diff --git a/packages/electric-db-collection/src/electric.ts b/packages/electric-db-collection/src/electric.ts
index 01484838e..994889ded 100644
--- a/packages/electric-db-collection/src/electric.ts
+++ b/packages/electric-db-collection/src/electric.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import {
   removeTagFromIndex,
   tagMatchesPattern,
 } from './tag-index'
+import type { ColumnEncoder } from './sql-compiler'
 import type {
   MoveOutPattern,
   MoveTag,
@@ -347,6 +348,7 @@ function createLoadSubsetDedupe<T extends Row<unknown>>({
   write,
   commit,
   collectionId,
+  encodeColumnName,
 }: {
   stream: ShapeStream<T>
   syncMode: ElectricSyncMode
@@ -359,17 +361,24 @@ function createLoadSubsetDedupe<T extends Row<unknown>>({
   }) => void
   commit: () => void
   collectionId?: string
+  /**
+   * Optional function to encode column names (e.g., camelCase to snake_case).
+   * This is typically the `encode` function from shapeOptions.columnMapper.
+   */
+  encodeColumnName?: ColumnEncoder
 }): DeduplicatedLoadSubset | null {
   // Eager mode doesn't need subset loading
   if (syncMode === `eager`) {
     return null
   }
 
+  const compileOptions = encodeColumnName ? { encodeColumnName } : undefined
+
   const loadSubset = async (opts: LoadSubsetOptions) => {
     // In progressive mode, use fetchSnapshot during snapshot phase
     if (isBufferingInitialSync()) {
       // Progressive mode snapshot phase: fetch and apply immediately
-      const snapshotParams = compileSQL<T>(opts)
+      const snapshotParams = compileSQL<T>(opts, compileOptions)
       try {
         const { data: rows } = await stream.fetchSnapshot(snapshotParams)
 
@@ -428,7 +437,10 @@ function createLoadSubsetDedupe<T extends Row<unknown>>({
           orderBy,
           // No limit - get all ties
         }
-        const whereCurrentParams = compileSQL<T>(whereCurrentOpts)
+        const whereCurrentParams = compileSQL<T>(
+          whereCurrentOpts,
+          compileOptions,
+        )
         promises.push(stream.requestSnapshot(whereCurrentParams))
 
         debug(
@@ -442,7 +454,7 @@ function createLoadSubsetDedupe<T extends Row<unknown>>({
           orderBy,
           limit,
         }
-        const whereFromParams = compileSQL<T>(whereFromOpts)
+        const whereFromParams = compileSQL<T>(whereFromOpts, compileOptions)
         promises.push(stream.requestSnapshot(whereFromParams))
 
         debug(
@@ -453,7 +465,7 @@ function createLoadSubsetDedupe<T extends Row<unknown>>({
         await Promise.all(promises)
       } else {
         // No cursor - standard single request
-        const snapshotParams = compileSQL<T>(opts)
+        const snapshotParams = compileSQL<T>(opts, compileOptions)
         await stream.requestSnapshot(snapshotParams)
       }
     }
@@ -1296,6 +1308,9 @@ function createElectricSync<T extends Row<unknown>>(
         write,
         commit,
         collectionId,
+        // Pass the columnMapper's encode function to transform column names
+        // (e.g., camelCase to snake_case) when compiling SQL for subset queries
+        encodeColumnName: shapeOptions.columnMapper?.encode,
       })
 
       unsubscribeStream = stream.subscribe((messages: Array<Message<T>>) => {
diff --git a/packages/electric-db-collection/src/sql-compiler.ts b/packages/electric-db-collection/src/sql-compiler.ts
index d7d021c89..1020e079a 100644
--- a/packages/electric-db-collection/src/sql-compiler.ts
+++ b/packages/electric-db-collection/src/sql-compiler.ts
@@ -6,8 +6,30 @@ export type CompiledSqlRecord = Omit<SubsetParams, `params`> & {
   params?: Array<unknown>
 }
 
-export function compileSQL<T>(options: LoadSubsetOptions): SubsetParams {
+/**
+ * Optional function to encode column names (e.g., camelCase to snake_case)
+ * This is typically the `encode` function from a columnMapper
+ */
+export type ColumnEncoder = (columnName: string) => string
+
+/**
+ * Options for SQL compilation
+ */
+export interface CompileSQLOptions {
+  /**
+   * Optional function to encode column names before quoting.
+   * Used to transform property names (e.g., camelCase) to database column names (e.g., snake_case).
+   * This should be the `encode` function from shapeOptions.columnMapper.
+   */
+  encodeColumnName?: ColumnEncoder
+}
+
+export function compileSQL<T>(
+  options: LoadSubsetOptions,
+  compileOptions?: CompileSQLOptions,
+): SubsetParams {
   const { where, orderBy, limit } = options
+  const encodeColumnName = compileOptions?.encodeColumnName
 
   const params: Array<T> = []
   const compiledSQL: CompiledSqlRecord = { params }
@@ -15,11 +37,11 @@ export function compileSQL<T>(options: LoadSubsetOptions): SubsetParams {
   if (where) {
     // TODO: this only works when the where expression's PropRefs directly reference a column of the collection
     //       doesn't work if it goes through aliases because then we need to know the entire query to be able to follow the reference until the base collection (cf. followRef function)
-    compiledSQL.where = compileBasicExpression(where, params)
+    compiledSQL.where = compileBasicExpression(where, params, encodeColumnName)
   }
 
   if (orderBy) {
-    compiledSQL.orderBy = compileOrderBy(orderBy, params)
+    compiledSQL.orderBy = compileOrderBy(orderBy, params, encodeColumnName)
   }
 
   if (limit) {
@@ -58,21 +80,28 @@ export function compileSQL<T>(options: LoadSubsetOptions): SubsetParams {
  * Quote PostgreSQL identifiers to handle mixed case column names correctly.
  * Electric/Postgres requires quotes for case-sensitive identifiers.
  * @param name - The identifier to quote
+ * @param encodeColumnName - Optional function to encode the column name before quoting (e.g., camelCase to snake_case)
  * @returns The quoted identifier
  */
-function quoteIdentifier(name: string): string {
-  return `"${name}"`
+function quoteIdentifier(
+  name: string,
+  encodeColumnName?: ColumnEncoder,
+): string {
+  const columnName = encodeColumnName ? encodeColumnName(name) : name
+  return `"${columnName}"`
 }
 
 /**
  * Compiles the expression to a SQL string and mutates the params array with the values.
  * @param exp - The expression to compile
  * @param params - The params array
+ * @param encodeColumnName - Optional function to encode column names (e.g., camelCase to snake_case)
  * @returns The compiled SQL string
  */
 function compileBasicExpression(
   exp: IR.BasicExpression<unknown>,
   params: Array<unknown>,
+  encodeColumnName?: ColumnEncoder,
 ): string {
   switch (exp.type) {
     case `val`:
@@ -85,17 +114,21 @@ function compileBasicExpression(
           `Compiler can't handle nested properties: ${exp.path.join(`.`)}`,
         )
       }
-      return quoteIdentifier(exp.path[0]!)
+      return quoteIdentifier(exp.path[0]!, encodeColumnName)
     case `func`:
-      return compileFunction(exp, params)
+      return compileFunction(exp, params, encodeColumnName)
     default:
       throw new Error(`Unknown expression type`)
   }
 }
 
-function compileOrderBy(orderBy: IR.OrderBy, params: Array<unknown>): string {
+function compileOrderBy(
+  orderBy: IR.OrderBy,
+  params: Array<unknown>,
+  encodeColumnName?: ColumnEncoder,
+): string {
   const compiledOrderByClauses = orderBy.map((clause: IR.OrderByClause) =>
-    compileOrderByClause(clause, params),
+    compileOrderByClause(clause, params, encodeColumnName),
   )
   return compiledOrderByClauses.join(`,`)
 }
@@ -103,11 +136,12 @@ function compileOrderBy(orderBy: IR.OrderBy, params: Array<unknown>): string {
 function compileOrderByClause(
   clause: IR.OrderByClause,
   params: Array<unknown>,
+  encodeColumnName?: ColumnEncoder,
 ): string {
   // FIXME: We should handle stringSort and locale.
   //        Correctly supporting them is tricky as it depends on Postgres' collation
   const { expression, compareOptions } = clause
-  let sql = compileBasicExpression(expression, params)
+  let sql = compileBasicExpression(expression, params, encodeColumnName)
 
   if (compareOptions.direction === `desc`) {
     sql = `${sql} DESC`
@@ -134,6 +168,7 @@ function isNullValue(exp: IR.BasicExpression<unknown>): boolean {
 function compileFunction(
   exp: IR.Func<unknown>,
   params: Array<unknown> = [],
+  encodeColumnName?: ColumnEncoder,
 ): string {
   const { name, args } = exp
 
@@ -160,7 +195,7 @@ function compileFunction(
   }
 
   const compiledArgs = args.map((arg: IR.BasicExpression) =>
-    compileBasicExpression(arg, params),
+    compileBasicExpression(arg, params, encodeColumnName),
   )
 
   // Special case for IS NULL / IS NOT NULL - these are postfix operators
@@ -181,7 +216,11 @@ function compileFunction(
     if (arg && arg.type === `func`) {
       const funcArg = arg
       if (funcArg.name === `isNull` || funcArg.name === `isUndefined`) {
-        const innerArg = compileBasicExpression(funcArg.args[0]!, params)
+        const innerArg = compileBasicExpression(
+          funcArg.args[0]!,
+          params,
+          encodeColumnName,
+        )
         return `${innerArg} IS NOT NULL`
       }
     }
@@ -270,7 +309,11 @@ function compileFunction(
         params.pop() // remove LHS (boolean)
 
         // Recompile RHS to get fresh param
-        const rhsCompiled = compileBasicExpression(rhsArg!, params)
+        const rhsCompiled = compileBasicExpression(
+          rhsArg!,
+          params,
+          encodeColumnName,
+        )
 
         // Transform: flip the comparison (val op col → col flipped_op val)
         if (name === `lt`) {
diff --git a/packages/electric-db-collection/tests/sql-compiler.test.ts b/packages/electric-db-collection/tests/sql-compiler.test.ts
index 9989d47f9..04e2b0e79 100644
--- a/packages/electric-db-collection/tests/sql-compiler.test.ts
+++ b/packages/electric-db-collection/tests/sql-compiler.test.ts
@@ -308,5 +308,120 @@ describe(`sql-compiler`, () => {
         expect(result.limit).toBe(10)
       })
     })
+
+    describe(`column name encoding (camelCase to snake_case)`, () => {
+      // Helper to simulate snakeCamelMapper's encode function
+      const camelToSnake = (str: string): string =>
+        str.replace(/[A-Z]/g, (letter) => `_${letter.toLowerCase()}`)
+
+      it(`should encode column names in where clause when encoder is provided`, () => {
+        const result = compileSQL(
+          {
+            where: func(`eq`, [ref(`programTemplateId`), val(`uuid-123`)]),
+          },
+          { encodeColumnName: camelToSnake },
+        )
+        expect(result.where).toBe(`"program_template_id" = $1`)
+        expect(result.params).toEqual({ '1': `uuid-123` })
+      })
+
+      it(`should encode column names in compound where clauses`, () => {
+        const result = compileSQL(
+          {
+            where: func(`and`, [
+              func(`eq`, [ref(`programTemplateId`), val(`uuid-123`)]),
+              func(`gt`, [ref(`createdAt`), val(`2024-01-01`)]),
+            ]),
+          },
+          { encodeColumnName: camelToSnake },
+        )
+        expect(result.where).toBe(
+          `"program_template_id" = $1 AND "created_at" > $2`,
+        )
+        expect(result.params).toEqual({ '1': `uuid-123`, '2': `2024-01-01` })
+      })
+
+      it(`should encode column names in orderBy clause`, () => {
+        const result = compileSQL(
+          {
+            orderBy: [
+              {
+                expression: ref(`createdAt`),
+                compareOptions: { direction: `desc`, nulls: `last` },
+              },
+            ],
+          },
+          { encodeColumnName: camelToSnake },
+        )
+        expect(result.orderBy).toBe(`"created_at" DESC NULLS LAST`)
+      })
+
+      it(`should encode column names in isNull expressions`, () => {
+        const result = compileSQL(
+          {
+            where: func(`isNull`, [ref(`deletedAt`)]),
+          },
+          { encodeColumnName: camelToSnake },
+        )
+        expect(result.where).toBe(`"deleted_at" IS NULL`)
+      })
+
+      it(`should encode column names in NOT isNull expressions`, () => {
+        const result = compileSQL(
+          {
+            where: func(`not`, [func(`isNull`, [ref(`archivedAt`)])]),
+          },
+          { encodeColumnName: camelToSnake },
+        )
+        expect(result.where).toBe(`"archived_at" IS NOT NULL`)
+      })
+
+      it(`should not transform column names when no encoder is provided`, () => {
+        const result = compileSQL({
+          where: func(`eq`, [ref(`programTemplateId`), val(`uuid-123`)]),
+        })
+        // Without encoder, camelCase name is preserved
+        expect(result.where).toBe(`"programTemplateId" = $1`)
+      })
+
+      it(`should handle complex nested expressions with encoding`, () => {
+        const result = compileSQL(
+          {
+            where: func(`and`, [
+              func(`eq`, [ref(`userId`), val(`user-1`)]),
+              func(`or`, [
+                func(`eq`, [ref(`accountType`), val(`premium`)]),
+                func(`gte`, [ref(`totalSpend`), val(1000)]),
+              ]),
+            ]),
+          },
+          { encodeColumnName: camelToSnake },
+        )
+        expect(result.where).toBe(
+          `"user_id" = $1 AND "account_type" = $2 OR "total_spend" >= $3`,
+        )
+      })
+
+      it(`should encode column names in LIKE expressions`, () => {
+        const result = compileSQL(
+          {
+            where: func(`ilike`, [ref(`firstName`), val(`%john%`)]),
+          },
+          { encodeColumnName: camelToSnake },
+        )
+        expect(result.where).toBe(`"first_name" ILIKE $1`)
+      })
+
+      it(`should work with already snake_case names (identity transform)`, () => {
+        const result = compileSQL(
+          {
+            where: func(`eq`, [ref(`user_id`), val(`123`)]),
+          },
+          { encodeColumnName: camelToSnake },
+        )
+        // snake_case input remains snake_case
+        expect(result.where).toBe(`"user_id" = $1`)
+      })
+    })
   })
 })
diff --git a/packages/react-db/src/useLiveQuery.ts b/packages/react-db/src/useLiveQuery.ts
index 14a56d647..331ff3a27 100644
--- a/packages/react-db/src/useLiveQuery.ts
+++ b/packages/react-db/src/useLiveQuery.ts
@@ -350,6 +350,21 @@ export function useLiveQuery(
 
   if (needsNewCollection) {
     if (isCollection) {
+      // Warn when passing a collection directly with on-demand sync mode
+      // In on-demand mode, data is only loaded when queries with predicates request it
+      // Passing the collection directly doesn't provide any predicates, so no data loads
+      const syncMode = (
+        configOrQueryOrCollection as { config?: { syncMode?: string } }
+      ).config?.syncMode
+      if (syncMode === `on-demand`) {
+        console.warn(
+          `[useLiveQuery] Warning: Passing a collection with syncMode "on-demand" directly to useLiveQuery ` +
+            `will not load any data. In on-demand mode, data is only loaded when queries with predicates request it.\n\n` +
+            `Instead, use a query builder function:\n` +
+            `  const { data } = useLiveQuery((q) => q.from({ c: myCollection }).select(({ c }) => c))\n\n` +
+            `Or switch to syncMode "eager" if you want all data to sync automatically.`,
+        )
+      }
       // It's already a collection, ensure sync is started for React hooks
       configOrQueryOrCollection.startSyncImmediate()
       collectionRef.current = configOrQueryOrCollection
diff --git a/packages/svelte-db/src/useLiveQuery.svelte.ts b/packages/svelte-db/src/useLiveQuery.svelte.ts
index cd82a59fa..76dedd3c7 100644
--- a/packages/svelte-db/src/useLiveQuery.svelte.ts
+++ b/packages/svelte-db/src/useLiveQuery.svelte.ts
@@ -309,6 +309,20 @@ export function useLiveQuery(
       typeof unwrappedParam.id === `string`
 
     if (isCollection) {
+      // Warn when passing a collection directly with on-demand sync mode
+      // In on-demand mode, data is only loaded when queries with predicates request it
+      // Passing the collection directly doesn't provide any predicates, so no data loads
+      const syncMode = (unwrappedParam as { config?: { syncMode?: string } })
+        .config?.syncMode
+      if (syncMode === `on-demand`) {
+        console.warn(
+          `[useLiveQuery] Warning: Passing a collection with syncMode "on-demand" directly to useLiveQuery ` +
+            `will not load any data. In on-demand mode, data is only loaded when queries with predicates request it.\n\n` +
+            `Instead, use a query builder function:\n` +
+            `  const { data } = useLiveQuery((q) => q.from({ c: myCollection }).select(({ c }) => c))\n\n` +
+            `Or switch to syncMode "eager" if you want all data to sync automatically.`,
+        )
+      }
       // It's already a collection, ensure sync is started for Svelte helpers
       // Only start sync if the collection is in idle state
       if (unwrappedParam.status === `idle`) {
diff --git a/packages/vue-db/src/useLiveQuery.ts b/packages/vue-db/src/useLiveQuery.ts
index 76e181664..479c92b2b 100644
--- a/packages/vue-db/src/useLiveQuery.ts
+++ b/packages/vue-db/src/useLiveQuery.ts
@@ -274,6 +274,20 @@ export function useLiveQuery(
       typeof unwrappedParam.id === `string`
 
     if (isCollection) {
+      // Warn when passing a collection directly with on-demand sync mode
+      // In on-demand mode, data is only loaded when queries with predicates request it
+      // Passing the collection directly doesn't provide any predicates, so no data loads
+      const syncMode = (unwrappedParam as { config?: { syncMode?: string } })
+        .config?.syncMode
+      if (syncMode === `on-demand`) {
+        console.warn(
+          `[useLiveQuery] Warning: Passing a collection with syncMode "on-demand" directly to useLiveQuery ` +
+            `will not load any data. In on-demand mode, data is only loaded when queries with predicates request it.\n\n` +
+            `Instead, use a query builder function:\n` +
+            `  const { data } = useLiveQuery((q) => q.from({ c: myCollection }).select(({ c }) => c))\n\n` +
+            `Or switch to syncMode "eager" if you want all data to sync automatically.`,
+        )
+      }
       // It's already a collection, ensure sync is started for Vue hooks
       // Only start sync if the collection is in idle state
       if (unwrappedParam.status === `idle`) {
diff --git a/packages/vue-db/tests/useLiveQuery.test-d.ts b/packages/vue-db/tests/useLiveQuery.test-d.ts
index 514a2b913..df54ec2be 100644
--- a/packages/vue-db/tests/useLiveQuery.test-d.ts
+++ b/packages/vue-db/tests/useLiveQuery.test-d.ts
@@ -132,6 +132,8 @@ describe(`useLiveQuery type assertions`, () => {
     )
 
     // Regular queries should return an array
-    expectTypeOf(data.value).toEqualTypeOf<Array<{ id: string; name: string }>>()
+    expectTypeOf(data.value).toEqualTypeOf<
+      Array<{ id: string; name: string }>
+    >()
   })
 })