How Much Solar Power Do I Need for My Camper? | How to Calculate Camper Solar System Size

If you're asking yourself "How much solar power do I need for my camper?" you're in the right place. This video will teach you step-by-step, how much solar power do I need for my van. By the end of this video, you will have learned how much solar power you will use on a daily basis, how big of a battery bank you'll need, and how many watts of solar you need for your RV.

If you are looking for more detailed information, here are the resources mentioned in the video:

*Referenced Solar Topics:*

Free Solar Academy: Learn How-To Design and Install a Camper Solar Setup:

Step 1: Learn the Basic Parts of a DIY Camper Solar Setup:

Step 2: Learn How Many Batteries You'll Need to Power Your Camper (Power Audit Calculator)

Step 3: Choose the Type of Batteries You'll Use to Power Your Camper

Step 4: Learn how many solar panels you'll need to charge your Batteries:

Step 5: Learn how to choose the correct charge controller for your solar panels (with calculator)

Step 6: How to size and choose the inverter for your camper

Step 7: How to add Shore Power to your Camper Electrical System

Step 8: Learn How to Charge your House batteries with your Engine Alternator:

Step 9: Learn How to Choose the correct Battery Isolator for your System:

Step 10: Learn how to Install and why you need a Battery Monitor:

Step 11: Learn how to choose wire sizes and types:

Step 12: How to Size Fuses in your System:

Step 13: How to wire 12v Accessories in to your system:

Step 14: Learn how to wire Lights & Switches (Including 2 way switches):

See how it all works together in our Interactive Solar Wiring Diagrams:

[kelliebeckham]

Sir, you deserve some kind of metal for putting this spreadsheet together and making it available like this. Fantastic help!

[litawolf]

Dude. This is the best video I’ve seen on YouTube.
Thanks

[ThisNomadicIdea]

Thanks for putting in the hours to provide the RV community with a spreadsheet that is actually easy to use. Really appreciate all the hard work.

[ROCKNROADX]

Nate, you sir are a legend for creating and sharing your spreadsheet. I cannot thank you enough for the time and money you will be saving me when calculating and then deciding on my build components.
Living in the UK where the sun is more like a UFO, solar efficiency is definitely not something i want to guess at.
Top man, top channel, Happy Subscriber.
Cheers.

[onemansthought]

Dude this is the greatest video ever! That spreadsheet makes it so easy, THANK YOU!!!!

[loganvendrix]

Hey, I just wanted to let you know this video and your excel sheet really helped me figure out how much solar power and batteries I need in my campervan. There are so many numbers and things to pay attention to, but you made it easy. Thanks a lot!

[terrydou]

It really Bums me out that you guys don't get more views. You provide really useful info and real life views of van life, but don't get the views that "Van lifers" get where a lot of what they show is just the trendy side of living in a van, and tend to lean on the sexy side of the thumbnails (bikinis, tight pants, etc etc), which I have nothing against, its just more clickbaity.

I think I have watch your van build series 3-4 times in preparation for our van build, and I don't think I'll take other information as seriously as I take yours.

[gsftom]

This video and spreadsheet are “friggin awesome”. There is no telling how many people u have helped, but I bet it a ton. Thanks for the video and the resources!

[CristofferTartamella]

Haven't used this table but from watching this video, I apreicate the acsess to this and the video, thank you.

[andreajaquelinearellanodia]

I'm so impressed on the super valuable information and the staright to the point explanation! I appreciate this and keep up the good work

[garfiale]

I'm an overplanner, and love to go through all the aspects of these builds to ensure I'm maximizing my space, time, value, and money spent. So far your videos are head and tails above the rest, are far more informative, and really well done. Those spreadsheets are incredible, and they save people a bundle of time. It would take me hours to go back, re learn basic electrician formulas, and prepare and set up a spreadsheet just like you did. Thank you for providing this service to people for free, it truly is incredibly generous! Cheers!

[tanja]

Great video thank you. It's guys like you that make society so much better.

[TBSWORLD]

Your channel has been so fun to watch and learn. Thank you for your help!

[westisthebest]

Nate yarbrough you made me understand something which I could have naver understood. Although English is not my first language. Well done bro

[cjmiles]

Man this video is so helpful! He work you put into this with the spreadsheets is amazing. An extra step you didn’t have to do for us. Much appreciated!

[EvaMonteiroevamonteiroalmeida]

Best spent 9 minutes of my day. Thank you for doing this.

[tangerinedreamer]

This guy makes it so easy to understand and is really fantastic at his job thank you sir its very much appreciated 🙏

[danteishearer]

I've never subscribed so fast. So so helpful👍🏼

[lennieunderscoreboy]

Very informative, concise, not too fast not too slow, easy watching and clearly described thanks!

[donaldcarbone]

Very helpful. Great not having bad background music. Going to subscribe.