The 7 best solar panels for vans – comparison and buying guide
Solar Panels Parker
Would you like to have a solar panel in your van to achieve energy self-sufficiency? If you are one of the many people who travel and enjoy life in a Camper, this type of accessory will help you better manage your energy.
And the same I tell you if you have a motorhome or even a boat in which you spend the weekends. In all these cases, what interests you is independence and being able to stay connected to your devices even if you spend many hours away from civilization.
How to get it? Easy: installing solar panels.
However, I know for a fact that choosing a solar panel is not exactly easy, especially if it is your first contact with this type of technology.
Solar panels are still something little used among drivers, although their use is gradually spreading due to the practicality of always carrying a source of energy wherever you go.
It is difficult to know how to choose one of these panels, identify the most suitable one for each type of van model, and, above all, get an idea of what to expect from it.
That’s why I’m going to give you a hand so that you can give your vehicle the energy support it needs. You will see how, in the end, even if you have started from scratch, you end up understanding well which is the best solar panel for your van.
Solar Panels Parker
Choosing a solar panel that you can use in your motorhome, van, or even on a boat is a process that requires analysis and research. Luckily for you, you already know that I am in love with solar panels and that I do not rest until I find the best of the best.
This list includes those panel models that will give you the best results in terms of efficiency, design, and value for money. There are very different energy needs, but surely, among them, you will find the one you need.
I start my recommendations strongly with what I consider to be one of the best van solar panels you will find. Manufactured by Topsolar, its 30 W and 12 V are the best options if you are looking for a solar panel that guarantees that your battery will not run out of charge. And you can believe me when I tell you, you don’t want to see yourself in that kind of situation.
You can find a lot of uses for it. In your van it will become a crucial piece, it will act as battery support as I have told you, and you can also use it with other functions. After all, with a capacity of 12 volts, a wide range of possibilities opens up before you.
One of the best van solar panels
For me, personally, it comes in handy when it comes to having the 12V mini-fridge ready for the times when I want to have a cool drink. But you can use it for whatever you want, from powering the electric can opener and enjoying a good stew, to the coffee maker.
To do this, it has a 25-year production guarantee and a quality design that stands out for its resistance. You will not have to worry about weather or corrosion.
If you have a motorhome, I am going to unquestionably recommend this model of solar panel. It is prepared for this type of vehicle and stands out for its great value for money. The manufacturer has more glamorous models, such as a version with Bluetooth, but in practice, objectively speaking, this proposal has everything you need.
It is a complete kit that has everything you need to install and use, without further worries. Everything is pre-assembled, so even with no assembly experience, you won’t have a problem setting it up.
It is prepared for double battery, being ideal for vehicles that have two units. That is why it is so recommended for motorhomes. But, of course, you can also install the solar panel on a boat.
Ideal for vehicles that have two unit
Thanks to its regulator, you can optimize the use of the battery and adjust the percentage that is provided to each of the connections. To increase effectiveness, its integrated temperature sensor optimizes consumption and protects the battery even when the weather is more extreme.
You will like its good finish, resistance, and integrated aluminum structure with which its resistance is guaranteed. Its six meters of cable will help you with the installation and give you the necessary versatility so that, in a short time, you will have your solar panel at full capacity.
If the previous proposal interests you, but you want a slightly less powerful and, at the same time, economical solar panel for a motorhome, I make this other recommendation.
Connect the board to the MPPT regulator, and this to the auxiliary battery of the motorhome. It is easy, fast and, as you will discover, very comfortable.
With this regulator, your board will perform 30% more than with a traditional PWM regulator.
The regulator provides the possibility of making the connection through a Smart Dongle device that, through Bluetooth, will allow you to have control over the charge levels on your mobile. But you don’t need to spend the day looking either: you can trust the efficiency of this solar panel and its regulating system, which will act as you have marked it.
Even on those days when the heat is extremely high, the panel effectively modulates the load.
Light and easy to transport. This solar panel is foldable, so you can take it anywhere. At first, you may wonder why it is such a positive thing, but I can assure you that one day you will find yourself needing to move the panel and, believe me, it is always good for it to be foldable.
The positive note is that, although there are many folding Solar Panels Parker that do not have muscle, with this model you do not have to worry. They are 200W that will give you the necessary versatility when it comes to making the most of your Camper van.
For added ease, it has dual USB charging and its foldable cells are monocrystalline, which means that its level of solar conversion efficiency is above average. It reaches up to 20-24%, guaranteeing high performance. Even with its adjusted price, the weight of just over 5 kg, and its benefits, this solar panel has other advantages. One of them is its high degree of resistance to water, with IP65 certification to ensure that the panel is always in good condition.
Give this solar panel four hours of intense sun and you will be able to generate 0.5 kWh each day. With this performance, you can afford a very satisfying experience in your van. Its 120 W motor is not the most powerful on the market, but the efficiency offered by this panel will help you see that, sometimes, power is not everything.
Solar Panels Parker
You can use it as a support for the battery of your van, but also with solar generators. The moment you start using it, you will soon see how much you can take advantage of it.
To give you an idea of its capacity, I can tell you that with those four hours of sun that I have mentioned, you will be able to charge the mobile battery about 40 times. And you will charge a laptop more than 5 times. But they are just examples of the potential that the solar panel has.
Don’t worry about installation, because it includes four hooks that make it easy to place. Being foldable, you will not have problems moving it either.
