Solar Sizing Tool

Tick what you want to power in your campervan and we’ll estimate a suitable solar panel size for typical UK spring / summer conditions. This is a guide only – always allow a safety margin.

1. What do you want to power each day?

12V Fridge Assumes compressor cycling giving roughly 40–50Ah/day.

LED lighting Evening lighting for a few hours.

Roof / vent fan

USB / phones / tablets

12V TV

1kW inverter load e.g. hair dryer, air fryer, coffee machine via a 1kW inverter.

2kW inverter load High-power mains loads via a 2kW inverter – use sparingly.

Other appliance For anything else – just enter its wattage and daily minutes.

2. When are you mostly using the van?

We assume more “sun hours” in summer and far fewer in winter, so the same panel will do less on dark, wet days.

3. Typical trip length

Solar is mainly about covering your daily use. Your batteries still handle the ups and downs overnight and on cloudy days.

This tool assumes 12V systems, typical UK conditions, fixed roof panels and a decent charge controller. Real-world performance varies with weather, shading, panel angle, wiring, battery type and charger efficiency. Always size with a margin and consider a professional electrical check for full campervan conversions.

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