Your privacy choices

Optional analytics helps us understand which guides are useful. It stays off until you allow it. We store your choice on this device. Cookies and storage · Privacy policy

Current choice: optional analytics off.

Skip to content
Van Life UK
Explore guides
THE VAN LIFE FIELD GUIDE

Solar & Power

Panels, batteries, controllers and the wiring between them. Work out your daily energy use first, then size the system around it — the guides here are ordered to help you do that rather than to sell a kit, and none of them assume a particular brand.

79 published guides · 67 of them grouped into 7 subjects below

Start here

Campervan Solar Power UK: The Complete 2026 Guide

Solar is the heart of off-grid van life. A good solar system means days — even weeks — without worrying about hook-up, without a generator, without

8 min read →

Browse by subject

Each subject is a group of guides that answer the same decision. Pick the one you are facing, then work through it.

Solar panels & mounting

Rigid versus flexible, roof mounts, angles and shading.

12 guides in this subject · more in the library below

Batteries & storage

Lithium, AGM, leisure batteries and how to size them.

20 guides in this subject · more in the library below

12V accessories & lighting

Sockets, blankets, pumps, lighting and small 12V loads.

9 guides in this subject · more in the library below

Controllers & monitoring

MPPT versus PWM, shunts, monitors and the Victron ecosystem.

7 guides in this subject · more in the library below

Power stations & inverters

Portable power, inverters and what they can actually run.

3 guides in this subject

Installation & safety

Crimping, bonding, consumer units and doing it properly.

3 guides in this subject

System design & wiring

Cable sizing, fusing, DC-DC and putting it together.

13 guides in this subject · more in the library below

Looking for something specific? Search all guides or use the planning tools.

All solar & power guides

79 published guides, 67 of them grouped above. The archive includes legacy material; each page explains its editorial status.

Solar & Power

12V Electric Blankets

An electric blanket is one of the most efficient ways to stay warm in a campervan. Running the diesel heater all night keeps the whole van warm

7 min read

Solar & Power

AGM vs Lithium (UK Costs)

The AGM vs lithium battery decision is the most expensive choice you'll make in a campervan build. Lithium (LiFePO4) costs 3-4x more upfront but lasts

6 min read

Solar & Power

Battery Monitors: Victron BMV Guide

A battery monitor shows you exactly how much energy you have left in your leisure battery. Guesswork leads to either running out of power or never using

2 min read

Solar & Power

Best 12V TVs & Aerials

Watching TV in a campervan is more complicated than at home. You need a 12V-compatible TV, a good aerial for Freeview reception, and the understanding

7 min read

Solar & Power

Best 12V USB Sockets UK

USB sockets are the most-used electrical component in any campervan. You plug in your phone, your partner's phone, a power bank, a Kindle, a camera

7 min read

Solar & Power

Best 12V Water Pumps UK

The water pump is one of the few moving parts in a campervan that runs everyday. A good pump is quiet, reliable, and delivers consistent pressure.

7 min read

Solar & Power

Best Battery Isolators UK

Battery isolators protect your starter battery from being drained by leisure loads and allow charging both batteries while driving.

3 min read

Solar & Power

Best Cable Management Kits for Vans

A tidy electrical installation is safe and easier to troubleshoot. - Cable glands: Waterproof entry points for cables through the van body.

3 min read

Solar & Power

Why Solar is Essential for UK Van Life

Solar panels are essential for UK van life — the British climate might not be famous for sunshine, but a well-sized solar array will generate meaningful

3 min read

Solar & Power

Best DC-DC Chargers UK

A DC-DC charger is the missing link between your van's alternator and your leisure battery. Without one, your battery charges slowly or not at all.

7 min read

Solar & Power

Best LED Strip Lights UK

LED strip lights are the most popular lighting choice for campervan conversions. They are cheap, flexible, low-power, and create the warm, diffuse

7 min read

Solar & Power

The Solar Challenge in the UK

Living the van life dream in the UK comes with a unique set of challenges, and solar power is no exception.

9 min read

Solar & Power

Solar Power System Components

A good UK van life solar system costs £400–£800 and delivers 500–1,200Wh/day. The mid-range setup with 200W rigid panels and LiFePO4 battery is the sweet

3 min read

Solar & Power

BMS Explained

The Battery Management System (BMS) is the most important component inside your lithium battery. It is the circuit board that keeps the battery safe

7 min read

Solar & Power

Busbars & Fuse Boxes

A busbar is a distribution point for electrical current. Instead of running every circuit back to the battery, you run them to a central busbar.

7 min read

Solar & Power

Cable Sizing Calculator

Undersized cable is the most common mistake in DIY campervan electrical systems. It causes voltage drop (poor charging, dim lights), overheating (fire

7 min read

Showing 1–24 of 79 guides

Every solar & power guide, A–Z

The complete index — 79 guides in one place.