How to Install Solar Panel(s) on a Camper Van Conversion

The autonomy of our DIY camper van conversion depends on power, and extracting power from the sun feels a bit like cheating to us. If you say freedom, we say solar panels!

We listed all the steps in this Instructable, but head over here for all the material list (with links to products), tools and more:

http://faroutride.com/solar-panels-installation/.

We hope this helps, don't hesitate to ask questions if you feel like it! Cheers!

• 2 x Grape Solar 160W 12 volts panels
• 3M VHB double-sided tape 1″ width
• 2 x Renogy Z mounting brackets
• MC-4 Multibranch Connector pair
• Right angle cable gland 3/8″
• 30′ Extension Cable with MC-4 Connectors 8 AWG (cut in half to get 2 times 15 feet length)
• Dicor 551 LSG-1 Lap Sealant
• Isopropyl alcoholPrimer, Paint & Clearcoat

Clickable links to the products above: http://faroutride.com/solar-panels-installation/

It’s easier to do this on the ground…

We're installing 2 panels side-by-side: this is to minimize the gap between the panels, so they are installed toward the middle of the roof and are less visible from the ground. A minimum gap should be left to account for thermal expansion and mostly for installation ease.

We selected 3M VHB tape to avoid drilling through the roof. AM Solar have been doing it for a long time and reported to never have lost a panel. A screw will grip through the sheet metal, the tape rely solely on the paint to hold; therefore, we don’t recommend to use tape on rusted, damaged or used paint. In other words, we trust the tape method because the van is NEW. Also, we check our panels installation regularly.

Per manufacturer recommendation, the minimum application temperature for 4991 tape is 60F.

It required a lot of force to pass the cable through the gland thanks to the right angle. It’s better to do this on the ground.

This extension cable is not very flexible. We found it easier to work with if we install the glands at approximately 12 inches from the panels.

Mark the location of the solar panel to avoid having the measure again afterward.

We pre-drilled and then use a hole saw.

This is tTo prepare the surface for touch-up.

This is an important step to prevent corrosion in the future.

TIP: You can have your exact van color prepared for you in almost any auto-parts store. Just give them your color-code (printed on the driver’s door frame), year of production and make.

This is to prevent cable chafing on the roof and damaging the paint. We also installed a protective tape on the roof afterward just in case.

Will the tape withstand the test of time? You might come up with a better solution than the tape!

No picture here. We had to act fast and it turned out more complicated than anticipated: you get no access to the center of the roof, the cables must be neatly fitted and you get one chance only to stick the 3M tape at the right place…

The bracket are sealed to prevent water contamination with the tape; it should help in the long run. We could not seal the inner edge of each bracket because we had no access.

You can validate that the panels are working by taking a reading the voltage.

It works!

Nice! Time for a road trip!

We're documenting thoroughly our van conversion! We tried to capture every details and share our experience, tips, lessons learned, etc.

This is our Build Journal: http://faroutride.com/ford-transit-camper-van/buil...

Or if you're very new to this, you might want to look here: http://faroutride.com/van-conversion-resources/

Thanks for reading!