How much solar do I actually need for off-grid weekends?
Planning my electrical system and trying to figure out solar panel sizing. My setup will be: LED lights, phone charging, a 12V compressor fridge (40L), a MaxxFan, and occasionally a laptop. I'm not planning to run a microwave or anything heavy. Would 200W of solar with a 100Ah lithium battery be enough for 2-3 day trips without hookup? Or should I go bigger? I'm in the Midlands so sunshine isn't exactly guaranteed!
1 Answer
200W solar with 100Ah lithium is a solid setup for what you're describing. I run a very similar load in my van (fridge, lights, fans, phone/laptop charging) and I rarely drop below 70% battery even on cloudy days. The key is the lithium battery — it gives you usable capacity down to about 10-20%, whereas lead-acid you'd only want to go to 50%. I'd also recommend adding a B2B charger (Renogy or Sterling) so you top up while driving. In winter months in the Midlands, solar alone might not be enough on really overcast days, but the B2B charger covers that gap.
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