What Solar Is Right for My Build? | The Good Van
Solar? For My Sprinter?
Most campsites have electricity to power your van’s kitchen, lights, and electronics, but what about when you go off of the grid? It’s a great visual to imagine nothing but you and the open road, remote mountains, or hidden lakes, but when the time comes, you’re going to want to be prepared. Solar might have seemed like an environmental van lover’s dream in the past, but between advanced lithium batteries and high-efficiency panels it is now a reality. You never want to get stuck without your resources in a remote bluff, and at Good Van we don’t ask why solarpanels—we ask which solar panels? Here are some things to know before you get started:
How Much Power Will You Actually Need?
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to powering your vehicle. It is important to customize your system to fit your needs.
The Weekend Cruiser (100W-200W): Just need enough juice to keep the electronics alive and your food fresh? Several compact panels will keep you charged for the entire trip.
The Remote Worker (300W-450W): #Vanlifers know what it’s like to work, play, and ride-or-die for your van which often includes running routers, daily water-pumps, charging phones and laptops, and keeping your food and yourself cool. A strapping set-up such as this one gives you reassurance on even the cloudiest of days.
The Off-the-Grid (600W+): Highload systems, often featuring induction cooktops, require packing as much solar as the geometry allows paired with a heavy-duty lithium battery bank. This will give even the most intense off-roaders the most peace of mind.
How Will I Charge My Solar Panels?
The panels themselves may seem like the most important aspect of powering your vehicle, but the crucial component is the charge controller. The charge controller takes the raw power from the sunlight extrapolated on the roof and converts it into a safe charge to power your battery bank and your lifestyle. Good Van always used Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) controllers as they function like a “smart” transmission for your solar system by continuously adjusting in order to harvest up to 30% more than traditional controllers.
How Do I Know Whether Rigid or Flexible Panels Are Right For Me?
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes down to choosing between traditional rigid panels and modern flexible panels. What’s important is ensuring that whatever you choose serves your lifestyle, and both types do serve very different types of builds.
Rigid Panels: When you think of solar panels most often the ones that come to mind are the traditional glass-and-aluminum panels you see on houses. The “Pros” of Rigid Panels are the fact that they: are durable, have a long lifespan, and are slightly elevated off the roof on brackets. The gap between the roof and the panel helps keep the panels cool, and in turn makes them highly efficient during hot summer days. Rigid solar panels work best for a Sprinter Van that will see years of heavy-duty use in all kinds of weather.
Flexible Panels: These panels are low-profile, virtually invisible from the ground, and sit flush against the roof of the van making them perfect for a clean, minimalist exterior. They sit directly on the roof sheet metal, however, so they can get hotter than a rigid panel which lowers their efficiency. They also tend to degrade faster than glass panels. Good Van uses these panels when a sleek look is your top priority.
Good Van’s Good Take
Solar can be a significant asset to your Sprinter Van, but it is just one part of a balanced system. Good Van looks at how your solar functions in conjunction with your alternator charger, which feeds power into your living space while the engine is running, while designing the power grid in order to fit all of your electric needs. The goal is to build a system that you don't have to think about because when your power grid is reliable and integrated seamlessly into the design, you can stop worrying about battery percentages and focus on the road ahead.
-Katie Dillard