Having a solar camper setup is a great option for those that don’t need a lot of power while camping and that don’t want to hassle with a generator. For me, few things are more disrupting to the solitude of camping than the sound of a noisy generator.
A few years ago I purchased a used A Liner that did not have a solar setup for the camper. Retrofitting my older camper to include a solar setup was a lot easier than I thought it would be. Now I only rely on solar power when camping.
In the following article I’ll show you how to setup solar power for campers that don’t currently have it. While I’ll show you how I set up a 12 volt system for my A Liner, the general approach should work for most campers.
Solar Camper Setup: Required Supplies
Below are the supplies you’ll need to follow my 12 volt solar camper setup. I also provide a brief description about what each piece of equipment is for.
- Flexible 100-watt solar panel: I like flexible solar panels as they are easier to move around to track the sun. You’ll want at least a 100-watt panel.
- Solar charge controller: Regulates the voltage and current from solar panels to batteries, preventing overcharging and ensuring efficient energy storage.
- Solar controller cable: Connects the solar panel to the solar charge controller.
- Solar controller battery cable: Connects the camper battery to the solar charge controller.
- Velcro strips: I use these to connect my solar charge controller to my camper wall.
- Conduit elbow: Used for guiding battery cables from inside the camper to the 12-volt battery.
- Threaded conduit nipple: Tightens conduit elbow to camper floor.
- Silicone sealant: Ensures waterproof seal between conduit elbow and outside of camper.
These are the specific items I used, but there are lots of great options for solar panels, and solar charge controllers that will work just as well.
You can also buy a single kit that includes the cables, solar panels, and solar charge controller to simplify your shopping.
ECO-WORTHY All-in-one Kit
How to Setup Solar Power For Camper
Step 1: Determine Where To Place Your Solar Charge Controller
Before you get started installing the solar setup for your camper, you need to determine where you want to place your solar charge controller inside the camper.
I wanted mine to be located where I could easily access it from inside the camper. I also wanted it close to where my 12-volt battery is located (at the front of the camper) and that would require minimal hole drilling.
In my camper, I chose to place the solar charge controller under one of my table benches. Here I can drill a hole into the external storage compartment and then another hole into the floor of the storage compartment.
Because the wood panel separating my camper cabin from my storage unit is weak particle board, I attached the solar charge controller with velcro strips rather than trying to screw it in (which would not have lasted long).
Step 2: Drill Holes and Install Conduit
My camper has an external 12-volt battery housed just behind the tongue of the trailer. So I needed a point of access into the camper to run the battery cable between the battery and the solar charge controller.
I drilled a 3/4 inch hole through the floor in my storage compartment. I then placed the threaded conduit nipple through the hole and secured it with a conduit locknut. The conduit elbow I link to provides a conduit locknut, but you choose a different model, you may need to order one.
I then screwed the conduit elbow onto the conduit nipple on the underside of my camper until it was tight. I then applied the silicone sealant to ensure a waterproof seal.
Step 3: Install Cables
Thread the solar controller battery cable from the solar charge controller through the hole into the storage compartment and then thread through the conduit elbow you just installed.
Once the cable is under your camper, run it to your battery. Try to use any corridors for cables/wires that already exist. You may need to use some zip ties to ensure the cable does not sag and remains against the underside of your camper.
Next, run the solar controller cable from the solar charge controller through the hole into the storage compartment.
Your install may vary from this depending on where you sited your holes. But the same general steps will apply.
Once the cables are run through the holes, attach the cables to the solar charge controller. The solar charge controller will have symbols indicating where the cables from the battery (and which polarity) are supposed to be attached. Simply insert the wires into the designated slots and tighten with a screw driver.
Do the same thing with the solar controller cables, which also have symbols indicating proper placement into the solar charge controller.
Step 4: Connect Cables to Battery and Solar Panel
Connect the solar controller battery cable to the battery first as you never want to connect solar panels to the solar charge controller before the battery is connected.
Attach the positive (+) wire to the battery first, then the negative (-) wire.
Once your solar controller battery cable is attached to the battery (and the solar charge controller), you can attach the solar panel to your solar controller cable.
I really like having a flexible solar panel because it allows me to easily move the panel around during the day to maximize my power generations
Step 5: Ensure You’re Producing Power
The solar charge controller will have a display showing if you’re producing and/or consuming power. Ensure that it indicates power is flowing into your system and charging your battery
Now you should be in business producing clean, renewable power for your camper!
You may need to adjust the settings on your solar charge controller (see this helpful video), but mine worked for me with.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Solar Charge Controller?
How do you optimize power generation with solar panels?
What is the difference between monocrystalline and polycrystalline pan
Is it possible to expand my solar power system later?
What size battery do I need?
How many solar panels do I need?
Summary
Many of us have older model campers that were built before solar camper setups were standard features. In this post I showed how to setup solar power for campers that are lacking solar power.
While I am a handy guy, messing with electrical systems has always been disconcerting. But installing a solar setup for my older model camper was super straightforward and easy. I want everyone to know that it is pretty simple to do and requires minimal effort.
With a solar camper setup, you can expand your camping to include more rural camping without the need for an electrical hook-up. Interested in more off-road camping? Check out the current off road pop up camper models on the market today to expand you off road adventures!
