Van Life - Our Amazing Stealth Solar Power Set up! Off Grid Camper Van 

"as you can see, there's nothing to see" i like this

You have a MPPT charge controller so you should run the panels in series. You will generate heaps more power than the parallel you describe.

When you said, “I didn’t know what I was doing,” I said, “Oh, thank god,” because that means I can do it too. 🙏❤️

I think I just ran through every single video.. and ended here.. What a NICE addition to the van! I lived about a decade with much less and in a custom tour bus with 10 other people. I miss the road life. The apartment I rent now is under 1,000 square feet. Thanks for sharing!

For someone who "doesn't know what they're doing", you did an amazing job! Very clean installation, cables are perfectly arranged, connections look great, very solid, terrific job! Congrats. The flex panels are more expensive, but they are totally worth it!

"When you are living in a (SOLAR) VAN down by the river" Motivational Speaker Matt Foley.. Aka. Chris Farley RIP

replace the zip ties if your clement gets cold in the winter, I installed cable TV for a decade in the 80's and can tell you for a fact they can snap in half like a twig when it's very cold, replace with heavy duty metal twist ties or screw in brackets.

You are living my dream! Currently have my eye on a (1) owner GMC extended work van with high top roof and all rack/tool shelves already removed! Also, has all oil change records/complete record of all maintenance performed on the Van!:) It has the very reliable 4.3 Vortex V-6 and because it is a GMC, it has the stronger springs and suspension system. Our goal is to be "we are building an airplane frame of mind" in reference to being weight conscious. Our heaviest items will be water and off grid battery bank. Making sure that all tires will be all terrain and nitrogen filled. The back will be completely modular and most power will come from the batttery bank, which will be recharged from roof mounted solar panels and wind turbine generator. May even add a stronger alternator, so that it too can charge the battery bank while driving. Goal is to have single stand up shower, compact fridge, 2-burner stove, regular a/c plugs, usb plugs, etc. On demand water heater for night time use will be a must, as well as a water filtration system. Thank you for sharing!

I love the fact that they are.so thin and light. For a travel trailer this seems to make more sense to install instead of the Aluminum framed units. Thx for the info.

couple of thought for improvement : Run heavy gauge wire from car battery positive back to your AGM solar battery so it will charge when driving Install a blocking diode so as not to draw down on van battery but put a switch accross diode just in case you every need AGM for starting. Also add LED lighting off charge controller output on far right side

Looks like a real solid system. Your choice of a pure sine wave inverter will prevent you from damaging your electronic devices. You can debate all you want about your other choices but I think it will work nicely for you.

Such an awesome setup! The total amps and battery output you've mentioned would make it possible to run a lot of awesome things in a van. Solar energy technology is the future and we should be powering every home on earth with it and finally put an end to the asphyxiating pollution of fossil fuels

I give a A + for doing this but as a automotive technician 30+years I do not like expose wiring inside a vehicle and also most importantly a battery.lets start with the wiring if the wires should get cut and short out there is a potential for a fire even if fused from the battery.one small spark can set the material on the van ablaze.secondly dry cell batterys like any other automotive or deep cycle battery create hydrogen gas when discharged and charged that is why batteries need to be outside and in a battery box.I would not recommend to anyone to do this. If Ronegy told you this was ok then I would like to speak to there engineer that told you this.the last thing I would mention to you going through the roof of the van like you did using silcone opens the door to body rott and leaks we have waterproof bulkhead connectors that can be used and also all metal needs prime and paint Just added INSURANCE to rott.

I have the same basic set up in our sports wagon (100w, MPPT, 120AH) but I also have the system connected to the car's main battery via a separation/isolation relay so that the solar system also charges directly from the alternator when we drive. This removes the need to have such high wattage panels and provides a back up for those unfortunate rainy weeks you may encounter. Great Vid!

Amazing. For someone who did't know anything you did a super job. This will sure make van life much easier.

Nice set up! My sister just purchased a Nissan NV3500 and I told her about renergy solar due to the light weight, I saw some of these panels in May that a guy was using they do look pretty sturdy. Personally I like my 120 watt portable set up I can park in the shade (I have an 87 VW Westfalia) and I have 30 feet of wire to move it for best performance and it stores in a nice case for transport. Enjoy your travels and great video.

We are so installing this on our van....if we can just get those damn hippies off the roof!

companies should always treat people well because there name goes out good or bad! too bad some are hard to deal with.. and for someone not knowing you did a fine job looks good!

I have a Ford Transit Connect I was looking to hook solar up to. I'm glad to see it's already being done. Thanks for the vid!

I have one of those 100w flexible panels!! :) If only they were like HALF price... if Renogy reduces their price to like $115, even for a minute, I'm buying like 30 of them!! I love them!

I had a '99 Econoline with a hightop that looked almost exactly like yours. It served us well for many years. I wish I had a sweet solar setup like yours. Good job!

"As you can see.....There is nothing to see" I love it lmao

Great job on the system. A quick and dirty solution I have used is wire in a second car battery with a switch. If you are going to be driving any during the day, you can use the vehicle's alternator to charge it up. To run a few lights and a laptop every day that is more than enough power. It is a cheap and quick solution to getting more power, again, if you are going to be driving fairly regularly...

I must have watched a ton of diy small scale solar videos . Yours is by far the best . I am mounting a Renogy 100 watt standard hard panel above the door of my shed ( man cave ) which is facing south and the best angle for my town in Florida is 25 degrees . This setup will also form a awning for the door. Your video is straight forward and extremely helpful . My wife and I really enjoy your videos and your interaction as a couple . Best wishes , David & Maggie

I love the idea of these flexible panels for all the same reasons you cited. Thanks for turning me on to them.

Just started researching making my own camper van since I love camping, and want extra comfort without spending THOUSANDS on an rv...This was something I wanted for sure...I also want to have a moon roof...so when I'm sleeping in parks I can look up at the stars...Love this!!

Thank You So Much .... Im buying a,van stripped down. Im going to do solar and live in my van first time. Im an older lady tired of the rat race ! So going full time at this ... Thanks So Much Cindy

I wouldn't worry about the velcro giving way, the adhesive backing on the other hand may degrade. Solar is the way to go glad to see your build!

I have seen a ton of videos. I'm "tryin" to do a small bus convert. & I have to give you 100% that was the most idealist VIDEO I have seen so far. You gave me hope that looks doable!!

Thank you so much for your video. It really helps me a medical professional to understand how the electric system works.

You guys are very inspiring. I love how everything is so well considered. Your goals are so well defined.

Good job, good choice, Don't forget; solar panels are black, and your roof will B hot,your van also will be warmer,solar panels working better if cooler,that's why those aluminum frame kind of panels sitting on legs..... Thanks again,good job

Now that you have used the flexible solar panels for some years, could you please do a follow-up on their performance? Do they still work?

This is great! Have you considered looking into lithium batteries? Lead acid batteries tend to be very heavy, high maintenance, and have a much lower cycle life (ends up costing more in the end when you have to replace these). SimpliPhi Power offers safe, 98% efficient, compact, lightweight, non-toxic batteries that come with a 10k cycle or 10 year warranty. No toxic cobalt, venting or gassing.

The glass and aluminum panels can withstand golf ball sized hail and provide shade to keep the van cooler.

Hi guys, I lived in a van a few years ago in the UK. I'm thinking of maybe returning at some point for a short while probably. I didn't have a solar set up back then, and things have moved forward in that area as you know. I've watched a few of your videos and they are great to see. I hope you don't mind me saying something on Batteries. I have thought about sealed batteries even sealed ones and being inside a tiny area with them. You have done a great thing but I have thought about doing what they do with gas canisters for stoves in camper vans and having a small vent 1 preferable 2 high and lower to circulate air and keep cooler to the outside of the van from a sealed container holding the battery. That way you can feel much safer about them, I think. With these things as you sat better to air on the safer side of things. All the best. John.

My suggestion would be to invest in a gas alarm due to the fact that while charging, these batteries can vent out hydrogen gas, which when ignited.....can...well...you know...blow up. This alarm could very well save your life when charging a battery in such a small space.

Good video. One thing to consider for the future as someone else mentioned is Lithium batteries (LiFePO4). These will give you twice the storage at the same weight as the AGMs. I don't know the exact setup of your van, but my primary interest in having solar and batteries to store that energy is 1) ongoing electronics and 2) refrigeration.

just something minor: make sure your wire ties and others are UV stable. I know from experience how wire ties and such just break for no reason, but it is the sun breaking them down. nice setup.

for people that didn't know anything about solar energy let me tell you your guys did a perfect job and you're pretty knowledgeable in the system but in reality I do not care where you put the battery at if you put it underneath the van or in a plastic bag that's Overkill

Excellent addition to the van.

Hey guys, We really enjoyed the video! Very detailed and thorough step-by-step process on your installation process. We love how stealthily and securely you guys set everything up. We're glad to be of service, but we are sorry that it did take you longer to get all the information you needed. Please let us know if we can ever be of any more assistance to you! Thank you for this video, we truly appreciate it! All the best, The Renogy Team

Great install. When you are trying to put 100lb battery into container, put container and battery on their side and slide it in.

A series solar panel configuration makes the wiring cleaner and simpler, by eliminating the combiners. Just make sure your controller can handle the the higher voltage.

Details of the solar system. I enjoy that word usage.

One thing to consider is the angle of the panels in Canada. For example in winter in Edmonton the optimum angle is 12° which makes the panel almost sideways.

Another job well done! The pure-sine inverter is more expensive but definitely the best choice. You have my interest up about the flexible solar panels. Congrats on you new SOLAR power system!

We have a 1992 Toyota Warrior RV that I plan on setting up just like you have done with your van. Ours has a generator but noisy. Definitely will hwlp me to find sources for the items needed to make this happen for us! Thanks for taking the time to upload this video!

I love it! Plant earth needs more solar and wind power.

That is so great you have solar now! Will be interesting to see how those flexible panels hold up over time. I live how you covered the battery. Tina

You guys are awesome for making available all of your efforts and hard work for anyone to purchase !!! saves me lots of heartache and trial and error !!! thanks for being Awesome :) Blessed Be

Now you're ready for a fridge.Dont cheap out and get a dorm fridge(absorbtion).You don't have enough battery for that. Buy a compressor fridge like a Dometic cool/freeze cf-18(see my RU-vid review) or a bigger one. adventurerv.net has great prices or truckfridge.com has their own brand.Great job on solar.For your current purposes you got way more than needed but having more panels will help on cloudy days and parked in shade.I also got the Renogy panels.Working good so far..Happy trails.

instead of drill holes you could or could hav got some strips of alum and sorta like a picture frame made that to hold it down and it would have been light and stealth

using bendable panels require being fixed to the top... OK for fall and winter, the heat transferred to the van's roof means greater insulation is required. As far as I am concerned the amount of energy required is twice the amount necessary to run the air conditioner. I have kept up with Solar Power since 8th grade, and I am now quickly approaching retirement age. I have over 3kwhs of panels already to be installed...but only require 2kwh. Pay close attention to sellers rating their panels by KWH or just KW... one is KiloWatts... the other is KiloWattHours... KiloWattHours is the energy produced each Hour... the other is just how much energy is produced, and can be referred to as in an entire day! KiloWattHours is the MUST HAVE.

That’s a great setup. That battery is 63 KG! But it’s 1.8Kwh which is a nice amount of storage, you could run a laptop for several weeks without even recharging.

I will love to invest in that when i buy my rv, or camper van but i know i would never be able to hook this up my self. I think its great to have in your camper van safe journey

I really like the stealth factor. I know a guy that had some crack-heads try to steal his panels while he was sleeping inside his RV. He chased the thieves away with a 12 gauge but who needs the aggravation? Plus, ammo is expensive. There is a lot to be said for stealth. Good vid.

Glad to see you guys active again. I was missing you!!

I'm excited that Renogy is offering the flexible panels. I didn't know that before! :-D

Perhaps you should also consider a means of charging up the battery from household mains just in case the battery is low, and the weather is cloudy just before you go on a trip? Relatively speaking, the mains charger costs peanuts and will give you that extra assurance....? Great build and great video - thanks for sharing!

Very cool panels! Super stealthy.

Looking into a Chevy Express van. Scouring youtube for ideas on how to best take a work van and turn it into a killer travel van complete with solar power that has enough juice to sustain a refrigerator and inversion stove top. I like your setup very enlightening.

Suggestion: Take a piece of PVC pipe, cut it in half (find a way to secure to the van, maybe some "bracket"). Use the PVC to properly secure those wires from the outside elements

Really interesting to see those flexi panels. Wasn't sure how micky mouse they were, so interesting to see how well they worked. Best wishes.

This is way cool. I would be too chicken to drill holes in my roof!! You guys did a great job!!

Very helpful, thanks for posting. I'm considering solar for my cargo van which I'm planning to convert. Way too expensive to buy even a used rv.

I like how you used those bags to hid the battery! Thanks for the vid! :)

Very nicely done, neat install! You explained things well, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that Renogy had all the components I needed. They only have some stuff on Amazon, I have to visit their site. What would be helpful for us viewers is if you could zoom in on each gizmo like charge controller, battery monitor, and show the brand. If you switch to Lithium batteries, the weight comes off drastically. Pricey, but long lasting and you can buy them wholesale at $600 each not $1200 if you look online.

hey matt. my girlfriend and myself just purchased a 1970 VW high top camper van. we are currently insulating it and putting up walls and plan to travel for a years camping, hiking and exploring the united states. we are about to post our first few videos wondered if you would like to help send out and get us people we can connect with in the van life world. Thanks man. love all the videos.

This is the video I have been looking for. Your blog is extremely helpful too.

Dude that set-up is perfect for our summer van! Thank you for taking the time to present this.

good video. I would have mounted the battery underneath the vehicle and not in the cab. this would save space and also prevent breathing any off gassing.

That's sick! You could probably hook up a little TV and a playstation in there and play that a few hours every day with that setup!

Hey Guys! Thanks _so much_ for these videos. Each one is so interesting! Please keep them coming... And nice Bye & Bye coaster: I watched this vid after eating there last night.

This is really neat. I like your approach. I am sitting on the fence regarding the installation. There is a solar charger on AMAZON that charges and it sits in a suitcase like environment. It might be easier for me to use that. You can take it anywhere. I live in my 2013 Nissan Quest so I really identify with how you live. I just purchased a Cursar Potty on Amazon. It is a potty for inside the car use. Cindy

Thank you so much for the awesome video and for sharing with us all. Have a super day!!!

I was wondering if the battery was going to be covered. It's nice that you can cover it, so you'll have a flat surface to work with.

I appreciate the blog of all the parts, prices and the great explanation. Also your opinion and the suggestions of the others really helps

...Its a clean looking setup

Nice installation! Recommend that you trim the protruding ends of those zip ties flush to the retaining end. You can cut yourself seriously if you trim only part of the end of the zip tie, especially if you cut on an angle. (Speaking from personal experience.) Use flush cut diagonal cutters. Cheapest place to get is Amazon. Next best is Wal-Mart. Both $5 or less.

We are in the checking out options phase of our future van life. Really impressed with your whole set up and DIY skills. Solar is definitely our choice and I love this option. Gone with the Wynns used something similar to this and one of his negatives was gouges from low hanging branches. I will have to go back and watch it again. I love how stealth this is! Great job. I hit your Subscribe button.

I love renogy solar systems. I have five panels two charge controllers and five deep cycle batteries. I run my house on my system. Two t.v. Lights v.c.r. Cable boxes and much more. Good post keep it up. Be blessed.

you should also use the load hook up during sunny days you will be using the power that comes directly from the panels while still charging your battery try hooking up a 12 and usb unit to the load side of the charge controller use that to charge your camera batteries and the other things that can run on a 12 volt power supply directly from the sun while saving your battery from over working also never drop the charge on your battery more than 20% the life of the battery will go a lot longer never discharge your battery all the way down you will damage the battery and the life of it will decrease faster.

Flex panels, never seen before, pretty cool! Good video and nice meet install! I installed a Renogy 400 watt system at home with a alum frame pwm 30 amp and very satisified. Irun my led TV all day and run out of battery in mid evening. I'm thinking about outing Renogy in my rv but with my 6500 watt generator, I don't think I'll make the investment. Likedvthe video!

Look under your van, right where the battery is sitting usually that is dead space. You could sink that battery in, right under that floor. Actually , probably fit 2 or more batteries under the floor.

Ok, you made that install look fun:) Im sold on the flex panels which I will caulk and heavy duty roof tape down if not more............. what a slim profile on the roof:)

I've watched this vid twice and I think it's starting to sink in. Of all the vids I've watched regarding solar, yours is the simplest and makes since. Thanks! You mentioned in the blog post that the battery releases gases when charging. Are these gases harmful to breathe? It seems that other people vent their batteries to the outside.

Very well explained in terms of the components used and how they interconnect to become a usable, practical system. Thank you.

Nice work guys! Everything looks tidy. Thanks for the video!

Thank you for this video. Great explanation!!! This is great place to start for anyone who is looking to install a solar setup.

Sweet installation. Good job.

Nice setup , I have a similar setup from Renogy . I have 4 -125 amp hour batteries for a total of 500 amp hours . All this is connected to 4 solar panels which work fine. I think if you wanted you can go with a biger battery bank. Nice setup overall .

awesome set up thanks for the video & blog post. i'm installing a solar system in a backpacking / camping trailer and your supplied allot of great info.

Thank u for telling us so much on the solar panels this helps me find the ones best for us in this overhaul w/o losing out the stealth ability.

Hey guys, instead of using velcro you should use 3m vhb double-sided tape.

As an alternative to adhesives to hold the panels down, why not just acquire some thin (1/8" or?) aluminum strapping from HD or Lowes and run them across the van at the edges of the panels, between the existing rack and fasten them using the existing screws and holes in your rack? If need be, you could add a screw hole or two through the rack and just cover with an ample amount of Dicor.

I recommend you to use a pulser on your lead accumulator. It expands the life span extremely.

Very nice, but I would have cut the power cables to the correct length then re-terminated them. While open not a bad idea on home system you over bought on the charge controllers considers the very fixed panel count.

I have the full set up from Renogy with the same panels and charge controller, lithium batteries, and a bigger inverter. My only beef with Renogy is that the cables do not fit the battery poles. For this reason my whole set up is still in the box. I'm currently using the original Renogy Lycan power box with 3 thin film solar panels. The plastic of the panels has started to degrade and I've noticed rust on my roof from the debris buildup under them. Renogy recommended using Sikaflex adhesive when I installed my panels. I'd be super nervous about that velcro.

Exploring Alternatives If you haven't already, you might want to look into LifePo4 batteries. Yes they cost a bit more but will last much longer and give you more power in a lighter and smaller package. Check out stark power, they have larger 12v batteries available. Their 100ah 12v is comparable to a 400ah SLA.