In a typical RV solar setup, multiple devices can charge your battery bank at the same time. These may include: Victron SmartSolar charge controllers Victron MultiPlus or Quattro inverter chargers Shore power chargers Generator-powered charging systems Each device measures voltage at its own location in the system. Because of cable lengths, connection points, and normal electrical resistance, those voltage readings may differ slightly. This can lead to situations where: Your

Can a 12V truck safely charge a 24V RV battery system? Here’s how a DC-to-DC charger works, why shared ground does not mean shared voltage, and what RV owners should understand before connecting truck and trailer power systems.

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

If you’ve got solar equipment installed in your RV storage bay, humidity is something worth paying attention to, especially if you spend time in places like Florida or along the Gulf Coast. It’s not always obvious, but moisture can slowly build up and cause issues over time. Why Humidity Matters Most RV solar components, including Victron equipment, are rated IP20 or IP22. That basically means they’re protected from solid objects, but not from moisture in the air. So if your

In this Two-Minute Tech Tip, Todd from Big Beard Battery explains ESS (Energy Storage System) functionality in lithium batteries and how smart BMS-controlled charging improves performance in RV and off-grid solar systems.

Adjustable tiltable solar panel feet are an upgraded alternative to traditional Z brackets. They allow you to: Raise your solar panel 4 to 7 inches Clear vent stacks and rooftop obstacles Add slight tilt when necessary Maintain a strong, professional mounting setup

Choosing the right solar charge controller is key to building a powerful and efficient off-grid RV system. In this episode of Todd’s Two-Minute Tech Tip Tuesday, brought to you by BigBeardBattery.com, Todd walks you through the differences between charge controller sizes, how to avoid bottlenecks, and how system voltage impacts your setup.

In this Two-Minute Tech Tip Tuesday, Todd from Big Beard Battery breaks down DIN rail terminal blocks—a clean, safe solution for extending AC cables when your inverter isn’t close enough to your breaker panel.

In this tech tip, Todd explains how DC breakers work, the difference between polarized and non-polarized breakers, and why direction matters when interrupting DC current.

Best Way to Wire Solar Panels: Series vs Parallel Explained

Learn how to read a solar panel data plate the right way. In this video, Todd breaks down every rating you’ll see on a panel — VOC, VMPP, ISC, IMPP, wattage, temperature coefficients, and more — so you can understand exactly what your system is capable of.

Todd breaks down how to read a Victron inverter data plate — including power factor, volts amps, and the difference between peak and continuous load. Learn why a “3000VA” inverter really gives you about 2400 watts of usable power, how load type affects performance, and how to size your inverter safely and accurately for your system.

Todd breaks down the difference between volt-amps and watts, why Victron and many generators use “volts amps” on their spec sheets, and how power factor affects what your system can actually run.

When people start upgrading their RV electrical systems—especially when stepping into the world of dual inverters, full-time boondocking, or large solar arrays—there comes a moment where the equipment they’ve added still doesn’t quite deliver the seamless experience they expected. You may have the battery bank, the solar, the inverters, and the monitoring dialed in, yet a single stubborn question remains: “Why am I overloading one inverter when I have two?” This is where the

Welcome back to Todd’s Two-Minute Tech Tip Tuesday , brought to you by Big Beard Battery —your go-to source for off-grid lithium power and RV solar systems. In this session, Todd answers three of the most common questions RV owners ask about DC-to-DC charging , battery storage voltage , and solar maintenance during winter . Whether you’re driving across the country or parking your rig for the season, understanding these fundamentals can make the difference between a smooth st