Who doesn't know the queasy feeling of leaving their camper unattended? Today, I'm introducing you to a cost-effective solution for monitoring your own campervan.

The aim should be to operate motion detectors, surveillance cameras, and door and window sensors using the 12V circuit of the cabin battery.

The smart home sector has brought forth some interesting solutions in recent years. After some research, the Mi Home solutions have emerged as a promising option. The system operates via Wi-Fi and can be expanded with cameras and other sensors as desired. Another advantage is its excellent value for money. Besides the initial purchase costs, there are no ongoing expenses like with other providers.

So, the advantages are: no ongoing costs, remote monitoring via smartphone app, low power consumption, and fully USB-C or 12V compatible.

You should pre-plan a location for the installation of the system. I recommend installing it on a simple wooden board. This ensures a modular solution that you can easily remove and expand with new elements as needed.

The finished system should be installed near a roof hatch so that the external antennas of the mobile router can easily be placed on the roof when needed.

To connect your system to the 12V circuit, you should be able to mount the board near your interior lighting/light switches to tap into the power there.

Teltonika is known for its network solutions for industrial applications. They are well thought out, have high security standards, and are excellent for use in boating and camping.

This Teltonika router is particularly suitable for camper applications as it operates on 12V. I recommend replacing the included 240V AC power supply with the Teltonika Car Power Cable mentioned below for the cigarette lighter.

It is an LTE router that uses external antennas for mobile connectivity. The antennas are equipped with magnetic feet and can be placed on the roof through the roof hatch, ensuring excellent connectivity even in weak network areas. There is the option to operate the router with dual-SIM failover.

It provides LAN cable connections and WiFi, thus meeting all the requirements for our project.

There is a very affordable Xiaomi Mi Home Starter Set that I showcase in my unboxing video. However, it comes with the first-generation hub, which has a fixed plug for the 240V AC socket. This is obviously a no-go for our purposes, as we don't want to constantly run an inverter.

Starting from the second generation of the hub, it is powered via USB-C. Exactly what we need.

Anyone wishing to install outdoor cameras can use these weatherproof cameras. They have a built-in battery and need to be regularly charged via USB-C.

If you opt for this camera, you'll need the set as these cameras require a receiver. The set comes with the receiver and one camera; those needing more cameras can purchase additional ones separately.