How To Install Solar Panels On A Campervan Roof (6 Easy Steps)
In this post we will be sharing with you how to install solar panels on your campervan roof, broken down into 6 simple steps.
Fitting solar panels can be another daunting task on your van conversion list, but all it takes is a bit of preparation & planning.
We actually got our panels installed in one afternoon – we thought it would take us much longer!
So without further ado, let’s get into it!
* DISCLAIMER: There are so many ways to convert a campervan, different materials you can use & methods of doing certain things. We are not experts (just first-time van builders!), & we are simply sharing what we have chosen to do & what has worked for us after hours of research. So although we write our blog to help others with their build & recommend products & materials that we have used - please always do plenty of research and do choose methods that you feel comfortable with & that suits your van build & needs!
Benefits of solar panels on your campervan
There are several benefits to having solar panels on your campervan such as:
- it gives you the option of going off grid (you don’t need to be connected to shore power)
- you are able to provide power to your campervan through the sun
- long-term it will save you money, as you are generating your own electricity
Deciding what Solar Panels to buy
We chose to purchase 4 Renogy 175W Rigid Solar Panels, as we came to the conclusion that we wanted as much power for our van as was possible to fit on our roof.
Basically we didn’t mind covering our roof with solar panels if they could fit!
When deciding how many solar panels you want for your van & the wattage – here are some things to think about:
- your budget
- how much wattage/power you will need in your van
- the physical size of the panels
- what space you have on your van roof (& how much of that space you are willing to cover with panels)
Spent a bit of time researching & also be sure to do some measuring up before you purchase your panels!
Materials & Tools We Used To Fit Our Solar Panels
(Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links as part of the Amazon Associates Program. If you purchase through one of our links, we may make a small commission, at no extra cost to you!
To check out all the products & materials we used in our van conversion, visit our Amazon StoreFront!
6 Steps To Fitting Your Van Solar Panels
Step 1: Attach brackets to your solar panels
The first step is to attach the mounting brackets to your solar panels.
For us, there were 4 mounting brackets for each panel, and the packets we purchased included all the screws and bolts we needed.
We suggest attaching the brackets before you bring the solar panel up onto the roof of your van.
Step 2: Position your solar panels on the roof
Now it’s time to get up on the roof!
Andy used a ladder to climb onto the roof of our van, then I grabbed one solar panel & passed it up to him.
Prior to purchasing the solar panels, he had done some measurements to make sure they would all fit, so he knew where he was going to position them.
With a marker, he drew around the brackets on each solar panel, so he knew exactly where to apply the Sikaflex adhesive.
Step 3: Apply adhesive & press solar panels on
Next, simply apply the Sikaflex adhesive – or whatever adhesive you have chosen -on the area you’ve marked out (where the bracket is.)
The adhesive will not only help bond your panels to the roof, but also keep the screw holes (that we’ll drill next) waterproof.
Step 4: Screw the solar panels to the van roof
Once we had our panels in place & the adhesive on, Andy then screwed the panels to the roof using the self-tapping hex screws that came with our brackets.
Although the adhesive *might* be strong enough to hold the panels in place, we wanted extra peace of mind so that’s why we decided to screw them into the roof. Just a bit of extra safety!
We repeated these steps for all 4 of our solar panels.
Step 5: Connect panels up in series
Once we were happy with that our solar panels were secure, we then connected them up ‘in series.’
We chose to connect them up in series because it meant we were able to use less cabling & a smaller sized cable.
Note: *Solar panels can also be connected up in parallel – so make sure to do a bit of research on each method to figure out which way is best for your panels!
Step 6: Drill hole for cable entry & feed cables through to solar charger
Staying up on the roof, the next thing you’ll want to do is drill a hole for the cable entry.
The hole can be anywhere on the roof that you want your cable to come in.
We used a rubber grommet on the hole to protect the cables.
We drilled ours at the back so that we could it feed it down the pillar, so it was hidden & it was the shortest route to the solar charge controller.
Then, we simply fed the cables through the entry gland, the hole, down through the van pillar, then we fed it through to where our solar charger is fitted (to be connected later.)
Once that was done, we stuck the entry gland down on the van roof with Sikaflex adhesive to keep it watertight.
Finally, if required you can use cable clips to pin them flush to the side wall or any surface.
Final Thoughts…
Our Renogy solar panels are combined 700W, we recently tested them & they were generating between 35 to 40A on a sunny day to charge our battery! 🌞
We hope that this post has helped given you some direction on how to install the solar panels on the roof of your campervan.
As always if you have any further questions or unsure about anything we wrote, just pop a comment below & we will do our best to help!
Thanks for reading!
Andy & Jane 🚐
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