Keeping solar panels inside of Van

[CampingOdyssey]

I would like to have more solar than I can fit on the outside my van. I was thinking about keeping some panels inside and bringing them out when I'm parked somewhere that has enough space for me to put them outside on the ground. I was thinking about having 5- 100watt solar panels on a rack of some sort inside the van, all wired up and ready to go. Then, if I find a spot that only allows for 1 or 2 panels, I'll only take 1 or 2 and put them on the ground... and if I'm in a spot that allows for all 5 panels, I'll take them all out etc. I thought I remember seeing an example of someone doing that, but it was a while back and don't know where I saw it. Has anyone here ever done anything like that? Would it work or would I run into any sort of problems? Thanks for the help!

 

[WanderingRose]

I carry my 100 watt Renogy solar panel in its case behind my drivers seat, where it first perfectly and is easy to grab from the cargo door to attach to my coach battery and place in the sun.

Works great.

 

[Happy Camper]

How large is the battery bank you're trying to charge? Or what do you want to run that would require 500w extra that you can't run now?

I've seen where people have a rack where panels sit on a rack under the main panels. Then the rack gets pulled out when parked for extra solar.

 

[maki2]

It all depends on your tolerance for taking things out, setting them up and putting them back away. Setting up and packing up camp is my least favorite task of full time boonfocking. It would be OK to put out a semi permanent array of 5- 100 watt panels if staying all winter in one of the BLM long stay areas but not so great for short stay camping.

 

[Happy Camper]

You can always do something like this. Keeping it as simple or elaborate as you prefer.

 

[CampingOdyssey]

That's an awesome set up Happy Camper! I love seeing all the innovation in van builds!

I'm still planning my build and at the moment and I don't think I'll have solar on the outside of my van. I have a Renogy folding panel (with a 30a charge controller) like WanderingRose and plan on getting more panels and hooking them up to the same cc.

When I posted the question yesterday, I was thinking about having the panels prewired together and prewired into the charge controller. That way when I get somewhere I don't have to mess with wires, I can just take however many panels out I'd like to use and place them on the ground. The charge controller is set up with alligator clamps so it's real easy to connect to the battery. However, now when I think about it, I'm not sure having them all prewired together would be the easiest way to go about it.

It seems like the easiest way would be to have some sort of adapter that is wired into the charge controller, the adapter would allow me to easily plug in all or some of the 5 panels into the 1 charge controller. That way I can only have the panels I'm using at the time plugged in. Are there any adapters that would work like that?

If I do have all the panels prewired together and prewired into the charge controller (like I was thinking about doing last night when I posted this question), my concern is, I've heard on a few videos and blogs that if you have a situation where a solar panel is partially shaded, it makes the other cells in panel or array work harder and not only does it produce less power but it's also not good for the cells. They made it seem like when a tree branch blocks half the sun on a panel, its worse than if a cloud blocks the sun for the whole panel. I don't know if that's actually a thing or not but I through I remember hearing about it a few times so maybe it's something I should consider before buying a bunch of panels. I was wondering if I have all the solar panels wired together but only take out a few at a time and leave the rest in the van, could it cause problems and be bad for the cells like the blogs and videos suggest happens in partial shade? Thanks for the help!

 

[Happy Camper]

That's a lot of moving and fiddling with panels and wires. Depends on what your time and inconvenience are worth to you.

So let's just say you get the system dialed in and can set everything up in 30 minutes give or take. If you need to leave in a hurry, it's at minimum 30 minutes before you can move your vehicle. That doesn't include ancillary things you've set up.

It ultimately depends on what your actual plans are regarding where you'll be going, how long you're staying, and if you feel like dealing with it. This sounds like one of those ideas that seems great until about the tenth time you do it, and then it's not so great.

If you have roof space, maybe you can set up something where the panels can slide/snap in and you have things pre-wired with quick connects? Just spitballing here.

You're losing a lot of space storing them inside.

 

[frodo2222]

I would like to have more solar than I can fit on the outside my van. I was thinking about keeping some panels inside and bringing them out when I'm parked somewhere that has enough space for me to put them outside on the ground. I was thinking about having 5- 100watt solar panels on a rack of some sort inside the van, all wired up and ready to go. Then, if I find a spot that only allows for 1 or 2 panels, I'll only take 1 or 2 and put them on the ground... and if I'm in a spot that allows for all 5 panels, I'll take them all out etc. I thought I remember seeing an example of someone doing that, but it was a while back and don't know where I saw it. Has anyone here ever done anything like that? Would it work or would I run into any sort of problems? Thanks for the help!

The question is not HOW to carry more solar inside BUT how to make it so I do NOT have to carry them inside WHILE having all the solar I want I have 400 watts on top of my minivan AND I can still carry my kayak and windsurfer on top..the key is a couple of sliders that can move the solar panels out when you park and also act as a shade..I did this with extra solar panels I had laying around I could probably do 580 watts without any issued nowadays

 

[LargeMarge]

I would like to have more solar...bringing them out when I'm parked somewhere that has enough space for me to put them outside on the ground. I was thinking about having 5- 100watt solar panels on a rack of some sort inside the van, all wired up and ready to go. Then, if I find a spot that only allows for 1 or 2 panels, I'll only take 1 or 2 and put them on the ground... and if I'm in a spot that allows for all 5 panels, I'll take them all out etc. I thought I remember seeing an example of someone doing that...

.

After moving to a different urban camp, No Limit Van Life flings his multitude of panels every which way.
.
They are on the windshield, they are on the sides on struts, they are scattered across the grass between the curb and sidewalk.
.
.
An aside:
I long campaigned for the elimination of the concept of 'stealth'.
No Limit Van Life might concur...

 

[jacqueg]

That's way too complicated and requires way too much management for me!

 

[WanderingRose]

I have not read good things about the durability of the flexible solar panels, that the hard case portables are a better purchase.

Tho they are heavier and take up more space inside.

 

[rruff]

I plan on having all my solar inside and deployable rather than on the roof. In my case a 2x100W pair, and a 2x50W pair, so 300W all together. They will be wired for 24V and feed into the same MPPT controller, which charges a 12V battery bank. You can use a different MPPT for each pair if you wish; this will help with efficiency, particularly if you use panels that have voltage-current curves that are not well matched.

24V is better if you wish to park in the shade, as the wiring losses are 1/4 relative to 12V. So you can have a long cable that isn't a huge gauge.

 

[Texas Gypsy]

That's what I normally do. Park in the shade and put solar panels out on long leads. Just prop them up facing the sun. Lay flat and put weights on oposite corners in windy conditions. Adjust a few times a day. Load them up when I change camps. It makes so much more sense to park my living space in shade and reduce the need for electricity to cool down my space.
This time out I'll have folding suitcase panels. Should be easier though they are heavier. I have 2-200 watt panels. My Bluetti will take up to 700 watts of solar so I may get a 300 watt panel or another suitcase if 400 watts isn't enough for some reason.

 

[frodo2222]

That's way too complicated and requires way too much management for me!

{ I put 400 watts on sliders on top of van and they slide out when I park if I want also provide shade to sit under AND I can still carry my kayak and windsurfer on top as well

 

[Overland One]

View attachment 34006
{ I put 400 watts on sliders on top of van and they slide out when I park if I want also provide shade to sit under AND I can still carry my kayak and windsurfer on top as well

Frodo do you have any pics on how you mounted your mast for your cell directional antenna pole? I have a Wilson cell boost system that says it requires the outside antenna to be separated from the inside antenna by 20 vertical feet. I was thinking of using two 10 ft. sections of chain link fence rail as one end is tapered to fit into the other. I want to rig up a system where I can deploy them from being stored on my roof rack easily and maybe a handle to be able to turn it easily to get the best signals. I was also considering using a hinge on my roof rack so after piecing them together I could just raise and secure the mast. That is a very nice set up you have there. The sliding rack solar is a great idea and I saw that in a video once. Luckily, my 4 panels (720 watts) fit onto the roof rack with room to spare so my install was easier although I may consider adding a tilt system in the future. I can put the poles on the rack on this side of the van I think. I have other antennas on the other side already.

 

[frodo2222]

Frodo do you have any pics on how you mounted your mast for your cell directional antenna pole? I have a Wilson cell boost system that says it requires the outside antenna to be separated from the inside antenna by 20 vertical feet. I was thinking of using two 10 ft. sections of chain link fence rail as one end is tapered to fit into the other. I want to rig up a system where I can deploy them from being stored on my roof rack easily and maybe a handle to be able to turn it easily to get the best signals. I was also considering using a hinge on my roof rack so after piecing them together I could just raise and secure the mast. That is a very nice set up you have there. The sliding rack solar is a great idea and I saw that in a video once. Luckily, my 4 panels (720 watts) fit onto the roof rack with room to spare so my install was easier although I may consider adding a tilt system in the future.View attachment 34007 I can put the poles on the rack on this side of the van I think. I have other antennas on the other side already.

what I did for the mast was buy the wheel you would use on a boat trailer, attached it to my RV and used a sailboard mast I had laying around..I can swing it up when stationary and lay it at a 45 degree back when on the road..it's been working great so far been t Mexico Oregon, Texas and everywhere om between..Om my smaller 22 foot RV it's not 20 feet as they ask for but still works fine

 

[Overland One]

Excellent, thank you. That wheel idea is a good one and I will look into that. Good to know the 20 feet may not be required. Thanks for the pic and your response.

 

[quilting22]

It all depends on your tolerance for taking things out, setting them up and putting them back away. Setting up and packing up camp is my least favorite task of full time boonfocking. It would be OK to put out a semi permanent array of 5- 100 watt panels if staying all winter in one of the BLM long stay areas but not so great for short stay camping.

I used to feel that way abt pulling things in and out of my van ie: solar panels, table to cook on etc. Then l changed my thinking to it gave me something physical to do. The old use it or loose ....

 

[vanbrat]

I have panels that can charge my batteries but so far we've only used them a few times. Hubby is worried that they will get stolen. Has anyone worried or worked out how to keep them secure if not actually attached to the van. We carry bike locks and have them for the kayaks and bikes but not to worried about small cheap stuff. I am not sure how much I would trust to leave my battery pack and solar panels out if I leave the camp

 

[rruff]

My bicycle is worth a whole lot more than my solar panels! I don't lock any of it. YMMV.