Learning Pathways
Not sure where to start? Pick a route and work through it in order. Each step links to a free guide, lesson or calculator from the Bush & Bench family of sites.
Learn electrical basics
New to electrics? Start here. Each lesson builds on the one before, from what a volt is to tracking down a 12V fault.
- Volts, Amps, Watts and Ohms Explained
The four words everything else is built on.
- How Batteries Work: Voltage, Capacity and Energy
Voltage, capacity and energy, and how they differ.
- How to Use a Multimeter Safely
Take safe, useful readings before you touch any wiring.
- What a Battery Voltage Reading Can and Cannot Tell You
What a voltage reading can and can't tell you.
- Series vs Parallel Batteries and Solar Panels
How batteries and panels combine, and why it matters.
- How to Choose the Correct Fuse for a 12V Circuit
Protect the cable, not just the gadget.
- 12V Wiring Basics for Beginners
Put it together into a simple, safe 12V circuit.
- Find a 12V Fault Step by Step
Use what you've learned to find a fault step by step.
Handy along the way: Ohm's Law Calculator: Volts, Amps and Ohms, Watts, Amps and Volts Converter, Wire Gauge Converter: AWG to mm² and Back.
Plan 12V camping power
For caravans, vans and 4WDs. Work out what you use first, then size the battery, charging and wiring around it.
- How to Calculate Your 12V Power Needs for Camping
Add up what your fridge, lights and chargers really use.
- Camping Trip Power Budget Calculator
Turn that into a daily power budget for your trip.
- Lithium vs AGM Battery for Camping: Which Is Better?
Choose the battery type that suits how you travel.
- 12V Solar Panel Sizing Calculator
Size solar to keep up with your daily use.
- What Size DC-DC Charger Do I Need? 20A vs 25A vs 40A
Charge from the vehicle while you drive.
- 12V Cable and Fuse Size Guide
Pick cable and fuses that are safe for the current.
- How to Read a 12V Battery Monitor
Know what your battery is doing once you're out there.
- Check My System: Free 12V Setup Questionnaire
Run your finished plan through a free check.
Handy along the way: Caravan Battery Not Charging? Step-by-Step Troubleshooter, 12V Fridge Keeps Cutting Out? Step-by-Step Troubleshooter, 12V Wiring Basics for Beginners.
Plan off-grid home and shed solar
For a shed, workshop, cabin or backup at home. Start with your power needs and work through the system one part at a time.
- How a Small Solar Power System Works
How the parts of a small solar system fit together.
- How to Calculate Home or Shed Power Needs
Work out what your home or shed actually uses.
- Daily Power Needs Calculator (kWh)
Get a daily kWh figure to design around.
- 12V, 24V or 48V? Picking a System Voltage
Pick the system voltage that suits your size.
- How to Size a Battery Bank for an Off-Grid System (With Examples)
Size the battery bank, with worked examples.
- MPPT Solar Charge Controllers Explained
Choose the charge controller between panels and battery.
- How to Choose an Off-Grid Inverter (Sizing, Surge and Inverter-Chargers)
Size the inverter for running load and surge.
- Fuses, Breakers and Isolators for DC Solar
Protect and isolate each part of the system.
- How to Design an Off-Grid Solar System (Step by Step)
Bring it all together into one design.
Handy along the way: Solar Array Size Calculator, Solar Battery Not Charging? Step-by-Step Troubleshooter, Solar Battery Backup: What Can You Run During a Blackout?.
Look after cordless tool batteries
Get more life out of the packs you already own, and know when a pack is worth saving.
- How to Read a Cordless Battery Label (18V vs 20V Max, Ah and Wh)
What 18V, 20V Max, Ah and Wh really mean.
- Will This Battery Fit My Tool? Cordless Battery Compatibility
Check compatibility before you buy a spare.
- What's Inside a Lithium-Ion Tool Battery Pack?
See what's inside a lithium-ion pack.
- Why Cordless Tool Batteries Lose Capacity (and How to Slow It)
Why packs fade, and how to slow it down.
- How to Store Lithium-Ion Tool Batteries Safely
Store packs safely between jobs.
- Is Your Cordless Battery Dead or Just Flat?
Dead or just flat? Checks to try first.
- How to Test a Cordless Pack With a Multimeter
Test a pack properly with a multimeter.
- When Should a Battery Pack Not Be Repaired?
Know when a pack should not be repaired.
Handy along the way: Pack Won't Charge? Step-by-Step Troubleshooter, Cordless Tool Battery Runtime Calculator, How to Use a Multimeter Safely.
Plan water, fencing and yard jobs
For the block, farm or backyard. Each step pairs a plain-English guide with a calculator.
- How Much Rainwater Can My Roof Catch? (With a Worked Example)
How much water your roof can catch.
- How Big a Water Tank Do I Need? A Simple Way to Work It Out
Match a tank to your use and dry spells.
- What Size Water Pump Do I Need? Flow and Head Explained
Flow and head, and what size pump you need.
- How to Estimate Fencing Materials: Posts, Strainers and Wire
Estimate posts, strainers and wire.
- Planning an Electric Fence: Wire, Insulators and Energiser Size
Plan wire, insulators and energiser size.
- How Much Concrete Do I Need? Slabs, Paths and Post Holes
Work out concrete for slabs, paths and post holes.
Handy along the way: Roof Rainwater Catch Calculator, Water Tank Size Calculator, Water Pump Size Calculator, Fencing Materials Calculator, Electric Fence Calculator, Concrete & Area Calculator.