FITTED SOLAR FOR MOTORHOMES & CAMPERVANS IN THE UK, TELEPHONE OR WHATSAPP 07479351951
What's the best solar package for my Campervan or Motorhome?
How to Choose the Right Off-Grid Solar Panel Kit for Your Budget, Power Needs, and Lifestyle
The best solar package for a motorhome or campervan depends on how you use, and conserve your power.
- 100W Solar Package. Good for trickle charging.
- 150W -185w Solar Packages. Covers the basics like LED lighting and mobile phone charging.
- Limited camper or motorhome roof space can restrict the amount of watts we can fit on your roof, but two smaller panels can be joined in series to make larger solar arrays (e.g. 2 x 185 watt panels =370 watts).
- 320W–450W Solar Packages – The sweet spot for most motorhome and campervan owners. With 300W or more, you can power fridges, lighting, devices and inverters, and stay off-grid almost indefinitely if you manage your energy use.
👉 Tip: If you spend more than a weekend away, go for 300W+ panels with a good quality charge controller. Smaller kits are often outgrown quickly.
Solar Chargers and Controllers
A solar charge controller connects your panel to your leisure battery. Its role is to step down the high panel voltage (18V–55V) to the correct charging level for your 12V or 24V system.
PWM Controllers (Pulse Width Modulation)
- Best for budget setups and lead-acid batteries (AGM, GEL, wet)
- Efficiency: ~70%
- Works by sending short pulses of energy to the battery
- Downside: wastes excess panel voltage, not suitable for lithium systems
MPPT Controllers (Maximum Power Point Tracking)
- Best for lithium or mixed battery setups
- Efficiency: ~90%
- Converts unused panel voltage into additional charging amps
- Performs better in low light and with larger panels
Controller Summary:
- PWM = low cost, good for simple lead-acid systems
- MPPT = more efficient, future-proof, and ideal for lithium setups
Leisure Batteries
Your leisure battery stores the energy produced by your solar panels. Here’s a quick comparison of the two most common battery types:
Lead Acid Batteries (AGM, GEL, Sealed)
- Budget-friendly and widely available
- Proven, reliable technology
- Can last for years with proper maintenance
- Fully recyclable
- Slower charging (typically limited to ~25% of Ah rating)
Lithium LiFePO₄ Batteries
- High-performance, modern solution
- Roughly half the weight of lead acid
- Faster charging (up to 80A, depending on BMS)
- Can sit partially charged without harm
- Thousands of recharge cycles
- 2–3× longer lifespan than lead acid
Battery Summary:
- Lead Acid = lower cost, solid and reliable, but heavier and slower to charge.
- Lithium LiFePO₄ = higher upfront price, but lighter, faster, and much longer lasting.