How To Set Up Solar Panels On A Van

Do not hook up your solar panels to the charge controller until the batteries are connected.

How to set up solar panels on a van.

I have installed solar panels directly to the roof of my van. Solar panels take the energy from the sun and send it down through a charge controller where it will eventually recharge the batteries in your camper electrical system. Without solar panels your van s system will be useless. Quick note before we get started.

Update as a result of new information from renogy you do not n. Takes up space inside the van when traveling especially anything above 200w. Won t be able to charge with solar when running errands. Polycrystalline vs amorphous solar panels.

Given excellent conditions a. Obviously the solar panels are part of that electrical system but i wanted a separate post just for actually installing the panels on the roof of the van. Mount and wire the solar panels. Need to set up each time you re at camp.

Not great for city dwelling. Renogy unboxing of our 300 watt solar system and the install of the panels on the van. The first thing we did was mount our solar panels to our van s roof and wire them together in parallel using a signstek y branch wiring connector. Van solar panels came in a variety of wattages but most vanlifers use multiple 100w panels for their systems.

The panels themselves are easy to install and the entire guide to installing solar panels can be found on renogy s website. Eg the grounding of the panels is directly connected to the chassis of the vehicle and therefore connected to the starter battery. Solar panel cell type monocrystalline vs. They have been installed using metal brackets with no insulation between the frame work of the panels and the van.

This is just one part of a overarching how to install a diy camper van electrical system series.