Rig Amps compares 12V products for vans and RVs from the figures their makers publish, then does the arithmetic in the open. We have not tested any product. This page lists every source, the rule behind every pick and badge, and what the comparison leaves out.
What we cover
86 products from 7 brand stores, each read on November 7, 2026. Each store sells only its own brand, except Battle Born, which also sells Victron chargers. No product in this check is sold by two of these stores, so each one has a single price here; if that changes, we will list every seller's price, cheapest first.
| Store | Products in its public catalog | Products we kept | Read on | Affiliate program |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BougeRV (www.bougerv.com) | 397 | 26 | November 7, 2026 | Awin 52765 |
| Renogy (www.renogy.com) | 274 | 20 | November 7, 2026 | Impact (Renogy US) |
| ICECO (icecofreezer.com) | 68 | 13 | November 7, 2026 | none found: plain link, no commission |
| Battle Born (battlebornbatteries.com) | 211 | 6 | November 7, 2026 | none found: plain link, no commission |
| EcoFlow (us.ecoflow.com) | 401 | 9 | November 7, 2026 | Awin 59181 |
| BLUETTI (www.bluettipower.com) | 436 | 6 | November 7, 2026 | Awin 59271 |
| ALLPOWERS (iallpowers.com) | 82 | 6 | November 7, 2026 | Awin 40342 |
How we compare: criteria, sources and dates
Sources and dates
- Prices and compare-at prices: each store's public catalog file (products.json), read page by page with curl on November 7, 2026, for the exact option we list (for example "Fridge Only", "1 Pack", "1PC"). Sale prices are included as shown; struck-through prices are the store's compare-at price, shown only when it is higher than the price.
- Specifications: the text of each product page, read the same day. The exact words we rely on are quoted on our pages (for example "Usable Depth of Discharge | 100%", "165wh/24h", "Max. PV Input Power | 12V/520W"). When a page shows several models or options in one table, we only keep figures we can tie to the option we list; otherwise we write "not published".
- Sun data: NLR (National Laboratory of the Rockies, formerly NREL) Solar Resource Data API v1, field avg_ghi, in kWh/m2/day, at each state capital (coordinates rounded to 0.01 degree). 9 states read so far; the free demo key limits calls per hour.
- Safety reference: NFPA, page of NFPA 1192, Standard on Recreational Vehicles, read November 7, 2026.
Criteria and calculations
- Fridges: rated watts and the maker's daily figure, when published. Worst case = rated watts x 24 h [calc].
- Batteries: rated Wh (published, or published volts x Ah [calc]), usable share when published, price per rated kWh and per usable kWh [calc]. For batteries without a published usable share, our tools start at 80%, the depth Renogy uses for its cycle-life figure, and you can change it.
- Panels: published watts and dimensions; area, watts per square foot and price per watt [calc]. Fit on a roof: whole panels in the better of two orientations.
- Controllers: the 12 V solar limit published on the page. DC-DC chargers: published amps or watts.
- Power stations: published Wh and output watts; price per kWh [calc].
The rule behind each badge
Every badge in "Our picks in 30 seconds" names the cheapest available product in our check that meets one written condition:
- Batteries: cheapest LiFePO4 of 100Ah or more; lowest price per rated kWh among LiFePO4; cheapest LiFePO4 whose maker publishes 100% usable depth of discharge; cheapest single LiFePO4 of 270Ah or more. When one battery wins two rules, it shows both badges.
- Power stations: cheapest with 1,000 Wh or more and AC outlets; cheapest with 2,000 Wh or more; lowest price per published kWh.
- 12V fridges: cheapest of 40 qt or more with published rated watts; cheapest with a published daily figure; cheapest dual zone with published rated watts.
- Tools: the power budget recommends the cheapest battery bank, the cheapest single battery and the cheapest power station that cover your need; the roof tool, the panel set with the most daily energy, the cheapest set that covers your need, and the cheapest controller whose published 12 V limit covers the array.
Commissions do not change any order, rule or result. Stores with no affiliate program (ICECO, Battle Born) are treated exactly like the others and can be picked.
What is missing
This comparison is not exhaustive. It does not cover Amazon, Walmart or other marketplaces, and it does not cover brands we have not read yet, such as Dometic, Victron sold direct, Jackery, Anker SOLIX, Goal Zero, Lion Energy or VEVOR. Within the seven stores we kept a selection, not every product: single units without accessories, one option per model. Several ICECO fridges publish no power figure in text and cannot be used by our tools.
How often we update
Prices are not live. We plan to read the catalogs again about once a month, and after major sale periods (the first check after the November 2026 sales is planned for early December). The date of the last check is written next to every price and under every page title, and the sitemap only changes when a page really changes.
What we never do
- No "tested" claims and no hands-on stories: we have not tested any product.
- No stars, no scores, no customer reviews written or imported by us.
- No discount computed by us, no countdown, no stock counter.
- No wiring diagrams or installation steps: we send you to a qualified installer, the product manuals and, for RVs, NFPA 1192.
How we are paid: Affiliate disclosure. Who publishes the site: About.