in depth… SOLAR PANELS

There’s a bit of a knowledge gap about solar panels. Just whacking a 150W panel on your ’van will not give limitless power. It’s not going to power a large inverter or run the toaster.

They’re best viewed as a battery top-up that works at its peak in summer. In winter, they’re not that useful as they don’t output much power.

So they’re not the answer to off-grid winter touring. Understanding their limitations and uses is the key to getting the most out of a solar panel.

Despite those winter limitations, however, a solar panel is a great addition to your vehicle and every motorhome should have one – not least because once it is fitted, you don’t have to do anything, apart from clean it.

Thanks to a market saturated in cheap panels, you can buy a basic 100W rigid solar panel and regulator – with everything needed to attach to a battery – for around £120. Larger-capacity panels or flexible types can cost a little more, but you’ll typically pay £100 to £200 per 100W with a rigid panel and £200 to £300 per 100W for a semi-flexible one.

Before you fit the panel

Fitting a solar panel is not the first thing that you should do to extend your wild camping or off-grid ability. Fitting a second leisure battery (or two) should always be the first step. Ideally, you want to add an identical battery, so match the brand, capacity, age and size. Two leisure batteries will instantly double your off-grid capability.

All motorhome systems are powered by 12V – think of your leisure battery as a