Even before the rise of electric cars, there were already lots of vans that had solar panels. The use of solar energy is already a common thing among RV owners and campers.

If you have a van that you love to take on long trips, you might want to install solar panels if there are no electric posts available on the road. To help you with this, here’s a quick guide on installing a solar panel in a van.

Materials:

2 160-watts solar panels

3 1-inch double-sided tapes 

2 sets of mounting brackets

1 multi-branch connector pairs

1 ⅜-inch right angle cable

1 30-feet extension cable with connectors

1 Sealant

Primer and Paint

1. Installing the brackets

The first thing you have to do is install the brackets on your solar panels. Make sure that they’re securely installed with no spaces left unhinged. Using a hand drill, attach the brackets to the roof with the bolts and screws that come with it.

In installing two panels, make sure that there is a gap in between to avoid thermal build-up.

2. Installing in the roof

There are two options for installing your solar panels on the roof:

First, you can use premium adhesive tape. This way, you don’t have to drill into your van’s roof.

Second, you can drill the brackets onto your roof and the more secured one. In doing this, just make sure that they’re placed right in the middle with minimum to no margin of error. 

3. Connecting the cables

Connect the cables of your inverter to your solar panel. After this, mark the spots where you intend to pass the cable from your solar panels to your inverter and generator. Once this is done, you can drill holes on your mark and connect them.

4. Applying primer and preparing cable organization

Apply primer and paint on the holes of your van. This will avoid corrosion and electric malfunction to your inverter and generator. Next, organize and tape your cables together. This will reduce the risk of tangled wires.

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