Truck Camper Solar Panel Installation

I began by removing two 100 watt solar panels that came installed with the camper.

Truck camper solar panel installation.

Most truck camper owners and dealers attach accessories to roof racks including solar panels. Before installing a solar panel system determine if your truck camper is pre wired for solar. Portable solar panels can be purchased with or without a charge controller meaning it can tie in with your existing roof top solar power system or it can operate independently and in parallel with your main system. With this type of installation the solar panels are typically six to eight inches above the existing roof rack.

If it is locate the pre wire in advance. Instilling a 235 solar panel renogy mppt chatge controller and 2 windy nation solar 80ah batteries in a 2015 lance truck camper. Last spring we attempted an impromptu experiment to see how long we could camp without 110 volt shore power. Due to the limited space on truck camper roofs portable solar panels are a terrific option.

Truck camper magazine installs a 150 watt zamp solar panel system on their project camper and takes a big step towards cutting the cord and camping off the grid. You may need to consult your owner s manual or call your dealer or manufacturer for this information. This diy camper solar system guide is a multi step complete educational series that by the end you will know what all of the parts of a solar system do how they work together what you ll need for your specific system and what to expect during the build. If your camper is older or is not pre wired make plans for an additional run of 8 gauge wire.

With truck campers space is at a premium and you need subsystems specially designed for small roofs and tight storage compartments. Mounting a solar panel in this fashion subjects the solar panel to wind thus potentially stressing the panel mounts and wiring. To simplify the truck camper solar kit design process we have created three grades of complete kits with everything from the solar charger to the inverter. I added 2 inch aluminum angle to the original mounts to accept the slightly wider panel.