Stay Powered Off-Grid

The problem

Day three at the trailhead, the fridge alarm goes off at 5 am because the battery is at 10.8V. The solar is "300W" but it's been cloudy, the tow vehicle isn't charging the trailer properly, and nobody knows how much is actually being used.

What fixes it, in order of payoff

1. See what's happening. A Victron SmartShunt — view current price tells you real state of charge and how many hours you have left. Most "my battery is bad" calls turn out to be "my battery was never full".

2. Charge properly while driving. An Orion XS DC-DC charger — view current price or Orion-Tr Smart — view current price puts real current into the trailer bank from the alternator, which a 7-pin plug never will.

3. Harvest what the roof makes. A SmartSolar MPPT 100/30 or 100/50 — view current price gets up to 30% more from the same panels than a PWM controller, and shows it in the app.

4. Store it in lithium. A Victron LiFePO4 NG battery — view current price gives usable capacity twice that of an AGM of the same size, at half the weight — see the lithium guide.

5. Run 120V when you need it. A MultiPlus — view current price or MultiPlus-II — view current price covers induction cooking, a coffee machine and charging from shore power in one box.