Campervan Solar Panel Installation

Solar on the roof keeps a campervan or motorhome leisure battery charged while you are parked, off-grid or between trips. We fit panels, MPPT controllers and the cabling between them, matched to the battery and the charging you already have, and give you a written quote before anything is fixed to the roof.

Most solar problems in vans come from the parts around the panel: an undersized controller, cable too thin for the run, a fuse missing between controller and battery, or a controller set for lead-acid on a lithium battery. A good installation gets those right as well as fixing the panel securely.

We bring the same approach we use on boat solar, where salt, vibration and movement punish poor work. Vans have their own challenges: roof bars, vents and air-conditioning units take space, and cable entries must stay watertight for years.

Planning the panel and controller

The panel size follows from what you use. Lights, a compressor fridge, a water pump and device charging use far less than a diesel heater fan running overnight or an inverter powering a coffee machine. We look at your loads and battery capacity, then choose the panel and an MPPT controller sized for it. MPPT controllers get more from the panel in poor light, which suits British weather. A Victron SmartSolar controller lets you see the solar yield and battery state on your phone.

Mounting and cable entry

Rigid panels on brackets or roof bars run cooler and tend to last longer. Flexible panels suit curved roofs and low-profile builds but need secure bonding and some airflow behind them. The cable enters through a sealed gland, is routed inside to the controller and is fused close to the battery. The aim is a roof that stays dry and a cable run that will not chafe.

Solar with lithium and DC to DC charging

Solar works alongside the other charging sources, so it is worth planning them together. A LiFePO4 leisure battery accepts charge readily and makes good use of solar. A DC to DC charger handles charging from the engine, particularly with a smart alternator. If you are upgrading the battery as well, doing it at the same visit means every setting is configured once, for the same battery.

Campervan electrics · Motorhome electrics · Lithium battery upgrades

Arranging the work

Tell us the vehicle, the roof layout, the battery fitted and how you use the van. We will talk through where the work can be done, then provide a written quote. When the system is running we show you the controller and any monitoring so you know what a good day of solar looks like, and what a poor one looks like when the battery needs help from the engine or hook-up instead.

Frequently asked questions

What size solar panel do I need for my campervan?

It depends on your daily use and battery size. We work out what your loads use in a day and size the panel and controller to suit, rather than guessing.

Do you fit solar to motorhomes as well as campervans?

Yes. Motorhome solar panel fitting follows the same approach, working around the existing habitation charger and control panel.

Can solar charge a lithium leisure battery?

Yes, provided the controller is set to the lithium profile. We set it to match the battery.

Will the roof leak where the cable goes in?

The cable enters through a sealed gland designed for the job, fitted and sealed to keep the roof watertight.

Get solar on your van

Send the vehicle, the roof layout and the battery fitted, and we will come back with a plan and a written quote.