4WD & Caravan Power System Buyer's Guide

What Is A Power System?

A power system is a pre-wired system designed to charge, monitor and manage the battery connected to the system. It can run and control a wide range of appliances and electronics, including lights, fridges, mobile phones and more. They come pre-wired on a board, which can then be easily installed into your 4WD or caravan.

 

Why Buy A Power System?

One of the major advantages of a power system is that it saves money and time. There are so many batteries, battery chargers and battery monitors on the market that it can be overwhelming to pick all the right parts. Let alone wire them and install them safely! With a power system, all the research and design work has already been done for you. No need to worry about wasting money on the wrong components.

The best part is all professional connections and sizing is done for you, so you can be confident your system is safe.

 

What Are The Installation Requirements?

You are able to install these systems yourself, however 240V hard wired appliances and inverters must be installed by a licensed electrician or electrical contractor. Consult the Australia electrical standards and guidelines to ensure any DC low voltage electrical work performed by an unlicensed individual complies.

 

How Do You Choose The Right Power System For Your Needs?

Here are the top questions to ask when choosing the right power system for your 4WD or caravan:
 

1. Do you need to power AC (240V) appliances? Or only DC?

If you need to power 240V AC appliances be sure to choose one of the power systems that includes a 240V inverter. Don’t stress if you already have an inverter or if you want a different size or to buy one at a later date, all of our power systems are designed to work with inverters of various sizes.

 

2. Do you need a battery with your system? And what size should it be?

Think about whether you need a battery as part of your system. If so, how big does it need to be to run your gadgets and devices? The good news is a lot of the systems in our range come with a lithium battery add-on option if you need it. 

 

3. Do you have a 4WD, caravan or camper trailer?

Canopy systems by nature are designed more for 4WD vehicles than caravans or camper trailers. If you have a caravan or camper trailer, take a look at management boards, like the Enerdrive eSYSTEM models.

These kits are all pre-wired by Enerdrive wherever possible to keep the kits quick and simple to install. All boards have a full wiring diagram showing each circuit and where to connect your loads, battery and inverter cabling. Plus, all components are mounted onto a 12mm black plastic board, which is water and rot resistant, for easy mounting into your vehicle. It couldn’t be easier!
 

Power Systems We Recommend:

Enerdrive Canopy Systems

When it comes to canopy power systems, you can’t go past Enerdrive’s 4WD options. In a market first, they have designed five different power systems to run all the electrical equipment in 4WD canopies, from your fridge and lights to a full power station. They all come pre-built in a compact box designed to mount on either the front or rear bulkheads of your 4WD canopy.

Choose from three models, depending on your power needs:

• The Explorer: Minimum power option containing an Enerdrive ePOWER DC2DC40, Vehicle/Solar Charger, and battery monitor. It also features a battery reset button, 4 pre-wired circuit breakers for main power equipment and 4 Contura switches for lights and auxiliary loads, pre-wired battery and fridge Anderson plugs and twin USB 2.4A Hi Amp sockets to charge your mobile devices (or opt for a 12v Output Socket).

• The Traveller: More power plus AC charging ability. Comes with everything in The Explorer kit, plus an ePOWER 12V 40A Battery Charger. This power system comes with a Simarine Battery Monitor as standard, or you can swap it out for an ePRO Plus battery monitor, or Simarine Battery Monitor and Quad Shunt Module.

• The Adventurer: The ultimate 4WD canopy setup, this kit includes all of the components in The Traveller, plus an ePOWER 2000W 12V Pure Sine Wave Inverter with RCD & AC Transfer Switch, 4 additional circuits breakers for air/water pumps, and main system and inverter Hi-Amp circuit breakers.

• The Voyager: Enerdrives hero power system, the Voyager was released in 2023 and sets a new standard for next-generation off-grid power systems. Its stand out feature is the 3000W/100A inverter-charger unit. 

• The Lackey: This power system is specifically designed with the tradie in mind. You can safely run power tools with the massive 2000W inverter with RCD switch included. Four 12V auxiliary outlets have been included instead of the usual two and it also features an anderson plug 12V for powering other DC loads like fridges.

• The Wanderer: The Wanderer is a more compact alternative to the Adventurer, while still having an inverter built in. It includes a massive 60A AC charger built in, with a 1600W inverter. It also feature 2x AC 240V power outlets and a Simarine advanced battery monitor.

 

Projecta Power Management Boards

Another option is the Projecta Power Management Boards. They are both comprehensive and easy to install, making them perfect for 4WD canopies. They are also Engineered in Australia to meet the demands and conditions unique to the Australian environment. Select from six pre-assembled boards tailored to your vehicle requirements: 

• Projecta 12V 25A DC Power Management Board (ICBDC)

• Projecta 12V 25A DC Power Management Board with 1000W Inverter (ICB1000)

• Projecta 12V 25A DC Power Management Board with 1500W Inverter (ICB1500)

• Projecta 12V 50A DC Power Management Board with 2000W Inverter (ICB2000)

• Projecta 12V 50A AC/DC Power Management Board with 2000W Inverter & 200Ah Lithium Battery (ICB2000-HD)

• Projecta 12V 50A DC Power Management Board with 3000W Inverter & LVD (ICB3000)

 

Management Boards & Installation Kits We Recommend:

Enerdrive eSYSTEMs & DIY Charging Boards

From Enerdrive check out the eSYSTEM Boards. The 60A kit with a Morningstar Tristar 45amp solar controller and ePRO Plus monitor is specifically designed for caravans and motorhomes. The separate solar controller on the board means it can deliver 100% of the available solar charge at the same time as the DC2DC chargers via the vehicle, making it a super-fast charging system while you’re on the move.

For a budget option, the Enerdrive DIY 40A AC and 40A DC2DC Charging Board is a great pick. You get all the parts you need – including battery chargers, battery monitor, midi fuse assemblies, circuit breakers and Anderson connectors – ready to install yourself. It’s also available in 20A AC & 40A DC, and 40A AC & DC kits.

 

Pro Tip: Comparing the kits can be confusing if you just go by the lists of features and inclusions. To make it easy, use this table to determine which installation kit or management board is best suited to your needs:

(✓) Indicates standard Fitment, (#) Indicates optional fitment

 

Items Included	The Explorer	The Traveller	The Adventurer	The Voyager
ePOWER DC2DC 40+ Charger (Vehicle/Solar)	*	*	*	*
ePRO Plus Battery Monitor	*	Optional	Optional	N/A
Simarine LCD Battery WIFI Monitoring System	Optional	* (Option to replace with ePRO Plus Monitor)	* (Option to replace with ePRO Plus Monitor)	*
Pre-Wired Circuit Breakers for Main Power Equipment	*	*	*	*
4 x Additional Circuit Breakers	N/A	N/A	*	N/A
4 x Contura Switches	*	*	*	*
Pre-Wired Battery & Fridge Anderson Plugs	*	*	N/A	N/A
USB Socket Output	Twin USB-A 2.4A Hi Amp Sockets	Twin USB-A 2.4A Hi Amp Sockets	Twin USB-A 2.4A Hi Amp Sockets	Twin USB-A 2.4A Hi Amp Sockets
Cig Socket Output	1	1	1	1
Anderson Plug Socket Output				1
Battery Reset Button	*	*	*	N/A
ePOWER 40A AC Charger	N/A	*	*	N/A
2000W Inverter 200A Input Circuit Breaker	N/A	N/A	*	3000W Inverter Charger
Individual Load/Charge Module for Simarine (#SI-SCQ50)	K-EXPLORER-03	K-TRAVELLER-03	K-ADVENTURER-03	*
Water/Fuel Tank Module for Simarine (#SI-ST107)	K-EXPLORER-02 K-EXPLORER-03	K-TRAVELLER-02 K-TRAVELLER-03	K-ADVENTURER-02 K-ADVENTURER-03	*
ePOWER DC2DC Charger 60A Output Circuit Breaker	N/A	N/A	N/A	*
Load Output 50A Circuit Breaker	N/A	N/A	N/A	*
Push Button Circuit Breakers for DC Output Sockets/USB	N/A	N/A	N/A	*
Ignition Input for Smart Alternator Equipped Vehicles	Yes. Requires connection.	Yes. Requires connection.	Yes. Requires connection.	Yes. Requires connection.
Dimensions	455L x 155W x 330H mm	685L x 155W x 330H mm	630L x 155W x 665H mm	830W x 700H x 155D mm
Weight	7kg	10.5kg	18kg	28.5kg

 

 

Are There Any Important Accessories For Enerdrive Power Systems?

You may need to consider buying additional cabling, fuses, circuit breakers, and solar panels or regulators.

Cabling:

To connect the pre-mounted Enerdrive 40A DC to DC charger, use one of the three cable kits with appropriately sized inline fuses:

• Enerdrive 16mm Cable Kit with fuse, 5 metres (ENC-KIT-BATT-DCDC-16): This is suitable for a vehicle circuit from the start battery to DC to DC charger mounted in vehicle. Connect with the fuse close to start battery and run cable to the DC to DC charger mounted within vehicle.

• Enerdrive Anderson 50A Connector to DC to DC charger cable kit 16mm2, including fuse and 5.5 metres (ENC-KIT-AP50-DCDC-16): This is suitable for caravan/trailer DC2DC charger installations. With the Anderson connector mounted at the tow hitch, the cable runs to the DC to DC charger in the trailer or van. Use it in conjunction with ENC-KIT-BATT-AP50-16.

• Enerdrive 16mm Cable Kit with fuse, start battery to 50A Anderson connector mounted at tow hitch, 5 metres (ENC-KIT-BATT-AP50-16): This is suitable for a vehicle circuit from the start battery to Anderson plug connector, which is mounted at the tow hitch. Connect with a 70A fuse close to start battery and run the cable to the Anderson connector at the tow hitch. Use in conjunction with ENC-KIT-AP50-DCDC-16 for DC to DC charger mounted in caravan or trailer.

 

Running An Inverter?:

You need to purchase one of the four cable kits from the accessories list:
 

Enerdrive Cable Kit 70mm2 – available in 1m and 1.5m lengths

• For inverters up to 2500W

 

Enerdrive Cable Kit 95mm2 – available in 1m and 1.5m lengths

• For inverters up to 3000W

 

Some of the boards and canopy systems have a hard-wired inverter in place, so you will not need the above cable.

 

Cable to connect the battery?

The battery cable required is the same as the inverter cable. You should size the cable off the largest current draw, which is usually the inverter so again it is simply:

Enerdrive Cable Kit 70mm2 – available in 1m and 1.5m lengths

• For inverters up to 2500W

 

Enerdrive Cable Kit 95mm2 – available in 1m and 1.5m lengths

• For inverters up to 3000W

 

So in summary, 1 Cable for the board to the battery and a 2nd cable for the battery to the inverter, with the only exception being when an inverter is pre wired on the board or canopy system.

 

Solar:

With these power systems, you can’t go past the Enerdrive 190W Mono Crystalline Fixed Solar Panels. These panels are designed with the right dimensions to capture maximum solar yield for the space available. One panel fits perfectly on a 4WD canopy, or you can fit four on a large caravan. Generally connected in parallel, these panels can be seamlessly connected to the input on the Enerdrive 40A DC to DC charger which includes a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) solar controller.

 

Battery:

Any deep cycle battery is suitable to run these power systems. However, these power systems allow you to charge very quickly at very high currents. This system is designed to allow you to travel off-grid for long periods of time.

AGM and other lead acid batteries will work, but to truly harness the power of the power system, you should be considering a good quality lithium battery.

 

Victron Pre-Wired Boards

You may also want to check out the Victron pre-wired boards. The Pre-Wired Victron Board B2 with 50A MPPT Smart Solar & Cerbo GX is designed for Caravans, to be installed under a bed or bench seat for maximum space efficiency. This will cover all your charging needs with the board having a pre-wired MPPT regulator, DC-DC charger and the ability to charge via AC from the MultiPlus-II Inverter Charger. What sets this board apart from the rest, is the 3000VA MultiPlus-II Inverter Charger (which is fully programmed prior to dispatch), giving you the ability to power larger AC appliances or multiple appliances at once. This board can be paired with the Gerbo GX battery monitor and screen, which will help you manage your loads and charging. If you're doing a new install and require batteries, you can also configure this product with 2x 200Ah Exotronic batteries, which are a great affordable option for lithium.

Victron also offer the Pre-Wired Victron Board A2, 50A MPPT Smart Solar & Cerbo GX, which offers all of what the above offers, just in a vertical layout. There's also the Pre-Wired Victron Board A, 50A MPPT Smart Solar, which is practically the same as the A2 besides the battery monitor. This board has the standard BMV-712 monitor rather than the larger Gerbo GX. Finally they have the Victron Pre-Wired Power Panel with 30A DC, AC, and Solar Charger, this board is a perfect pre-wired unit for all of your charging needs or if you already have an inverter. This would be a great option for install in van or 4WD canopy for those weekend trips where you don’t require AC power, but still need to maintain charge in your batteries.

 

Shop all power systems here today!

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DISCLAIMER* Please note, this advice is general in nature and we strongly recommend consulting the product manual and where relevant, a professional installer.

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