relays can help automate cooling fans and improve airflow around your inverter, charge controller, and electrical bay.

If your RV washer runs fine on shore power and generator power, but suddenly shuts off mid-cycle when you're on inverter power, you're probably dealing with more than just a simple power issue. We ran into this exact problem on a recent solar build at Big Beard Battery in Athens, Texas. The RV had a newer Splendide washer, and everything seemed normal at first. It would start up, begin the cycle, and then just shut off while running on inverter power. But when plugged into sh

If you are planning an RV solar upgrade, one of the biggest questions you will run into is this: Should you choose a 12V, 24V, or 48V battery system? The answer depends on your RV, your power goals, and the size of the system you want to build. We hear this question all the time from RV owners who want a system that works reliably in the real world, not just on paper. Some people hear that 24V is “more efficient” than 12V. Others assume 48V is always better because it sounds

Victron Lynx Shunt M10: When to Use the Bus Bar vs a Fuse