FAQ

The Tesla battery module can hold 5 kWh under ideal conditions. If you have two battery modules, you will have a total capacity of 10 kWh.

During winter, effective capacity may decrease to approximately 80%. Assuming an average of 90% capacity year-round, your functional capacity would be 9 kWh. Deeply discharging the battery from full to empty can shorten its lifespan; therefore, it is standard practice to maintain a reserve of 15% to 25%. The electric system in your van is configured to preserve 25% capacity to maximize battery longevity. Consequently, you will have approximately 6.75 kWh of usable electricity after a full charge (9 kWh x 75%).

kWh (kilowatt-hour) is the standard unit of electricity. It is the same unit utility companies use to bill residential electricity usage.

Typical electricity usage estimates for van appliances:

• Fridge: 0.5–1 kWh per day (depending on ambient temperature)
• Inverter: 1 kWh per day (idle consumption)
• Microwave: 0.17 kWh per 10 minutes
• Induction Cooktop: 0.67 kWh per 20 minutes
• Water Heater: ~0.25 kWh to heat the tank (summer), retaining heat for 8+ hours. Reheating uses ~0.1 kWh. Winter usage may double.
• Ceiling Lights: 0.2 kWh per 8 hours
• Roof Fans: 0.06 kWh per hour (running both fans on high)
• A/C: 0.6 kWh per hour

Yes, you can. Since the inverter consumes about 1 kWh/day even when idle, turning it off significantly conserves power.

Important: If your fridge runs on 120V AC, it will lose power if the inverter is turned off. The inverter switch is located on the bottom (on the right side if built prior to 2025) of the inverter unit.

When connected to shore power, the battery monitor will typically increase by about 2 bars per hour. If the monitor shows 1 bar (or no bar), it may take over 5 hours to reach a full charge.

The alternator charges the battery at approximately the same rate as shore power.

Note: If your van was built before 2022, the alternator charging speed is approximately 50% slower.

If equipped with 800W solar panels:

• Sunny Summer Day: Can generate up to 5 kWh.
• Sunny Winter Day: Can generate up to 1.5 kWh.

Solar power is generally sufficient to power all appliances during sunny summer days; however, it is often insufficient on its own during winter.

Your system includes a discharge protector to prevent the battery from draining completely under normal conditions. When the monitor reaches 0%, the protector disconnects the load:

• The 110V system disconnects first.
• The 12V system can usually operate for a few more hours after the 110V cuts out.

Once power is cut, you must charge the battery to the “jump-start” voltage to restart the system (19V for the 12V system; 20V for the 110V system). You will need to connect to shore power or run the engine for approximately two hours.

Recommendation: Monitor the battery level and recharge before it becomes critically low to avoid triggering the discharge protector.

The normal operating voltage range is 20V to 25V. If voltage drops below 18V, the battery is depleted. This is uncommon and typically occurs if the van is stored without disconnecting the battery breaker, allowing the inverter to slowly drain the battery.

Solution: The camper’s internal charger will not operate below 18V. You must use a small external charger (e.g., a “24V Lithium Battery Charger” available online) to raise the voltage to 18V.

1. Connect the external charger’s alligator clamps directly to the battery terminals.
2. Charge for a few hours until the voltage exceeds 19V.
3. Once voltage surpasses 19V, the camper’s internal system will resume function, and the external charger can be removed.

Occasionally, the percentage display may drift or reset incorrectly due to extended operation or loose connections caused by road vibration.

To recalibrate:

1. Charge the battery until the voltage approaches 25V (full charge).
2. Press the % button on the monitor.
3. Press and hold the % button again for 3 seconds.
4. The monitor will reset to 100%.

The battery monitor displays the net flow of electricity. If appliance power consumption exceeds solar generation (common in winter), the monitor will indicate a net discharge, even though the solar panels are actively generating power.

Check if the breaker has tripped or if the inverter itself has shut down. The inverter automatically shuts down if:

• The transient load exceeds 3000W.
• The battery voltage dips below 19V.

If the battery charge is low, running a high-power appliance can cause a temporary voltage drop below 19V, triggering the safety shutdown.

If the inverter is not operating (no 110V power), first try resetting the battery breaker. If this fails, the battery voltage is likely below 20V.

To jump-start: Connect to shore power or start the engine (ensure the charging switch is active). Once the inverter starts, you may disconnect shore power or the engine.

Even after pressing the yellow battery disconnect button, the system may still receive power from solar panels, shore power, or the alternator.

To completely shut down the system:

1. Press the Yellow Button (Disconnect Battery).
2. Press the Red Button (Disconnect Solar).
3. Set the charging switch to the Neutral (middle) position.

• Idle for > 1 day: Turn off the lights, pump, fans, heater and A/C.
• Idle for > 1 week: Shut off all switches/breakers and set charging switch to Neutral.

Note: Special guidelines apply for winter.

You may leave the fresh water pump on while occupying the van. However, when leaving the van unattended, it is safer to turn the pump off and release pressure by leaving the kitchen faucet open.

If the dump pump has not been operated for over a month, the seal may dry out, hindering self-priming. If the motor runs but water does not flow:

1. Run the kitchen faucet to fill the gray water tank (increased water level aids priming).
2. Connect an extension hose to the outside dump outlet.
3. Raise the open end of the extension hose at least 3 feet above ground level and pour water into it to prime the pump manually.
4. Run the dump pump again.

If the issue persists, please contact technical support.