Feel the power! Our guide to going solar
Harness the sun’s energy
Getting out into the great outdoors in your camper is all about enjoying nature, accessing beautiful places, and hopefully spending plenty of time outdoors. With recent developments in solar technology, your vehicle can now be kitted out to generate, store, and efficiently use the sun’s energy during your trip. Lightweight solar panels can be fitted unobtrusively to the roof of your vehicle to provide power to your leisure battery, providing an inexpensive and highly efficient energy source.
How does it work?
There are three important elements to consider when thinking about installing a solar unit on your vehicle; power, energy and battery capacity. This useful explainer from SunStore demonstrates the difference.
Power in watts (W) = current in amps (A) x voltage in volts (V)
Energy in watt hours (Wh) = power in watts (W) x time in hours (h)
Battery capacity in amp hours (Ah) = energy in watt hours (Wh) / voltage in volts (V)
Put simply, it is important to make sure that your solar system provides the necessary wattage to meet your needs (without overinvesting in an overpowered unit that isn’t maximised).
Flexible panels
Simply put, in order to collect and store solar energy as electricity (‘the photovoltaic effect’) you need a panel of PV (photovoltaic) cells, usually arranged in a panel. Solar farms and panels on buildings can be huge and provide the greatest level of all-around efficiency, however recent developments mean that new flexible panels provide access to solar solutions without the bulk and weight of rigid panels. Flexible solar panels can bend (usually up to a maximum of 30 degrees, but definitely around the contours of a campervan roof), are light and easy to install, and are ideal for use on leisure vehicles.
Where do the panels go?
A number of manufacturers now produce solar panels specifically designed for use in leisure vehicles. They come in the form of thin but hardwearing panels that adhere to the roof of your vehicle, this means they do not add weight to your overall load and operate silently in the background as you enjoy your campervan to the full. The power generated feeds directly into the leisure battery and can then be utilised in a range of functions from lighting, electric points, and devices.
If you are interested in learning more, or want to discuss installing solar on your new vehicle, get in touch with the team at info@nomadadventurevehicles.co.uk
