What size solar panel do you need for a caravan?

A solar panel can be a real touring essential for caravanners, especially if they enjoy an off-grid getaway. However, knowing which one to opt for is not always the easiest prospect, and it could be easy to find yourself wondering “What size solar panel do I need for a caravan?”. Fear not, as we’re on hand to help you work out the wattage you need.

When you’re looking at the various caravan solar panels on the market, you will generally find they are between 50W to 200W. From there, choosing the size will largely come down to what you want to use your panels for.

For instance, if you’re looking for solar panels to power a caravan off-grid, you’re going to have different requirements to someone who just wants to keep the essentials running

Have a think about the amount of power you will realistically be using when you’re on tour. Our tech expert, John Sootheran, advises:

• Choose a 50W to 80W solar panel if you’re only looking to run basic necessities, such as charging up your phones or powering the LED lighting.
• Look at a 100W to 150W panel if you want to power smaller appliances and keep the best caravan leisure battery healthy while on a short tour.
• Opt for 150W to 200W if you’re a regular off-grid user who likes to use laptops, water pumps, TVs and more when on tour.

The higher the wattage, the better your chances of staying topped up.

If you’re going to be caravanning off-grid regularly or are likely to run multiple devices, it’s worth investing in a higher-wattage solar panel. This will not only provide better leisure battery maintenance but will also offer improved performance.

Installing a caravan solar panel is a straightforward DIY job if you’re comfortable with basic 12V electrics. If not, any decent caravan workshop can handle the install. Just be clear with them that you want the most panel wattage for your money. It’ll pay off every time you head off-grid.

The actual panel size is only one part of the equation, too. Other factors to think about include whether you want a permanently fitted roof panel, which you never think about again, or a portable one you rig up each time you pitch.

The choice is yours, but once you’ve tripped over your portable panel for the umpteenth time, you’ll wish you’d gone fixed. Just check your roof space first, to make sure the panels you have in mind will actually be the right dimensions for your tourer’s roof. No one wants to find out they don’t have room for their panel when they’re up a ladder covered in sealant.

Rigid monocrystalline panels offer the best value and long-term reliability. Flexible panels look nicer but are less efficient and have a shorter lifespan. Pair your panel with a quality MPPT charge controller like the Victron SmartSolar 100/20. It’s well-made, reliable, and you can monitor everything from your phone using the free Victron app.

Avoid cheap, unbranded PWM controllers. They’ll seriously limit what you can harvest, especially on cloudy days. MPPT units are much better at squeezing usable power from weak sunlight.

Another bit of tech you could be interested in for your tourer is an automatic levelling system. John Sootheran talks us through how caravan self-levelling systems work, as well as taking a look at the brands who make them.

Written with contributions from John Sootheran and Peter Byrne.

Future Publishing Limited, the publisher of Practical Caravan, provides the information in this article in good faith and makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Individuals carrying out the instructions do so at their own risk and must exercise their independent judgement in determining the appropriateness of the advice to their circumstances and skill level. Individuals should take appropriate safety precautions and be aware of the risk of electrocution when dealing with electrical products. To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither Future nor its employees or agents shall have any liability in connection with the use of this information. You should check that any van warranty will not be affected before proceeding with DIY projects.