How Much SOLAR Do You REALLY Need for VAN Life?

Van Life Solar Made Simple! Are you wondering how much solar power you need to live comfortably in your van? In this video, I break down everything you need to know! From determining the right amount of solar watts to how much lithium battery capacity you'll need. Whether you're charging devices or running appliances, I'll help you decide how much solar to buy for your van life!

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➡️ HUGE SALE ON POWER STATIONS- Amazon Prime Days Sale Oct 9th, 2024
✅Renogy 200 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panel Starter Kit
✅Portable Solar Panels
✅Power Stations
✅Lithium Batteries

🔴SMALL USB SOLAR SYSTEM: Solar Setup for Car or VAN Life UNDER $300
✅TWELSEAVAN 120W Solar Panel
✅Anker Portable Charger 25,600Ah, Power Bank 65W PD
✅Anker Prime Power Bank, 27,650mAh 3-Port
✅25,000Ah Solar Charger with Panels USB C Portable Power Bank
✅15W Addtop Battery Bank with Foldable Solar Panels ONLY $31
✅28W Nekteck 3 USB Ports 28W Solar Charger
✅40W Flex Solar 40 Watt Foldable Solar Panel
✅60W Portable Solar Charger USB-C PD60W 5V USB-A QC DC Ports,IP65
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CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
00:57 Budget
03:06 Space
04:49 Season and Weather
07:27 Battery Bank
08:00 Solar Recommendations
10:05 Energy Audits
12:01 Energy Conservation
12:44 Solar Minimums
15:24 Tilting and Swiveling Panels
16:32 Conclusion
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*AMAZON LINKS - Items I Recommend:*
➡️Power Stations
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➡️Air Conditioner Units
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Thanks for watching!

[XCX]

I had 5000 watts and all the bells and whistles and dumped it all. I now have 300 watts and it's more than enough. I run USB everything and get away with cheap truck batteries. 2 to be exact. It works all year round and I'm in Canada

[schmonsequences]

It's not difficult to add more solar later but a good rule is 2x as much solar as batteries, i.e. 200 watts of solar per 100 amp hours of batteries (useable). Roof mounted is great for setup and take down time, but means you'll always have to park in the sun. I recommend flexible panels (they're light and easy to store) and a 50 foot cable.

[bruceallen]

Your 2 to 1 solar to battery ratio just made it so much easier to understand.
Thanks Bob. I think I would enjoy sitting around a fire chewing the fat with you.

[jms]

Please make a video with everything else you need for solar, like amps, spitters or connect a battery to your alternator cause all I know is connect a panel to a power jack

[bigjoe]

I have just come back from a 63 day trip doing the BIG LOOP (around the entire coast of Australia) and I had a 200W solar which I used twice, so utterly useless on this trip.
The biggest issue was that I could not mount it on the roof of the vehicle so it could only be used when i stopped for the day. Since I was pretty much on the move all day, almost every day I was only able to use it after 4-5pm. The sun set around 6-7 so that gave me about 2 hours of the day when the sun is the weakest. The actual input I was able to achieve with that 200W panel was between 20-70W. The issue was that the sun is setting fast after 4pm and trees and other obstacles get in the way and reduce the input even more. So you almost have to sit there and watch the buggers for 2 hours, which I found super inconvenient. Turned out that the hassle of setting it up, coupled with the minimal input and the inconvenience of constantly having to shift the panels made me not use them at all towards the end.
The lesson here is if you move a lot and can't mount it on the vehicle it might not be worth getting it at all and you're better off with a generator.

[GroovyVideo]

I had 360watts of solar on roof and 100ah LFP battery for 3 yrs - had to be careful and plan out power usage -
then upgrades to 1200 watts solar and 300AH LFP -
Larger system makes life Easies - less planing -

[chatgris]

Cody gets beamed up by aliens at 10:53. Alien abduction caught on camera.

[camrodger]

Bob, your videos are always so down to earth and common sense. Thank you for all the time and effort that you take to make these videos for us. ❤️

[cetifoxproductions]

The thing I learned early on was start with what you can afford and fit, but install with expandability in mind. I went with a deluxe 200w system from Renogy (lower learning curve), but I did have to start with a gel hybrid battery. Eventually I could afford replacing that with a 200ah LiFePo battery. That dance between how much solar generation vs battery can be challenging, especially when whether sunlight consistency is challenging. So, as you suggested, we're now on a 400w and 200ah lithium system. We have a 6x10 cargo trailer so that is the max 100w panels we can fit. If we needed to upgrade, we'd have to go with larger panels. Your explanation of the key factors was spot on. The rest of is it getting smart about when you use power--use higher consumption during optimal sun so that your panels are able to keep your battery charged. At night you know your fridge is still going to be running, and you'll be running lights. If your nights are still warm (we live in SW Texas, so nights are still hot here even in mid-October), then you'll be running your fan as well. So far, our 400w/200ah system is handling everything great. The only mistake we made was getting an underpowered Inverter. At only 1000w, it is NOT enough to handle even a 750w microwave because just to startup/cycle uses MORE than 1000w. Also, other minimal use appliances like hairdryers are hard to find below 1000w (we did find one). Since we're in a converted cargo trailer, it's not practical (though not impossible) to have our battery alternately charge from our tow vehicle. We have a small 1000w inverter generator that we can supplement either shore power or recharge our batter as needed. Bottom line: Your recommendations are solid. Buy what you can afford, but consider how you can expand your system. Upgrade as you go--as you use your system you'll discover what you can do without and what you can't.

[MightyMoneyMatters]

Hey Bob! Always a thumbs up for your videos!!

[tumbleweed]

Atop my minivan are two 100 watt solar panels keeping my EcoFlow Delta 2 (1000Wh capacity) topped up. I travel up and down mostly sunny California. With affordable DC-DC chargers solar is enhanced.

[davidgreen]

This is good advise from Bob. I would add, that if you are east of the Mississippi you should plan to have enough battery to last 3 days and as much solar as you can carry. You may need to supplement your solar with a Generator in the winter, but this has worked for me. My Ambulance has 7.5 Kw h of battery and 1200 Watts of Solar, but I'm a heavy electrical user, 43" TV, College size Frig on AC and a PC running all the time. You can pre-plan all you want, but real world usage is very dependent on what appliances you use and how you use them.

[rayward]

Great Information!! Please make video on portable vs mounted solar panels, Pros>Cons,

[sharkcookie.YouTube]

Excellent advice. There is no many confusing factors, but you boiled it down to good recommendations.

[andrewmeitner]

Bob, I love seeing Cody in the background. Makes me happy.

[OWK]

The cheapest entry level use is having a small enough panel to be portable fit in your windshield. One or two 12 volt of 50 watts or some of the new 100 watts are pretty small. Then you can use your car battery as an anchor when you are parked and just charge your lithium devices and backup batteries off the solar rigged to that. Only during daylight! Don't run down you starter battery! This also has the advantage of keeping your lead acid starter battery conditioned and you can always charge it up with a solar panel with clamps and a cheap pwm charge controller. You may need one of those new high volt usb c charging outlets they make for 12 volt to charge devices. You can run a 12 volt panel direct to one of those high volt usb C charging outlet designed for 12 volt, by passing the anchoring car lead acid, and charge directly through that, like to a car jumper battery that has two way usb c outlets (important feature to look for). Might take some rigging. I wouldn't charge direct to Apple products from that rig, however, just to the starter battery pack or other battery packs. The usb c port becomes part of the charge controller, so you don't need the pwm. It is also dangerous to jump to or from running modern vehicles these day with all their computers and fragile electronics, so a jumper pack is kind of a necessity these days and can also be used as a device and phone back up battery

[daledeimel]

Please keep giving us all of this information Bob. Thank you for what you do.

[makingendsmeet]

If you can put in a dual mppt/alternator charge controller it can really be a game changer when running minimal solar especially at night and cloudy days.

[OhHapppyDaay]

I have a 200-watt solar panel on the roof of my SUV, connected to my Jackery Explorer 1000 (constantly), and I have a Bluetti 180P that I take into coffee shops, church, or AA meetings when the battery gets low because it only takes one hour to fully charge. I got my 200-watt Renogy solar panel for $229.00, and the Bluetti was $599.00 during Amazon Prime days. I already had the Jackery. Previously, I had the Harbor Freight 100-watt solar panel connected to the Jackery, and as good as it actually was, it was not enough to keep the Jackery fully powered. I have a fridge and fan constantly going and I make at least 2 pots of coffee every day and I cook with a rice cooker. But not daily because I love peanut butter sandwiches 😋 Thanks Bob 🎉

[TomandLoriRVLife]

Bob, we had 350 watts of solar on top and 4 lead acid batteries for 7 years! Same batteries! Finally pulled the trigger and went lithium (4-100amp) and upgraded solar to 1150 on top with a portable 400 watt panel Dec 2023. (1550 total now) We are LOVING life now with all this power and extra battery storage for us! Love your vids!