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Tech Deep Dive - Wakespeed WS500 Regulator

This post includes an extensive deep dive video with Wakespeed founders, Al Thomason and Rick Jones facilitated by Zach from Vanlife Outfitters and Jesse from Valley Hi vans. In addition, we’ve summarized some of the common questions we get about this amazing product in this post. We feature the Wakespeed in our secondary alternator example wiring diagram and best price product bundle. How is the Wakespeed WS500 regulator superior to something like a Balmar regulator? What really sets the Wakespeed apart is its ability to use voltage, current, and temperature signals to regulate charging rather than only voltage compared to something like a Balmar regulator. Additionally, the Wakespeed can monitor these signals digitally when used with CAN-connected batteries such as Lithonics and Victron Smart batteries. There are many other unique features but this foundational difference is key! What is a CAN bus and how does it work in a system with a secondary alternator with a Wakespeed regulator? CAN stands for “controller area network“. It is a highly reliable standard that uses messages to allow many “devices” inside a system to communicate with each other. CAN is used extensively in the automotive industry and has various implementations in the mobile world including RV-C for RVs and NMEA 2000 in the marine world. If you have lithium batteries that have a CAN connection that the Wakespeed can read (or a “language” that it can “translate”), the Wakespeed will use the data available digitally on the CAN bus such as voltage, current, and temperature to very accurately control charging. It can also monitor other messages from the batteries such as disconnect warnings to prevent situations like load dumps. At Vanlife Outfitters, the CAN-enabled batteries we use in secondary alternator camper van electrical systems are Blog update 2025: Victron NG batteries (paired with a BMS and Cerbo GX). There are two versions of the Wakespeed WS500 regulator. What is the difference between the “white box” and “black box” versions of the regulator? The white box Wakespeed WS500 has RJ45 CAN bus connection ports and the black box does not. In both cases, the wiring harness used with the Wakespeed has a standard CAN connection. So, if you have the white box, you have two options for CAN connectivity whereas the black box simplifies this to only one. Which version you use is typically determined by which type of CAN-connected battery you have in your system. If you’re using Lithonics batteries, you would normally use the black box version since you don’t need the RJ45 connections. In a Victron system with a Lynx Smart BMS and a Cerbo GX, you’d normally use the white box since the Victron equipment communicates CAN through the Victron VE.Can standard which uses RJ45 connections. Note: in early 2024, the formerly “white box” version of the Wakespeed regulator starting shipping with a black, plastic case. Blog update 2025: all of our secondary alternator kits include the latest generation WS500 Pro regulator. When using Victron Smart NG batteries with the Wakespeed, you’ll need the “Wakespeed to Victron” crossover cable to adapt the pin configuration that Wakespeed uses on their RJ45 connections to those used by Victron Energy on theirs. In Victron systems, you’ll want to be sure the Wakespeed is running firmware version 2.5.0 (or higher) and the Cerbo GX has Venus OS 2.90 (or higher). The Wakespeed guide for Victron systems is a great resource to check out. When using Lithonics batteries with the “black box” version of the Wakespeed, you’ll need a few adapter cables. The image above shows a 2x battery set up with the Wakespeed “CAN Bus Y Adapter cable” and a Litihonics “Wakespeed/Iongauge Integration Harness”.  What brands of lithium batteries have been qualified to work correctly (and safely) with the Wakespeed WS500 regulator and why are only certain brands supported? You can visit the “technical” tab on the Wakespeed product page to see which battery brands are qualified for safe and effective use. Each of the qualified battery types has a corresponding configuration file available. In order to be considered for qualification, the manufactuer must provide batteries to Wakespeed for testing and engage in “engineer-to-engineer” level conversations with the Wakespeed team. These measures are to ensure that installers can have the highest level of confidence in the functionality and safety of their systems. How do you use the Wakespeed WS500 regulator with “legacy” batteries that don’t have a CAN bus connection including “drop-in replacement” batteries with internal BMS like Battleborn lithium batteries? Unlike CAN-connected batteries where the voltage, temperature, and current are available digitally, systems that use internal BMS batteries without CAN connections like Battleborn need an analog shunt for current monitoring and a battery temperature sensor so that these signals, along with voltage can be used by the regulator for optimal charging. Currently, Battleborn is the only brand of this type of battery that is qualified by Wakespeed. In addition to using a qualified battery, you should be sure to design your system with at least 3x batteries so that if the BMS in one or more of the batteries disconnects from charging there is at least one or two remaining online to absorb the charging current so there isn’t a “load dump” situation. What is the difference between the standard wiring harness and the “van harness”? The Wakespeed WS500 regulator has various wiring harnesses that plug into the large port on the bottom of the regulator. These variations are designed to accommodate different types of installations. The most commonly used harnesses are described below. The standard harness is most often used in marine environments where the regulator is placed near the engine. It includes all of the connections/wires detailed in the quick start guide. The so-called, van harness is designed for, you guessed it, vans! It assumes that the Wakespeed will be placed near the rest of the van’s electrical system components in the rear area of the van so it has a long (approximately 27′) leg that runs up to the alternator location and another long (approximately 17′) leg that runs to the vehicle’s ignition switch circuit (brown wire). Check out our other blog post/video that details every connection on the Wakespeed WS500 van harness. FREE Camper Van Power System Resources & Wiring Diagrams If you’re confused about your DIY camper van electrical or solar system, you’ve come to the right place. We have tons of resources including blog posts, videos and detailed example wiring diagrams (see below), Our “choosing a system” page offers some additional advice and includes an example load calculation that you can use. Please consider purchasing your power system equipment from our store. Our bundles offer great pricing (yeah, better than Amazon), free shipping and you’ll have access to expert support and you’ll be supporting our ability to create more content! Finally, there are a few things that we don’t sell in our store (yet!) that you might need so we keep a list of these products in this Google Sheet of recommended camper van products.

Professionally Altitude Adjusted Webasto Air Top 2000 Heaters

We’re really excited to be launching professionally pre-adjusted Webasto heaters for customers living at higher altitudes in cooperation with our partners at VMACS and Red Point Conversions. The first product in this line up is a pre-adjusted, gasoline Air Top 2000 STC. Back Story The Air Top 2000 STC heaters (available in both gasoline and diesel versions) are extremely popular for camper vans since they are very small, very energy efficient (both fuel and electricity) and capable of heating the small cabin spaces of camper vans. However, if their standard, factory state, they are only rated for “continual operation” at altitudes up to 4,900 feet. Meanwhile, many of our customers are living and traveling at higher altitudes. This gave rise to a variety of “hacks” where folks were their rheostat controllers to kinda follow the high altitude adjustment procedures outlined by Webasto. But, they conveniently left out the part where Webasto says to verify the C02 % with an exhaust gas analyzer after the adjustment to make sure you are within specification. In our testing, and as you might guess, this basically doesn’t work right. You’ve made an adjustment but it’s arbitrary and creates its own problems (more on that coming soon). How We Do It Correctly Comparing Standard Heater to an Altitude Adjusted Heater Still Curious? Download Test Results / White Paper More Information on the VMACS Website

Webasto SmarTemp 3.0 Controller Overview Video

In this short video we take a look at the SmarTemp 3.0 Digital Controller for Webasto air heaters. This controller replaces the older 2.0 version of the SmarTemp and was released in 2022. The 3.0 adds Bluetooth connectivity that can be paired with a free Android or iOS app. You may also be interested in our Webasto Air Top 2000 STC vs. EVO 40 comparison video. Or our Webasto heater installation tips & tricks video.

Video: Tetravan Shower Overview and Unboxing

One of the biggest questions in camper van design is whether or not to install a shower inside your van. Some people simply can’t live without an inside shower, while others are perfectly happy showering outside, at the gym or at campgrounds. The biggest issue with installing a shower inside your camper van is the amount of space it takes up. Another issue is that having a shower inside your van can also limit your floor plan and make it feel cramped or claustrophobic. On the flip side, the problem with NOT having a shower inside the van is that it can be inconvenient to take outdoor showers when in the city or when it’s cold outside. It can also sometimes be a hassle to find a gym or campground nearby that you can take a shower at. The best “compromise” solution we have found is the Tetravan Shower System which is a collapsible shower that folds away when not in use. It provides all the benefits of having a shower inside your van without any of the space and floor plan limitations usually associated with an interior shower. In addition to the shower itself, a really well made folding shower curtain that works seamlessly with the shower is included. Vanlife Outfitters has been selling the Tetravan shower for quite some time and our customers have been very happy with the product – so much so that we are installing this into one of our demo vans. In this video, we go over the product benefits and how it works. We also plan to do a video on how it’s installed at some point in the near future.

Video: Installing a Webasto Heater with Tips

Over the last many years we’ve installed a bunch of Webasto heaters and over the last two years, we’ve sold hundreds of them to our customers. Along the way, we’ve learned a lot about them that we share in this extensive installation and tips video! We hope it helps you with your install and, of course, we appreciate your support of our store including Webasto heaters. Updated Video for SmarTemp 3.0 Controller Wiring Shortly after we produced this video, Webasto upgraded from the 2.0 version of the SmarTemp digital controller to the 3.0 version (check it out in our store). So, the video below details how the wiring for the SmarTemp 3.0 works which is different than what we show in the main video starting at around 32 minutes.

Webasto SmarTemp 3.0 Released!

Vanlife Electrical System Tour Video - Victron Energy Components with External BMS

In this short video we go over the components of a camper van electrical system that we installed into a customer’s van. She brought us the cabinet and we filled it up with a bunch of blue boxes from Victron Energy to create a powerful, off-grid capable power system for her van that charges with three sources: solar, from the vehicle alternator when driving and when connected to shore power. This system uses Victron Energy Smart Lithium batteries with an external BMS (Lynx Smart BMS). We have another blog post that is a deep dive on an example system like this including a free example wiring diagram and we have best price product bundle in our store if you want to install a system like this into your van! FREE Camper Van Power System Resources & Wiring Diagrams If you’re confused about your DIY camper van electrical or solar system, you’ve come to the right place. We have tons of resources including blog posts, videos and detailed example wiring diagrams (see below). Our “choosing a system” page offers some additional advice and includes an example load calculation that you can use. Below are some of our example power systems for camper vans/RVs. The Victron-based systems all have a corresponding blog post, free detailed PDF example wiring diagram, and a corresponding best price product bundle. Ultimately, you’ll probably customize your system to your particular needs and perhaps combine ideas from one or more of the example systems. A baseline camper van electrical system that uses lithium batteries with internal battery management systems (BMS) such as a Victron SuperPack, Battleborn, SOK, etc. This is our most affordable and simple system as well as the most DIY friendly. A more advanced camper van electrical system that uses Victron Smart lithium batteries with an external BMS and a Cerbo GX for monitoring. This system is a bit more complex and more costly, but adds features and allows for more battery storage in the same physical footprint. If you use the Victron Lynx Smart BMS you can upgrade to a dedicated secondary alternator with a Wakespeed regulator in the future. A super powerful (fast-charging) system that uses a dedicated secondary alternator. This system is the most expensive but also the most off-grid capable. We also have a 48-volt version of this system! We also have a power system accessories bundle that has all the circuit protection, shore power, distribution, and wiring you’ll likely need. Please consider purchasing your power system equipment from our store. Our bundles offer great pricing (yeah, better than Amazon), free shipping and you’ll have access to expert support and you’ll be supporting our ability to create more content! Finally, there are a few things that we don’t sell in our store (yet!) that you might need so we keep a list of these products in this Google Sheet of recommended camper van products.

Van Talks - Episode 2: How to Choose Your Rig

In this episode we discuss “How To Choose Your Rig?” Our guests for this episode were Jake Bachowski of Our Van Quest and Josh Stallings of Master Overland. The discussion turned out super entertaining and informative and we had many different perspectives from “OG” vanlifers and professional van builders. Some of the topics we discussed were how we all decided on the rigs we started with, what type of rig is suitable for each budget, what are the differences between the major brands/chassis and much much more.

Installing a Grey Water Tank on a Promaster Van

Promaster vans have very limited space under the van for tanks. So, we designed a custom-molded grey water tank for Promasters that fits up into the underbelly of the van perfectly and practically disappears without compromising ground clearance. While you’re here, you might be interested in our other video about plumbing your drains and grey water system. We prefer to use flexible, marine-grade hose for routing drain lines. Purchase Promaster Grey Tank