Plan a solar system for your motorhome
Whether camper, van or caravan: answer a few questions about your vehicle and travel style – we size the solar, battery and complete Victron system and explain every component.
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How to plan a motorhome solar system properly
A solar system makes your motorhome self-sufficient: it charges the house battery independently of shore power and the alternator. How large the solar panel, battery and inverter need to be depends on your actual power consumption and how you travel – not on a rule of thumb. The planner works out your demand and assembles a matching Victron system.
How big does the solar system need to be?
The starting point is your daily consumption in amp-hours: cool box, lighting, water pump, charging phone and laptop. From this follow the battery capacity needed for autonomous days without sun and the solar power in watts to recharge the battery on average. The planner uses realistic consumption figures instead of rules of thumb and takes season and region into account.
Retrofit a solar system or buy a complete kit?
A complete kit is convenient but rarely matches your vehicle and consumption exactly. It makes more sense to combine solar panel, MPPT charge controller, battery and – if 230 V is needed – an inverter to suit your demand. For a retrofit the planner checks what fits your existing battery and alternator and lists every component individually in the parts list.
Which Victron components are used?
For motorhomes we rely on Victron: SmartSolar MPPT charge controllers, lithium batteries (LiFePO₄), MultiPlus inverter/chargers, Orion DC-DC chargers for alternator charging and a SmartShunt or BMS for monitoring. The planner picks the size to match your consumption and makes sure cable cross-sections and fuses fit together.
Frequently asked questions about motorhome solar
How many watts of solar does a motorhome need?
It depends on consumption. For summer weekend trips 100–200 Wp is often enough; for self-sufficient travel with a cool box and electronics 300–600 Wp is common. The planner works out your specific demand instead of quoting a flat figure.
Can I retrofit a solar system in my motorhome myself?
Yes. The planner produces an order-ready parts list with panel, MPPT charge controller, matching battery, wiring and fuses. You can do the installation yourself or have a specialist do it.
Do I need an inverter in a motorhome?
Only if you want to run 230 V appliances such as a coffee machine or laptop power supply. For 12 V loads no inverter is needed. The planner asks about your devices and sizes the inverter accordingly.
Which battery suits a motorhome solar system?
For self-sufficient travel lithium batteries (LiFePO₄) are standard: light, deeply dischargeable and long-lasting. The required capacity follows from your daily consumption and the autonomous days you want – the planner sizes it automatically.
Does this also work for caravans and vans?
Yes. The planning applies equally to motorhomes, vans and caravans – what matters is the power consumption, not the vehicle type.