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quoteYou don’t need electric hook-up to enjoy a holiday in your motorhome or caravan. Whether you’re a seasoned off grid motorhomer or simply want to be able to give wild camping a try now again, solar power will give you the freedom to go and explore!
And if the results of our recent poll were anything to go by, it’s clear that solar power is a winner for many motorhome and campervan owners.
We look at six benefits of having solar power on your campervan or motorhome.
Why should you have a solar panel?
- It’s environmentally friendly
A solar panel will charge your battery for FREE, every time the sun comes out – and even on a cloudy day with the sun is in the sky. The perfect green power!
- Battery charging
Solar power will keep your motorhome battery charged, helping it to stay in good condition and extending its lifespan. And in winter (or summer) when your motorhome’s in storage or not in use – solar power will keep your batteries on charge, which is particularly important if you have an alarm system or tracking device that is a requirement of your motorhome insurance policy.
- Freedom to travel
With a suitable solar installation – including good batteries – you’ll be able to stay off grid for longer, giving you the freedom to travel where you want to and discover some hidden gems. You can stay off grid for as long the sun is in the sky!
- Fit and forget
After the initial investment and set up costs, solar panels don’t need any maintenance – just a good clean – and last for years. There are no moving parts to break and no fuel to keep it going – just the sun.
- Money saving
On campsites where you have to pay for an electric hook-up, it’s possible to save pounds and pounds, as you’re just running off the power of the sun. As technology has improved, the cost of buying a solar panel has also come down, and there are many different options to choose from to suit your budget.
- Non-intrusive
A solar panel on your motorhome or campervan roof doesn’t have to take up much space, and they’re not very heavy, so it won’t really eat into your payload. Plus they don’t make any noise (unlike a generator).
A word of caution
A solar panel can be fairly easy to install but it’s best to consult with the professionals to make sure it meets your needs and will give you the right amount of power for your vehicle and that it isn’t too heavy and also meets UK specifications etc. They’ll also be able to explain all the technical stuff, such as charge controllers or regulators.
Solar panel specialist and Director at RoadPro, Andy Harris, offers a word of caution.
“There are many different types of solar panel as well as the other equipment needed to make a solar power system work successfully on your leisure vehicle,” he said. “If you want to be sure that the system you’re getting is suitable for your needs, take care choosing and, if in doubt, consult a specialist who really understands what they’re doing.”
In our recent gear guide on caravan and motorhome solar panels, we explain some of the jargon and look at four star players.
As a motorhome insurance specialist, we’d class a solar panel as a fixed item of equipment so its value would need to be added to your motorhome insured value.
Over to you…
Feel free to share any other benefits of solar power on your motorhome with other readers by commenting below.
We have used a large solar panel in our motorhome for the last few years and never need to hook up. We also have autogas tanks fitted which power the fridge and the freezer section of it really well and also powers our heating system. This makes staying in remote places very easy if we wild pitch.
Thanks Margaret, sounds great.
If you use your motorhome regularly then the initial cost is well worth it.
A good informative article we hAve one on our motorhome and does what it says on the tin would not be without one.