One of the major advantages of caravans and motorhomes is the freedom they give you to really get away from it all. Well, as far away from it all as you can get while still needing access to a pitch with electric hook-up, that is. What do you do if you want to go somewhere really remote and peaceful? Or if you don’t want the additional expense of an electric hook-up? Easy – you invest in some solar panels.
Ok, they won’t be cheap to start off with but just think of the opportunities. With some solar panels providing your electricity and hot water, you can go absolutely anywhere. And yes, they do work perfectly well in the less-than-tropical British sun! Although solar panels do involve some financial outlay, the savings they enable you to make mean this is well worthwhile.
More freedom, cheaper pitches, considerable cheaper power and instantly boosted eco-credentials – what’s not to like about solar panels?
If you’re considering making the switch, or are just interested in learning a bit more about this greener power source, you’ve come to the right place. Read on for our comprehensive guide to solar panels for caravans and motorhomes.
Types of solar panel
There are currently two main types of solar panel available – thin film and crystalline. Both are officially known as photovoltaic, or PV, panels.
- Thin film PV panels are produced by spraying a thin layer of semiconductor material onto another surface (similar to the silvering on the back of a mirror). Typically, a thin film solar panel will last around ten years, which is less than the average crystalline panel. However, technological advances mean they are constantly improving and may soon be able to match the twenty-year lifespan of crystalline panels. Thin film panels are generally the significantly cheaper option.
- Crystalline panels come in two types – mono-crystalline and poly-crystalline. Mono-crystalline panels are the most effective out of all types of solar panel, with each module formed from a single silicon crystal. However, while they are the most efficient solar panels, they are also the most expensive. Most of the crystalline panels you will come across will be mono-crystalline and made from a large number of small crystals. The difference in efficiency means that you will need a larger poly-crystalline panel to generate the amount of energy you need. It is worth bearing in mind that the difference is quite negligible when it comes to powering a caravan or motorhome, but may be an issue if you intend installing panels at home too.
You will also need to choose between free-standing and roof-mounted solar panels, each of which come with their own advantages and drawbacks (a lot of which depends on personal preference).
In general, free-standing solar panels make it easier to generate as much power as possible by positioning the panel to catch as much sun as it can. However, they can be cumbersome and difficult to store and transport when not in use, not to mention the fact you need to leave them unattended from time to time. A number of users also complain that these panels tend to attract flies and insects, which obscure the sun and somewhat defeat the purpose of being able to angle it!
Roof-mounted solar panels are permanently fixed to the caravan or motorhome, meaning they can’t be as easily angled to catch the sun. The major advantages of these are that they don’t take up storage space or need to be transported separately and there is no risk involved in leaving them to do their thing during the day.
As always, you will get what you pay for, so try to stay away from buying the cheapest option available. The most efficient model will rarely be the cheapest! Of course, this doesn’t mean you should be sceptical about all amazingly-priced solar panels – just remember to keep an open mind and research thoroughly.
How to choose the right solar panel
It’s important to spend a decent amount of time researching solar panels before making a purchase, as buying the wrong one for your caravan or motorhome is likely to be wasted money and enough to put you off solar energy for quite some time. If you choose one with too low an output, you’ll end up running out of power regularly and getting fed up; going for one which is too big and powerful means you’ll have spent more than you needed to and don’t really get value for money.
Before you buy a solar panel, take your caravan away for a short break and measure how much electricity you use. Set off with a fully-charged battery, stay away from the electric hook-ups and see how long the battery lasts for. Don’t overuse your appliances deliberately to use as much power as possible; use your caravan as normal to get a true picture of how much electricity you actually need. Do this over a few days as one day is unlikely to provide an accurate result.
Once you get home, use your battery’s rating to calculate your average energy use. For the purposes of calculating and converting battery power to solar panel requirements, the quick guide below should come in handy:
Power (watts) = current (amps) x voltage (v)
Energy (watt hours) = power (watts) x time (hours)
Battery capacity (amp hours) = energy (watt hours)/voltage (volts)
As an example, if you have an 110aH (amp hours) battery and it has lasted for two days on your trip, you need an average of 55aH per day. Therefore, you will need to choose a solar panel which can provide 55aH of power per day. Bear in mind that your solar panel will only be able to recharge your battery during the daylight hours.
If you can’t get away on a short break to calculate your energy use, there is another way of doing it (albeit a less fun and more complex method).
Calculating your energy use manually requires the power ratings of every piece of electrical equipment or appliance you intend to use. As a battery uses around 12 volts to power electrical equipment, the power rating should be divided by 12 to work out how much that particular item will drain from the battery.
For example, a 16 watt light will require 1.33 amps per hour of usage. If you normally use that light for three hours per day, you will need 1.33amps x 3 hours = 4aH per day just for that particular light.
Repeat this calculation for each piece of electrical equipment and add all the results to find out how much power you will need your solar panel to generate. With regards to how much power your solar panel will be able to generate, you can normally expect around 6 or 7 hours of recharging time on a solar panel pointing towards the sun on a typical UK summer’s day. However, during the winter, this could drop to just 0.8 hours.
It is recommended that you include devices with built in solar power in your calculations too (such as solar-powered mobile phone chargers), as they will also require battery power during periods of little sunlight.
Now that you know how much power you need, use this table to work out which panel will do the job:
| Solar Panel Rating
4W 10W 20W 25W 50W 80W 100W 150W |
Summer Power Generation (per day)
24-28Wh 60-70Wh 120-140Wh 150-175Wh 300-350Wh 480-560Wh 600-700Wh 900-1050Wh |
Winter Power Generation (per day)
3.2Wh 8Wh 16Wh 20Wh 40Wh 64Wh 80Wh 120Wh |
Please note that the figures given in the table are intended as a guide only; the weather conditions at any given time will affect the amount of power which is actually produced.
This calculator may also come in handy. It has been designed for the US so, for the purposes of UK caravans and motorhomes, the wattage will remain the same but the current should be halved. This ready reckoner is also very useful (and aimed at the UK market).
Regulators and charge controllers
If you intend to install a large solar panel, it is sensible to consider fitting a regulator too, to prevent your battery from being damaged through over-charging. To calculate whether or not you will need a regulator, divide the rating (Ah) of your battery by ten. If the power of your solar panel is less than this figure, you should be ok without a regulator. Otherwise, it is highly recommended to have one fitted to the circuit.
A charge controller will normally include a regulator and a diode which prevents energy from seeping back into the solar panel from the battery when it is dark. Check what the controller includes before buying, as not all manufacturers will use the same definition and naming convention.
It can also be a good idea to use an inverter to prevent you from running your battery down completely. Some inverters that are available on the market will prevent you from totally discharging your battery and may have an alarm to warn you when it reaches a certain level.
Caravan and motorhome solar panel top tips
- When using a crystalline solar panel, remember that even the tiniest shadow can affect the amount of power generated. Always ensure as many cells as possible are in direct sunlight.
- Glass or plastic will dramatically reduce the amount of power produced by a solar panel, meaning it could take up to three times as much sunlight to recharge your battery. Again, you should always make sure as much of the panel as possible is in direct sunlight.
- Before buying a new solar panel, check with your caravan or motorhome’s manufacturer that it will fit to your van easily. You may need to purchase special adapters if the standard clips will not be sufficient.
- Position your solar panel to catch as much of the midday (strongest) sunlight as possible. This is normally directly overhead during the summer, but you will need to re-position the panels at other times of year.
- Remember that your battery needs to be kept in excellent condition to be able to produce enough energy. Maintain and replace the battery as needed to ensure optimal performance.
- If your caravan or motorhome is under warranty, be aware that fitting a solar panel may invalidate it, unless the work is carried out by the manufacturer’s own tradesmen
- Although not much energy will be generated during the winter months, a solar panel of at least 20w should be enough to keep your stored caravan ticking over until you next need to use it
- Replacing inefficient halogen bulbs with LEDs can make a huge difference to the amount of power you use and, therefore, the amount you need your solar panel to generate
- Remember that pollution, dirt, traffic dust and bird droppings can prevent sunlight from reaching your solar panel. Clean your solar panels regularly with warm water and dishwashing soap to remove grime and keep your panels as efficient as possible. If you notice a drop in the amount of power produced, cleaning the panels is one of the most common and most easily rectified problems.
Where to buy solar panels
There are plenty of solar panel suppliers in the UK, with some of the most popular including the following:
- Select Solar
- Photonic Universe
- Towsure
- Sunstore
- Solar Technology
- The Solar Centre
- Solar Solutions
- Beam LED
This list has been provided to help make your research easier and is not a recommendation or endorsement of any products.