Campervan Solar Panels

Solar panels are one of the best upgrades you can add to a campervan. They allow you to recharge your leisure battery using free energy from the sun, helping you stay off-grid for longer without relying on campsites or electric hook-up.

Whether you're running lights, a fridge, charging laptops or powering a diesel heater, a properly designed solar setup can be of huge benefit while camping.

Most campervan solar systems consist of:

  • Solar panel(s)
  • MPPT solar charge controller
  • Leisure battery
  • Solar mounting kit
  • Solar wiring and protection

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Solar Q&A

Why Install Solar Panels In A Campervan?

Stay Off-Grid Longer

A solar system continuously tops up your leisure battery (and starter battery in some installs) throughout the day, reducing reliance on campsites and electric hook-up.

Reduce Battery Cycling

Regular solar charging helps keep batteries healthier by reducing deep discharge cycles.

Free Renewable Energy

Once installed, solar energy costs nothing to generate and works silently in the background.

Charge While Parked

Unlike split charge systems, solar continues working even when the vehicle isn't moving.

How Much Solar Do You Need For A Campervan?

The right solar panel size depends on how much electricity you use each day.


Most modern campervan builds perform best with 200W–400W of solar combined with a quality lithium leisure battery.

A common gauge for solar requirements would be:

Weekend camper 100W–150W

Regular touring 200W–300W

Full-time vanlife 300W–500W+

Rigid vs Flexible Solar Panels

Rigid Solar Panels

Benefits:

  • Higher efficiency
  • Longer lifespan
  • Better cooling
  • Stronger construction
  • Better value long term

Ideal for most campervan conversions.

Flexible Solar Panels

Benefits:

  • Lightweight
  • Lower profile
  • Suitable for curved roofs

Often a neater looking solution but flexible panels generally run hotter and typically have a shorter lifespan than rigid panels.

Monocrystalline vs Polycrystalline Panels

Modern campervan installations almost always use monocrystalline panels because they provide:

  • Higher efficiency
  • Better performance in limited roof space
  • Improved low-light performance

Polycrystalline panels are becoming increasingly uncommon in campervan installations.

What Is An MPPT Solar Charge Controller?

An MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) controller sits between your solar panels and leisure battery.

Its job is to maximise the amount of energy harvested from your solar panels by constantly adjusting to changing sunlight conditions.

Solar output changes throughout the day due to:

  • Cloud cover
  • Temperature
  • Panel angle
  • Seasonal sunlight levels

An MPPT controller automatically finds the most efficient operating point and converts available solar power into usable charging current.

MPPT controllers typically recover significantly more energy than PWM controllers, particularly in cloudy UK conditions and when using larger solar arrays.

We recommend MPPT controllers for all campervan solar installations.