Frequently Asked Questions
You’ve come to the right place.
My caravan solar panels don’t charge my battery in winter.
Here are some practical strategies to optimise your solar input during the cooler months.
So why are your solar panels less efficient in winter?
In winter there are less sunlight hours and the sun sits at a lower angle in the sky, compared to the spring and summer months. Therefore if you solar panel is pointing to the sky, the sun won’t be shining directly on your solar panels. We often see up to a 40% reduction in efficiency of solar panels that are mounted to the roof of a caravan or on a roof rack.
Increase the Size or Quantity.
Relying on one or even two solar panels in winter may not be a sufficient source of charge due to the reduced amount of sunlight hours in winter. Adding just one additional 200W solar panel will boost your charge and increase your ability to capture more light.
Tech Tip: Think about the space you have available to add some more solar panels. This could be a relatively inexpensive option in comparison to replacing your battery!
Invest in Quality Solar Panels.
Solar panels come in varying levels of build quality which means they may be “marketed’ as a particular wattage, however we have seen poor quality panels performing up to 50% less than their advertised specifications. For example, a 150W solar panel measuring at the same capacity as an 80W solar panel (not ideal)! Combine this issue with a reduced ability to capture sunlight in winter and your charge rate will be in your boots.
Tech Tip: Make sure you are investing in high quality, tried and tested solar panels and be wary of marketing gimmicks that might seem “too good to be true.”
Portable Solar Panels.
Portable solar panels and solar blankets tick a lot of boxes in winter for a few reasons. You can adjust them throughout the day as you follow the direction and angle of the sun, capturing more of the good stuff (sunlight). Portable panels & blankets are also a great option if you don’t have a secure place to mount a permanent panel. Eg. You don’t have roof racks or you have a soft top roof top tent / camper trailer.
Tech Tip: Have an additional “solar input” connection installed to the A-frame of your caravan or under your bonnet to charge your auxiliary battery. P.S Don’t forget your solar panel requires a solar regulator & sufficient upgrades to the cable size!
