Sprinter Van Solar Panels Pop Top Roof

Just a few years ago these panels would have cost us 500 each and only be available from specialty solar companies.

Sprinter van solar panels pop top roof.

Eb sprinter high roof van rb sprinter low roof with penthouse conversions for sprinters can usually be adapted to the transit and promaster vans. On my diy sprinter rv conversion i ve mounted a pair of grape solar 160w solar panels purchased from costco for us 230 each. My solar panels are made by bend based zamp solar the same company that made the solar panels on my first sprinter van. Top boxes gnarly light bars toilet vents or anything else that puts shade on a part of the panel is robbing you of solar energy.

I wired the two 12v solar panels in series for a higher voltage and current output for. It also makes them lightweight. The panels are pretty rigid and don t. Rigid solar panels are the best bang for your buck when it comes to performance and durability.

Because they don t have a frame they are low profile and can bend to shallow curves such as a van roof. Even a tiny bit of shadow on a solar panel reduces its efficiency a long way. The crew at denver based vanlife customs did just that with this 2016 mercedes benz sprinter affectionately calls pops thanks to a cool motorized pop top roof that allows occupants to stretch out. 2007 rb low roof sprinters dodge promaster low roof and ford transit low and medium roof vans can also be fitted with pop tops.

You need to get the cables from the panels into the van. We used a cheap but effective solution. Download a free parts list here https www dropbox. I ll talk more about how to determine how much solar power to have in the next section.

Flexible panels are flat cells that are molded with a layer of protective plastic on top. How to put panels on the roof. There are several mounting options but you will probably either use a roof rack to mount them or make use of the roof channels if your van has them to slide in little fixings for the edges of the panel. Some items shown may be additional cost options such as awnings running boards microwaves and larger refrigerators.

You will probably end up with your panels flat on the roof.