In all van guides it is assumed that the installation of solar panels is necessary. However, in this article we would like to talk about if they are really a must or not. We would like to tell you in which cases you should consider an installation and in which cases you should not. In addition, in case you think that you do need solar panels, we will tell you about the different types from which you can choose.
Finally, we tell you about the latest legislative developments that have been approved in the ITV technical sheet related to the installation of solar panels and other external elements.
When is it necessary to install solar panels for a camper?
Before getting into the subject, I would like you to stop and think if you really need solar panels. And it is that, many camperization guides always include a section on the installation of solar panels as if these were a requirement sine qua non for life or routes in camper or motorhome. However, it is rarely made clear that, in some cases, the installation of solar panels is not necessary.
Before knowing when it is and when it is not, we must understand that solar panels are usually installed with the idea of being a support or extra electrical power for all the energy needs of camper life . In other words, we are not talking about the fact that with the solar panels we will achieve 100% self-consumption, but that we will achieve hybrid consumption, because in order to generate 100% of our energy, we would need large panels, more than usual. that occupies the roof of a camper.
Double batteries are essential elements
You will also find that, in all van camper guides, the installation of 2 batteries is recommended: the main one and the secondary one. Which is closely related to solar panels for camper. And it is precisely that the second battery is the one that is designed to provide all or most of the energy for life on the road.
The idea of this double installation is none other than, while the car engine is running and thanks to the alternator, both the vehicle battery and the secondary battery are recharged. In this way, we will have two recharged batteries to use the different electrical appliances or plugs of the camper.
So, if we already have two batteries that could be more than enough, why do van drivers install solar panels?
When is it “yes” and when is it “no” to install solar panels for campers?
The most normal thing is to ask ourselves, then, in what situations it is normal to install solar panels for campers. The answer is simple: it depends on how long you plan to be stopped and how much electricity you consume in your van life. That is to say, when you organize a route, it is not the same to plan a route of 1 weekend, 1 month or 1 year. In addition, it is not the same to plan to always stop at stations with electrical outlets and/or campsites or, on the contrary, to do free camping in free areas with the minimum and basic services.
So, consider installing camper solar panels when:
- On your route you want to spend more than 1 night stopped visiting places.
- Plan a long route and/or out of season where there is a possibility of not finding power outlets.
- Don't have an electrical outlet in your van.
- You want to do free routes without much organization.
- You have a large energy consumption in your van (electronic equipment, refrigerator, household appliances…)
As you have deduced, it is necessary to consider an installation of solar panels for a camper when you think that the second battery is going to need an extra boost of energy to support all the energy demand .
On the other hand, there are some cases in which it is not necessary to consider the installation of solar panels, such as:
- If you are only going to do weekend routes or bridges.
- If your route is planned spending the night in campsites or areas with a power outlet.
- If you do not have a high energy demand.
- If you plan to be parked for only one night at each stop on your route.
Are solar panels essential for campers?
As we have seen, solar panels are by no means an essential element to start traveling by camper van. However, the reason why many van drivers decide to install solar panels for campervans is because it simply makes life on the road much easier and because it gives you more room to improvise plans and flow with the circumstances of the road.
The important thing, before deciding if you want to have solar panels, is to understand that these are simply an extra help to have energy efficiency in your camper . And that having them is not going to mean that you can stand for a whole week being self-sufficient, but it will give you the freedom to spend two or three nights parked freely.
Types of solar panels for campers
If you are sure that you want to install solar panels, you have to know the different types of panels so that you can choose the best one according to the type of vehicle you have and the characteristics of your trip.
Flexible or foldable solar panels for cars or small vans
In the camper community, more and more, we see a new type of traveler: the one with the small vehicle. Many lovers of the road are encouraged to convert their minivans, mixed vans or, directly, their small city car.
For these cases, the ideal would be to get:
- Flexible solar panels: This type of solar panels are characterized by being very thin, light in weight and able to bend a few degrees. It is an innovative model that can reach a power of 50 or 100W. They are widely used to install on curved surfaces such as the roof of a car, boat or balcony and are tremendously practical since their installation is reduced to simply hooking the panel onto the surface. Although many recommend putting a polycarbonate plate under the panel to improve its effectiveness and prevent it from overheating.
The negative part of these panels is that they have a very low efficiency, between 7 - 15%, therefore, you will be able to charge a battery but you will need much more time than with a rigid solar panel.
Rigid solar panels for motorhomes or large vans
When it comes to a large vehicle, you should think about installing rigid solar panels. Rigid solar panels include monocrystalline and polycrystalline. These have a great efficiency of 60 - 70% so with a 200 - 300 w you could respond to your camping needs.
If you want more information about rigid format solar panels for campers, I leave you this article in which we explain it in detail.
“Types of Solar Panels: A Complete Guide”
New regularization of solar panels in the ITV
On August 4, 2022, provision number 186, section III, page 113978 was published in the Official State Gazette. This publication comments that installations such as solar panels, awnings, satellite dishes or devices for vehicle charging support must be specified on the ITV card. All these modifications that have been made to the vehicle before November 1, 2022, can be included, through a simple administrative process.
If you want more information, you can read the post
In this case, you should know that the management is very simple and is carried out entirely in the ITV office itself. Right there they will give you an affidavit specifying all the external facilities that your vehicle already has. Once you sign it and pay the amount, the ITV office will begin the process that can take a week. So you will have to go back and collect the technical sheet that will include the plates, antennas or awnings that your camper van already had installed.
This photo is an example of how your technical sheet would look after including, for example, solar panels, bike racks and awning:
