How to Install Solar Panels on a Van

A big part of van life is being able to roam wherever you like, whenever you like, all while enjoying some home comforts.

But you cannot enjoy complete freedom if you always need to hook up to mains electricity and choose suitable pitches that offer this.

A van solar setup can help keep your leisure battery charged no matter where you are. As long as they are exposed to daylight, you can generate free, renewable energy while on the road.

Use your appliances, keep your battery charged and camp anywhere you like, whether your destination has power or not.

Sunstore Solar sells specially designed solar panels for vans and van conversions in simple pre-prepared DIY kits that let people enjoy van life to the full. Will you be one of them?

Solar panels for van life

Van life is all about being able to roam anywhere you want, whenever you want. The freedom of the road, to go anywhere and do anything.

That freedom is compromised a little when you need to run your engine to charge your leisure battery or find a pitch with mains power.

Solar panels overcome that problem and really help unlock the true potential of any van conversion.

With a van solar setup, you can generate your own power in your own time, in your own way. Go anywhere. Do anything without constraints. That’s the true essence of van life!

A typical solar setup for a van will keep your leisure battery charged while you use devices and appliances, watch TV, have a shower and keep the drinks cool in the fridge.

It can also keep the battery charged over winter or maintain the alarm system without draining your battery while your van isn’t being used.

Solar panel kits for van conversions include everything you need to set up your solar system: panels, charge controller, mounts, cables, sealant and all the components and connectors to make it work.

All our kits come with full fitting instructions and our expert team of installers are only a phone call away should you need help.

Does solar really help on van conversion?

Solar panels are a fantastic addition to van conversions because they provide a clean and sustainable energy source, reducing the reliance on electrical hookups at campsite pitches. This independence allows you to enjoy all the comforts of home without the need for external power sources.

Solar panels make off-grid adventures more achievable. They keep the lights on, appliances running, and devices charged, letting you venture off-grid for longer periods. They also create a quieter and more peaceful travel experience than using noisy generators, enhancing both self-sufficiency and sustainability!

The best solar panels for van conversions

The best solar panels for van conversions depend on your needs and the profile of your van’s roof.

Solar panels for vans will differ from other kits due to their different aesthetics and weight requirements.

If your van has a curved roof or a pop top, Sunstore Solar have solar panels for van conversions, pop tops and VW vehicles that are specifically selected for their light weight flexibility and can be easily mounted with adhesives and standard quick connect cables.

For example, our high-efficiency SunPower 12v 100w Semi Flexible Panels are flexible, lightweight and portable. They’re ideal for converted vans with Pop Top roofs like the VW T4s and T5s or the Nissan NV200s.

What size solar panel do you need for your van?

Before installing solar panels on a van, you need to know what size to buy.
This comes down to how much roof space you have and how much power you need.

To assess how much power you need, you’ll need to calculate how much energy is required to power all the appliances inside your van. Choose a solar panel kit that has a higher wattage than that requirement.

For example, if you have a total power requirement of 110W for your van, the Sunstore Solar 120w 12v MPPT Solar Battery Charger Vehicle Kit could be ideal.

Our van solar panel kits range from 80w to 400w so there’s sure to be the perfect kit for your needs!

Our Most Popular Solar Panel Kits for Vans

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140w 12v MPPT Solar Battery Charger Vehicle Kit

£301.28 – £313.81Price range: £301.28 through £313.81 including v.a.t.

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120w 12v MPPT Solar Battery Charger Vehicle Kit

£253.67 – £271.96Price range: £253.67 through £271.96 including v.a.t.

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This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

Sale!

80w 12v MPPT Solar Battery Charger Vehicle Kit

£209.42 – £229.50Price range: £209.42 through £229.50 including v.a.t.

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This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

How to install solar panels on a van

Your solar panel kit comes with everything you need, including the solar panel(s), panel mounts, charge controller, cables and all connectors and components necessary to install your solar panels on your van.

You’ll also get a wiring diagram and full installation instructions.

While each kit differs slightly, we’re going to provide a general guide to give you an idea of what to do. The below guide is for mounting solar panels on a van roof without drilling, using the adhesives provided in your kit, ideal for our semi-flexible panels on curved van roofs.

If you have converted your van yourself, you’ll already know your vehicle inside out and should have no problem with this!

Step 1: Unbox and check the kit

Preparation is a large part of solar setup for vans. We recommend unboxing your kit, checking everything and making sure it’s all intact and as you ordered.

Our team takes great care when building these kits so there should be no problems with this.

Now is also a good time to prepare your tools. You’ll need basic hand tools and a drill. If you have a wire stripper and crimping tool, even better.

Step 2: Prepare the van roof

Many of our van solar panel kits involve mounting solar panels on your van roof without drilling, but you can choose to use stainless steel grommets in the panel instead. You may need to drill a small hole to feed the wires, but otherwise, the kit uses a special adhesive to hold everything in place.

That means your roof needs a thorough clean before installing solar panels on the van to ensure your adhesive bonds properly.

Clean the outside of the roof where you’re going to mount the panels with warm soapy water, then rinse down and dry.

Step 3: Fit the solar panel on the van roof

Position the panel onto your van roof until it’s in the spot you want, but don’t apply the adhesive yet. On your van, mark the corners where the panel sits so you can place it back into position when you go to mount.

You now need to “key” the surfaces to be bonded so the adhesive can stick well. Use light sandpaper to create a good bonding surface.

We recommend creating a solid bead of sealant along the thinner profile of the underside of the mounts, and a ‘wavy’ bead along the wider profile to give a good bond. Use ‘spots’ of sealant rather than completely covering the underside of the panel to allow moisture and air to escape.

Position the panel in its final location on your van roof. You only have a limited time to reposition the panel at this point, so make sure it’s in the right place.

Alternatively, pop top vehicles and van roofs with smooth metal surfaces can use our 3 metre tape fixing kit for better adhesion instead of the sealant.

Mounting solar panels on the van roof without drilling like this is a faster and easier way to install solar panels than our traditional roof fixings that use corner mounts, end mounts or aluminium L shape brackets.

Step 4: Wiring your van’s solar setup

Now comes the fun part, wiring everything up. Your solar panel kit will come with a wiring diagram and easy-to-follow instructions to guide you through this process.

Many of our solar panels for van conversions use standard quick connect cables to make installation nice and easy for you.

You’ll need to install your charge controller and connect your cables to this and your battery for the final set-up. It should ideally be installed as close as possible to your leisure battery, no more than 1 metre away.