I Don't Own a Van Yet, But Here's My Electrical System Anyway

2025-11-29T06:01:11Z · by Harrison Erd

No van. Not yet. But I’ve already planned out the electrical system like I’ve been living in it for three years.

Specifically, I’m dreaming of a Ram Promaster 1500, 118" wheelbase — the shortest, stubbiest, most maneuverable bread loaf on the market. And I love it. Compact. Easy to park. Big enough to live in, small enough to disappear. Perfect.

I’m going for a “no-build” interior — minimalist setup. But the electrical system? That part’s not minimal. That part’s built to survive a blackout and still run air conditioning.

The Goal

I want to:

Plug into public EV chargers (Level 2, 240V)
Skip solar completely
Charge a huge LiFePO₄ battery
Power a fridge, air conditioner, and work gear
Avoid catching fire

The System (Simplified)


[ EV Charger (240V AC) ]
           ↓
[ AC-DC Charger (Stetsom Bravo 200A) ]
           ↓
[ 12V 640Ah LiFePO₄ ]
           ↓
[ Pure Sine Inverter (12V → 120V) ]
           ↓
[ A/C  | Fridge | Laptop/iPhone ]

It’s simple:

I plug the van into a Level 2 EV charger using a J1772 → NEMA 14-50 adapter.
That feeds 240V into a Stetsom Bravo 200A charger, which pushes power directly into a 12V LiFePO₄ battery bank (640Ah).
From there, a 2000W pure sine inverter powers everything I need inside: A Zero Breeze A/C unit or some other efficient A/C. A dual zone Iceco fridge. My laptop and phone.

No solar panels. No alternator charging. No weird off-brand controllers with questionable firmware. Just: plug in, dump current into the battery, and chill.

Why This Instead of Solar?

Because I don’t want to deal with the sun.
Because public EV chargers are everywhere now.
Because solar panels don’t work in parking garages, cloudy cities, or winter.
And because I like the idea of plugging in at a grocery store and walking out with both food and 640Ah at 100%.

Is It Overkill?

Absolutely.

But I want my short-wheelbase Promaster to feel like a power station with wheels. I want to work, sleep, chill, and survive heat waves without worrying if I parked at the right angle for my panels.

What Else I’ll Have Inside

Since this is a no-build Promaster 118” wheelbase, the interior setup is all about simplicity and portability. Here's what I'm planning to keep inside:

Full-size bed: Not a foam pad. Not a cot. A real mattress, because I like sleeping like a human being even if I live like a raccoon.
5 Gallon RinseKit Rack Shower: Yep, I’m putting it inside the van. Portable, pressurized, and doesn’t need plumbing. Perfect for staying clean without bolting a water tank to the floor.
Storage tubs: These will hold clothes, cleaning supplies, kitchen stuff (including a butane stove burner), and all the miscellaneous nonsense that accumulates when you live in a tiny metal box
Bucket toilet: The classic 5-gallon bucket with a toilet seat on top, filled with cat litter in a disposable waste bag. Simple. Low-maintenance. Dignity optional. It works, it’s cheap, and if you’re judging me — you’ve clearly never woken up at 3AM in a Walmart parking lot with a situation developing.

That's the plan.

No van yet. No cabinets. No build. Just the essentials: power, storage, rinse, sleep, and somewhere to crap. When it all comes together, it won’t look fancy — but it’ll work!

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