A big part of what makes our planet so inhabitable and the perfect place for us humans is because of the sun. Although, with climate change, that's slowly going in the other direction, the sun is also being used in more ways nowadays. Thanks to photovoltaic tech, plants aren't the only species that harness its power.
The sun's rays, although harmful, are actually beneficial not just for our health but for our homes, transport and production industries. Making the most out of what nature has given us is both efficient and safe while being a low-maintenance solution going forward. The same can be done with your caravan.
Parts of a Caravan Solar System
Panels
At the core of any PV system, including the one on a caravan are the panels. Solar panels are what help convert photons from the sun into a usable source of electricity. It's actually the light that solar systems for a camper van are making use of not the heat or the radiation from UV rays.
Inverters
An inverter or inverter/ charger is a two-in-one component that houses both an inverter and a charger. Since the battery stores power at 12 V and the devices in your caravan will probably make use of 240 V or 110 V power you need this component to help convert it to adequate voltage otherwise it won't be of any use.
Charge Controllers
Similar to inverters, charge controllers also help convert electrical power but not when it comes to voltage. A charge controller can convert DC power into AC power. Solar panels generate DC power once the photons hit their silicone cells and your appliances rely on AC power.
There are two types of charge controllers, MPPT and PWM. Pulse width modulation controllers are the old-school way of doing things but they are much more affordable than MPPT. Maximum power point tracking controllers are more than just regulators, they are more efficient and work with every RV solar system without being too complicated to set up.
Batteries
Like any system that produces electrical power from a natural source, a PV system needs batteries in order to store it for later use. Solar batteries are much different than those in your car or phone with the most common ones being AGM, lithium and lead-acid batteries.
Busbar
Busbars are the solution to neat wiring. In the case of caravan solar systems, there are many wires that go to the battery. Thanks to busbars, you're able to connect those wires without having to wire them directly to the terminals. This can be confusing in case of repairs and it's also unsafe unless you use a busbar which makes it easy to see what goes where.
What to Consider in a Solar Setup
Power
One of the most important properties of solar systems for a camper van is the power requirements it needs to meet. It's important that you calculate the total power consumption of your caravan on a daily basis in order to build a setup that's going to be reliable and useful. This is done by multiplying the wattage of every device and appliance by the number of hours you use them daily.
Then, the total wattage per day of each appliance and device is added together and you have your caravan's daily power consumption. A good rule of thumb is to make an RV solar system that can generate slightly more power than what you need for a day as this way you'll be able to have power without the sun in the skies for up to a week.
Installation
Of course, a caravan solar system needs to be on the roof but that only goes for the panels. Everything else goes inside the caravan and it should be placed in a separate space where all the components of caravan solar systems are hidden behind a door, except for the charge controller.
Bluetooth
Something caravan solar systems didn't have before was Bluetooth connectivity. Being able to connect your phone to the system will give you lots of useful information right in your pocket. So when you're driving and have your phone in the holder, you can also have information about the system show up or you can park and check it yourself.
No need to use a voltmeter or other devices to see if everything is working properly. Depending on the app the system uses, you can even control certain settings like the minimum amount of charge that can be left in the battery.
Final Thoughts
Making use of what's readily available to us, is one of the best ways to make the planet healthier for future generations and to also make our trips leave a smaller carbon footprint. If you pair a solar system with an electric caravan, you have yourself the most eco-friendly combo.
