For years in my van “Beans” I ran a simple voltage sensitive relay (VSR) to handle split charging . It worked — in the most basic sense of the word. When the engine was running, it connected the starter and leisure batteries. When it wasn’t, it disconnected them. Simple. Cheap. Done. But when I upgraded to a lithium battery this winter , that simplicity suddenly wasn’t enough. Lithium charging is less forgiving than AGM, modern batteries expect controlled multi-stage charging, and cold...

I don't know how many times I've woken up on freezing Alpine mornings in my van "Beans" to find my old AGM leisure batteries seriously struggling or completely dead. If you’ve ever tried running a campervan through winter on lead-acid, you’ll know the routine: weak solar, short drives, voltage sag, and constant “can I make it through tonight?” battery anxiety. This winter I tested the Renogy 12V 200Ah Smart LiFePO₄ Battery with Self-Heating  (Bluetooth BMS) in my van, paired with a Renogy 40A...

Buying a used van to convert into a camper is one of the most exciting — and risky — steps in the process.  I know this firsthand. Years ago, I picked up a 2012 Ford Transit L3H3 for €7,000. It had 150,000 km on the clock and looked solid at first glance. But over the next few years, I've spent somewhere in the region of €15,000 on repairs, rust treatment, and unexpected servicing. It taught me the hard way that a cheap van isn’t always a bargain — especially when rust sets in and reliability...