Charging and Solar Panels for Campervans

Getting the electrics right in a campervan is a bit like making your morning coffee last long enough, you notice very quickly when it does not. Solar panels, batteries and charging are therefore some of the most important parts of a campervan conversion, especially if you want to camp off-grid, stay a few days without hook-up and still run your fridge, lights, phone chargers, water pump and maybe an inverter without nervously staring at the battery monitor.

It is also one of those areas where it is easy to buy the wrong things in the wrong order. Many people start by looking for the biggest solar panel they can fit on the roof, but forget that the system should really start with one simple question, how much electricity do you actually need? Once you know roughly how much energy you use per day, it becomes much easier to choose the right battery size, solar panels, charge controller and way of charging the battery while driving.

In this category, we collect our guides about solar panels and charging for campervans. You will find practical explanations of how solar panels work, how to size a simple electrical system, the difference between MPPT and PWM, why a DC-DC charger is often a smart choice and how to think if you want to build a safe 12V system without drowning in cables, fuses and abbreviations.

We write from our own campervan builds, practical mistakes and an engineering perspective where the goal is not to make everything unnecessarily complicated. The goal is to help you build an electrical system that suits your vanlife, your budget and your level of experience. It should be safe, easy to understand and work even when the weather is not quite as optimistic as the solar panel manufacturer’s product photo.

What you will find in this category

1. Solar panels for campervans

Here we explain how solar panels work on a campervan, which types are available and how to think about power output, placement and angle. A 200 W solar panel may sound better than a 100 W panel, but in practice the result depends on roof space, shading, weather, season and how much electricity you actually use.

2. Charging while driving

Solar panels are fantastic when the sun is shining, but in Sweden and northern Europe the vehicle itself is often just as important as an energy source. That is why we look at how to charge your leisure battery from the alternator, why a DC-DC charger is often better than a simple split charge relay and what you need to know about newer vehicles with smart alternators.

3. Batteries and energy storage

A good electrical system is not just about producing electricity, it is also about storing it. Here you will find guides about AGM batteries, lithium batteries, battery capacity and how to estimate your energy needs. The right battery makes a big difference, especially if you want to stay parked for several days without electric hook-up.

4. MPPT, PWM and solar charge controllers

The charge controller is the link between the solar panel and the battery. It makes sure the battery is charged correctly and protected from the wrong voltage. In this category, we explain the difference between MPPT and PWM in a way that makes sense without requiring you to love electrics as much as a user manual does.

5. 12V systems and safety

Solar panels and charging are part of the bigger picture in a campervan electrical system. That is why we also connect the topic to fuses, cable sizing, grounding, main switches and a smart 12V system layout. An electrical system should not only work, it should be built in a way that feels safe even when you are sleeping next to it.

6. Shore power and additional charging

Sometimes solar and driving are not enough, especially in winter, shaded campsites or during longer periods of poor weather. Shore power and a good battery charger can then be a simple way to keep the system stable. Here we explain how to think if you want to combine several charging sources.

7. Practical product choices

We also look at specific products and components that can suit different types of campervan builds. The goal is not always to choose the most expensive option, but to understand what is worth spending money on and what is actually enough for a simpler campervan conversion.