What to expect when outfitting your vehicle with off-grid capabilities, including solar roof panels, a charge controller and a battery power bank.
Introduction
We've had our van for almost four years. After finding ourselves camping often in remote areas, we decided to take the leap and install off-grid battery charging capability. For this project, we chose the Renogy 400-Watt Premium Solar Kit, and here's how it went.
Note: This project includes basic instructions for installing solar panels on the roof, a solar controller inside the van and a two-battery power bank. Because there are many types of setups for these systems, if you want to do this, your first step should be to figure out the size of the system you need, diagram where you would like the components installed in your camper van, and order the kit(s) appropriate to your setup.
Danger: Though 12V batteries might not seem scary, these are high-energy electrical systems. If you're not trained in this type of work, hire a professional to make your wiring connections. Wire sizes, lengths and circuits are all extremely important and vary between systems and setups. Incorrect installation could result in death, loss of property or serious injury. Please, always put safety first!
Tools Required
Materials Required
- #8 x 1-inch stainless steel pan head Phillips screws (100)
- Adhesive sealant
- Battery and inverter cables
- Electrical tape
- Necessary and properly sized fuses and or breakers
- Solar kit components
- Wire clamps (plastic 3/8 size)
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