12V set-up
Depending on how and where you camp, you may want to consider installing a solar system as either a back-up for, or in addition to, your 12V or 240V/110V set-up. First, you should assess the amount of energy you may need for your 'van.
A typical 12V battery will provide 100Ah (amp hours) of power. This means that the battery should be able to provide 1A of power for 100 hours (or 2A for 50 hours, 5A for 20 hours, and so on).
12V batteries with solar power
Considered the most popular option for 'vans, a 12V deep-cycle battery delivers sucient power to keep basic 12V appliances and other electrical items powered. You will need solar panels with a 12V rating of up to 200W. A 200W panel can generate around 60Ah per day in ideal weather conditions and, with that, you can charge a 100Ah battery in 5–8 hours.
It’s important to know that your battery will require a minimum voltage to operate appliances. This means that the average deep cycle battery will need to be at least 50 per cent charged to run your appliances. A single 200W panel can charge a 12V battery in a day, but the smaller the solar panel, the longer the charging time. You can also recharge your battery from a mains power supply.
These are the most common and established solar panels for 'vans today. They come with a rigid frame that is attached to the roof and are typically used for household and commercial installations.
Lightweight and semi-flexible, mobile solar panels are more expensive than glass varieties. They can be added directly onto a curved roof using silicone, without the need for mounting brackets.
These solar panels are gaining popularity in the caravan world due to the fact that there is no mounting required. They can be easily manoeuvred around the space to increase their exposure to sunlight, thereby maximising the energy captured.
The easiest way to install solar for your 'van is to purchase a preconfigured solar panel kit, which comes with all the necessary parts. A typical solar panel kit includes at least two solar panels, a charge controller, regulator mounting brackets to fit the panels to the caravan’s roof, cables, fuses and connectors. You will find that most solar panel kits don’t come with a battery or an inverter, so these will need to be purchased separately.