Working out what you need

Most 12V builds come down to three questions. Answer them in order and the shopping list writes itself.

1. What is charging the battery?

If you are charging off the alternator while you drive, you want a DC-DC charger. If you are charging off solar while parked, you want an MPPT solar controller. If you want both, several units do both jobs in one box, which saves space and a set of cabling. Browse REDARC, Enerdrive and Victron.

2. What sort of battery is it?

Lithium and lead acid want different charge profiles, and putting the wrong one into a lithium battery will shorten its life. Every charger we stock lets you select the profile. The thing to check before you buy is that the profile matches the battery you actually own.

3. How is it wired and protected?

This is where most builds get let down. Cable that is too thin drops voltage over a long run, and an unfused circuit is a fire waiting for a rough corrugation. You need the right cable size for the run, a fuse or breaker close to the battery, and connectors that will not shake apart. See Anderson Plugs, Fuse Blocks and 12V Wiring, and 12V Wiring Tools if you are crimping your own.

Lighting and recovery

Narva covers driving lights and light bars. MAXTRAX covers recovery boards, kinetic and static ropes, and soft shackles.

Not sure? Ask before you buy.

Tell us the vehicle, the battery you are running and what you want to power, and we will tell you what fits. It costs us nothing and saves you buying twice. Contact us.