Caravan CLINIC

HOW TO GET SOLAR POWER FOR MY CARAVAN

I want to update the Hercules 20 inverter in my caravan to a full sine wave inverter using 2 x 12 V batteries and solar charging panels. I am not sure how to mount the solar panels on top of the caravan, or on top of my single cab bakkie canopy (which I tow with).

So many questions: Do I purchase deep cycle batteries, or high cycle batteries or semi deep cycle batteries, or will “normal” car batteries do?

What capacity must the inverter be – will 900 W be quite sufficient?

What is a good brand that will last when used in this gravel-road caravan?

Then I must also fit a DC to DC charger to the bakkie – one that is intelligent enough to know which power source (alternator or solar panels) to use whilst travelling, and should it also be 24 V?

Has anybody ever done