Campervan Electrical System Cost: A Full Budget Breakdown

The electrical system is one of the biggest single expenses in a campervan conversion — and one of the easiest to get wrong. Spend too little and you will be hunting for hook-ups every other night. Over-spec and you have sunk money into capacity you never use. This guide breaks down every component cost, from cables and fuses to lithium batteries and solar panels, across three realistic budget tiers so you can plan your build with confidence.

1. Total cost at a glance

Before diving into each component, here is the big picture. Prices are mid-2026 European street prices (taxes included) for a self-build. Labour is excluded — most van lifers do their own install.

The range within each tier depends on brand choice (Victron sits at the top, budget brands like Renogy or Liontron at the bottom) and whether you buy as a kit or piece by piece.

2. Battery bank — the biggest cost centre

The battery bank typically eats 30–45% of your total electrical budget. The three technologies available have vastly different price points:

The sticker price of lithium is 3–4× higher, but the cost per usable Ah over the battery’s lifetime is actually lower. A 200Ah LiFePO4 at €900 with 3,000 cycles delivers 480,000 usable Ah over its life. A 200Ah AGM at €250 with 600 cycles delivers 60,000 usable Ah — you would need to buy eight AGMs to match one lithium.

3. Solar panels & controller

Solar is your free daily recharge — the panels themselves are relatively cheap; the controller is where the price varies.

Typical totals: 200W + PWM = €120–200. 400W + MPPT = €350–600. 600W + MPPT = €500–900.

Mounting hardware (brackets, cable glands, sealant) adds €30–80 regardless of the array size. Do not forget this line item — it catches many first-time builders.

4. DC-DC charger (alternator charging)

A DC-DC (battery-to-battery) charger lets you charge your leisure battery from the engine alternator while driving. This is essential for winter travel and cloudy regions where solar alone will not keep up.

Most mid-range builds pair a 30A DC-DC charger with solar. A 30A charger pushes roughly 30Ah per hour of driving — so a 3-hour drive day adds ~90Ah to your bank. That is more than a full day’s recharge for many setups.

5. Inverter (12V DC to 230V AC)

An inverter lets you run mains appliances: laptop chargers, coffee machines, hair dryers. You need one only if you have 230V devices — many builds skip it entirely and run everything on 12V/USB.

For a detailed sizing guide, see our article on choosing the right inverter size.

6. Wiring, fuses & distribution

The “invisible” costs that first-time builders always underestimate. Wiring and protection components typically add €150–400 to a build.

Pro tip: buy cable in bulk rolls rather than pre-cut lengths. A 10m roll of 6mm² costs €20–30; the same length bought as four pre-made cables with lugs can cost €60+.

7. Battery monitor

A battery monitor (shunt-based) tells you exactly how many amp-hours remain, your charge/discharge rate, and time to empty. Not strictly essential, but highly recommended for any system above 200Ah.

8. Three budget tiers compared

Here is what each tier actually looks like as a complete parts list, with realistic mid-range pricing.

Basic (€400–800) — Weekend warrior

• 1× 100Ah AGM battery — €140
• 2× 100W rigid panels — €160
• PWM charge controller (30A) — €35
• Wiring, fuses and sundries — €120
• Total: ~€455

Covers lighting, phone/laptop USB charging and a 12V compressor fridge. No mains appliances. Good for weekend trips and fair-weather touring.

Mid-range (€1,800–2,800) — Extended touring

• 1× 200Ah LiFePO4 battery — €900
• 2× 200W rigid panels — €300
• MPPT controller (Victron 100/20) — €145
• DC-DC charger (Victron 30A) — €195
• Inverter 1000W pure sine — €200
• Battery monitor (SmartShunt) — €115
• Wiring, fuses and sundries — €250
• Total: ~€2,105

Handles a compressor fridge, laptop, lighting, water pump, diesel heater and the occasional coffee machine or blender. Comfortable for weeks of off-grid touring.

Premium (€3,500–5,500) — Full-time van life

• 2× 200Ah LiFePO4 batteries (400Ah total) — €1,800
• 3× 200W panels (600W total) — €450
• MPPT controller (Victron 150/35) — €225
• DC-DC charger (Victron 50A) — €385
• Inverter/charger (Victron MultiPlus 2000W) — €1,050
• Battery monitor (BMV-712) — €165
• Wiring, fuses, bus bars, full distribution board — €350
• Total: ~€4,425

Runs everything including an induction hob, air conditioning (in short bursts), washing machine or microwave. Designed for year-round, full-time living with rarely needing a hook-up.

9. Where to save (and where not to)

Not every euro matters equally. Here is where cutting corners is fine, and where it will cost you more in the long run:

Good places to save

• Panels. Mid-range rigid panels perform within 5% of premium brands. The price difference between a €70 and a €130 100W panel is mostly marketing and warranty length.
• Cable. Buy from industrial suppliers rather than “campervan kit” retailers. Same spec, half the price.
• Mounting hardware. Aluminium L-brackets from a hardware store work as well as purpose-made solar brackets at a fraction of the cost.
• Battery monitor. The Victron SmartShunt gives the same data as the BMV-712 but costs €30–50 less because it relies on your phone rather than a dedicated display.

Do not cut corners on

• Battery chemistry. An undersized or cheap battery is the most expensive mistake. Lithium’s upfront premium pays back through deeper discharge, longer life and lower weight.
• Fuses and protection. A missing or undersized fuse can cause a fire. Budget €30–50 on proper ANL fuses, a fuse box and a battery disconnect switch — no exceptions.
• Cable gauge. Undersized cables cause voltage drop, heat buildup and wasted energy. Use a cable sizing calculator and always round up to the next gauge.
• DC-DC charger. A relay-based split-charge system is cheaper (€20–40) but does not properly charge lithium batteries and is inadequate for modern smart alternators. Spend the extra €100–150 on a proper DC-DC charger.

10. Hidden costs to budget for

Beyond the components themselves, factor in these often-forgotten expenses:

• Tools. Wire crimper, multimeter, heat gun, cable stripper — €50–100 if you do not already own them.
• Consumables. Sikaflex sealant, self-amalgamating tape, zip ties, cable clips — €30–50.
• Time. A first-time install takes 2–4 full days. If your time has a cost, factor it in.
• Mistakes. Budget a 10% contingency. Almost every builder buys at least one wrong cable length, wrong fuse rating or incompatible connector.