Category: Solar Power

Posted in camper van, Solar Power

5 Benefits of Using Solar Power in Your Camper Van

Posted on by commercialvansolutions
5 Benefits of Using Solar Power in Your Camper Van

When it comes to camper vans, having electricity is critical for many reasons. Your fridge, lights, heater, and ability to charge laptops and other devices all rely upon a dependable source of electricity. Without electricity, having a camper van just isn’t all that cool!

For the most part, camper van electrical systems share one thing in common: they run off of 12-volt batteries, similar to car batteries but with the ability to complete several hundred cycles of charging and discharging. Still, different vans use different methods to charge these auxiliary batteries, which in turn power your van. That’s where solar panels come in. Solar panels for vans have several major benefits when it comes to their use in camper van electrical systems.

1. Cost-free

Perhaps the greatest benefit of using solar panels on your camper van is their “fit-and-forget” nature. Once installed, solar panels require no maintenance or input to work effectively. Simply wire the panels and secure them to the roof of your van, and you will have a reliable source of power for many years to come, wherever the sun shines.

The same cannot be said for some other sources of charging, including generators. Generators not only require the purchase of gasoline to run, but they also will inevitably need some maintenance down the line. The only form of upkeep you need to undergo with your solar panels is cleaning them intermittently to ensure maximum output. This is achieved easily with the addition of a ladder to your camper van.

2. Clean Energy

One major benefit of utilizing solar power in your camper van is the sustainable nature of this power source. Unlike gasoline-powered generators and grid electricity which comes largely from coal-fired power plants, solar power is a completely clean and renewable energy.

If you are using your Sprinter van conversion like most people do, to access the beautiful outdoor spaces you love, then you probably understand the importance of relying on clean energy sources to protect our planet. The amount of electricity used by a camper van is not huge in the grand scheme of things, but every little bit counts. Plus, adding solar panels to your camper van puts money in the green energy industry, which, in turn, helps it to grow.

3. Off-Grid Capabilities

If you want to take your camper van off-grid, solar power is a must. Nothing beats the freedom of being able to camp wherever you want, regardless of whether hookups are available. Solar panels allow you to rely entirely on the sun’s rays to keep your food cold, your devices charged, and your lights on!

If you are concerned about running out of power during cloudy weather, this is rarely an issue. Solar panels are still capable of harvesting some of the sun’s energy, even in cloudy or partially shaded conditions. And, if you have enough battery storage, you should be able to last for a number of days without charging the batteries at all. Just a few hours of full sun is enough to fully charge most camper van battery banks.

4. Sleek and Space-Saving

Another great thing about solar panels is their mounting location on your van. In order to maximize sunlight exposure, you’ll want to mount your panels on the roof of your van. This frees up precious space inside of your rig that might otherwise be used by a generator. 

Most solar panels are an inch thick or less. Their low profile means that you probably won’t even be able to see them from the ground. And, given the large size of Sprinter van rooftops, you’ll still have plenty of room for gear and accessories up there.

5. Durability

You might be concerned about how long a piece of glass will last on the roof of your van. Rest assured, however, that solar panels are up to the task. The life expectancy of solar panels is 25 to 30 years. After this amount of time, they don’t stop producing electricity – but they lose enough efficiency to bring them below industry standards. It’s likely that your solar panels will outlast the Sprinter van itself.

Solar panels are not just durable, they are rugged as well. Most panels are built to withstand decades of harsh sun, wind, rain, snow, and even hail. In fact, high-quality solar panels are specifically tested to ensure that they can withstand moderate to large sized hail. As long as they are installed securely by your professional camper van outfitter, the panels will have no trouble withstanding the high wind speeds of the highway.

Posted in Solar Power

5 BENEFITS OF USING SOLAR POWER IN YOUR RV

Posted on by commercialvansolutions
5 BENEFITS OF USING SOLAR POWER IN YOUR RV

It’s an issue that’s been discussed around campsites for years now: what’s the best way to power your RV?

While most campsites do have electrical hookups available, what about those times when you’re camping away from one or you’re in a campsite where all the hookups are taken?

Now that you know the basics if you’re considering using solar power for your RV, here are the biggest benefits you’ll take away.

5. LESS NOISE

Perhaps the biggest appeal of camping is getting in touch with nature and getting away from the noise, and the growl of a generator can be pretty jarring. And with a setup that’s totally generator based, you’ll be firing it up any time you want to watch TV, cook, clean, turn on the lights, or really use your RV at all.

4. FEWER EMISSIONS

Most people who camp are at least a little environmentally minded, and using solar power is certainly better on the environment than a generator. Generators do have emissions guidelines mandated by the government, so they’re not brutally bad on the earth, but any change you can make is a good one.

Generators also bring the potentially deadly issue of carbon monoxide poisoning.

It’s not widespread, but poisoning from a generator exhaust happens. These devices have carbon monoxide detectors, but they can – and do – malfunction.

3. REDUCED COST

In terms of cost, solar power wins over a generator hands down.

After all, there’s nothing more low-cost than the sun.

Like a traditional gas-powered generator, there is some cost initially, but once you pay to install your solar system, you’re not paying for maintenance and you’re not paying for fuel again and again. There are no moving parts, which means there’s nothing to break.

A solar power system can easily last for 10 years or more.

Budgeting is a sticking point for most people, but don’t let solar scare you.

As technology has improved, the price of solar has dropped dramatically. Depending on your needs, you can actually get a small solar system installed that’s quite affordable. There are even portable solar panels these days that don’t have to be permanently installed on your vehicle.

2. LOCAL REGULATIONS

As a general rule, generator use is okay in U.S. National Parks provided it falls below a certain decibel level and is only run during certain hours. But they can actually be banned in some locations depending on the time of year.

If there’s a local fire ban or if there are protected birds roosting nearby, you may find yourself without power if you’re relying solely on a generator. If you’re using solar as your primary power source, you’ll never run afoul of local laws. Rules do vary from park to park, so it’s wise to check with your park before you go.

1. FREEDOM TO TRAVEL

Maybe the single biggest benefit of solar power is that it gives you the freedom to travel anywhere you want.

You might have to live without your air conditioner, but as long as you can do that, you’re not limited to going where you have a hookup.

For a lot of campers, you’re not really getting away until you’re boondocking. And that’s no trouble when you’re using solar power. The ability to have power no matter where you are means you can get away from the popular campsite and find secluded spots to really get in touch with nature.

SO WHAT’S THE TAKEAWAY?

RV solar system is clean, quiet, waste-free, maintenance-free, and free to operate. And you’ve got a virtually unlimited supply even on cloudy days.

Making the leap to solar power can be overwhelming and confusing, but once you make the move, you’ll be glad you did.

Especially if your RV travels are going to take you to parts unknown into areas where there’s no electricity, solar is an option you’ll definitely want to consider because it comes with nothing but benefits.

Posted in camper van, Solar Power

5 Benefits of Using Solar Power in Your Camper Van

Posted on by commercialvansolutions
5 Benefits of Using Solar Power in Your Camper Van

When it comes to camper vans, having electricity is critical for many reasons. Your fridge, lights, heater, and ability to charge laptops and other devices all rely upon a dependable source of electricity. Without electricity, having a camper van just isn’t all that cool!

For the most part, camper van electrical systems share one thing in common: they run off of 12-volt batteries, similar to car batteries but with the ability to complete several hundred cycles of charging and discharging. Still, different vans use different methods to charge these auxiliary batteries, which in turn power your van. That’s where solar panels come in. Camper van solar power has several major benefits when it comes to its use in camper van electrical systems.

1. Cost-free

Perhaps the greatest benefit of using solar panels on your camper van is their “fit-and-forget” nature. Once installed, solar panels require no maintenance or input to work effectively. Simply wire the panels and secure them to the roof of your van, and you will have a reliable source of power for many years to come, wherever the sun shines.

The same cannot be said for some other sources of charging, including generators. Generators not only require the purchase of gasoline to run, but they also will inevitably need some maintenance down the line. The only form of upkeep you need to undergo with your solar panels is cleaning them intermittently to ensure maximum output. This is achieved easily with the addition of a ladder to your camper van.

2. Clean Energy

One major benefit of utilizing solar power in your camper van is the sustainable nature of this power source. Unlike gasoline-powered generators and grid electricity which comes largely from coal-fired power plants, solar power is a completely clean and renewable energy.

If you are using your Sprinter van conversion like most people do, to access the beautiful outdoor spaces you love, then you probably understand the importance of relying on clean energy sources to protect our planet. The amount of electricity used by a camper van is not huge in the grand scheme of things, but every little bit counts. Plus, adding solar panels to your camper van puts money in the green energy industry, which, in turn, helps it to grow.

3. Off-Grid Capabilities

If you want to take your camper van off-grid, solar power is a must. Nothing beats the freedom of being able to camp wherever you want, regardless of whether hookups are available. Solar panels allow you to rely entirely on the sun’s rays to keep your food cold, your devices charged, and your lights on!

If you are concerned about running out of power during cloudy weather, this is rarely an issue. Solar panels are still capable of harvesting some of the sun’s energy, even in cloudy or partially shaded conditions. And, if you have enough battery storage, you should be able to last for a number of days without charging the batteries at all. Just a few hours of full sun is enough to fully charge most camper van battery banks.

4. Sleek and Space-Saving

Another great thing about solar panels is their mounting location on your van. In order to maximize sunlight exposure, you’ll want to mount your panels on the roof of your van. This frees up precious space inside of your rig that might otherwise be used by a generator. 

Most solar panels are an inch thick or less. Their low profile means that you probably won’t even be able to see them from the ground. And, given the large size of Sprinter van rooftops, you’ll still have plenty of room for gear and accessories up there.

5. Durability

You might be concerned about how long a piece of glass will last on the roof of your van. Rest assured, however, that solar panels are up to the task. The life expectancy of solar panels is 25 to 30 years. After this amount of time, they don’t stop producing electricity – but they lose enough efficiency to bring them below industry standards. It’s likely that your solar panels will outlast the Sprinter van itself.

Solar panels are not just durable, they are rugged as well. Most panels are built to withstand decades of harsh sun, wind, rain, snow, and even hail. In fact, high-quality solar panels are specifically tested to ensure that they can withstand moderate to large sized hail. As long as they are installed securely by your professional camper van outfitter, the panels will have no trouble withstanding the high wind speeds of the highway.