There are a few items to consider when thinking about a new solar panel:
- What type of leisure battery are you going to charge, and how many amps can it take when being charged?
- How much space on the roof of your caravan, motorhome, campervan
What type of leisure battery are you going to charge, and how many amps can it take when being charged?
Only a Lithium battery can accept more than 10 amps, therefore if you have “standard” leisure batteries i.e. Lead Acid, Gel or AGM you should aim for a max or 10 amps charging.
To put 10 amps into context, solar panels are usually sold based on a Watts rating. A 120w Solar Panel in theory without any loss, will give 10 amps, in reality it is probably going to provide 7 amps. Therefore a 120w solar panel is an ideal solution for standard batteries, if you are thinking about Lithium battery upgrade, discuss the solar panel options with your trusted workshop.
How much space on the roof of your caravan, motorhome, campervan
Space is the key to all leisure vehicles, we all seek big inside spaces, with minimal outside impact. An 8m long, 2m wide caravan will have a larger roof area than a Fiat Ducato based campervan.
To some extent the size of your vehicle, roof lights / appliances fitted will determine the space available for one or more solar panels. Aim for a minimum of 120w if you have the space and are running standard batteries.
