Solar & battery sizing for a camper van / rv
A van build powering a 12V fridge, lights, fans, charging and occasional inverter loads, recharged by roof panels while parked.
Open this camper van / rv setup in the calculator →
Example daily load
| Device | Power | Use | Energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12V fridge | 45 W | 24 h/day | 1080 Wh |
| LED lights | 25 W | 5 h/day | 125 Wh |
| Roof fan | 30 W | 6 h/day | 180 Wh |
| Laptop | 50 W | 3 h/day | 150 Wh |
| Phone charge | 10 W | 3 h/day | 30 Wh |
| Total | 1565 Wh/day |
Sized system (LiFePO4, 12V, 2 days autonomy)
Open this setup in the calculator — then adjust for your own devices →
Notes for a camper van / rv
These figures assume 4.5 peak sun hours and 2 day(s) of autonomy. If your location is cloudier, your usage is higher, or you want more buffer, increase autonomy or array size. The button above opens the full calculator pre-loaded with this camper van / rv setup, so you can change any device, voltage or chemistry and see the system resize instantly — the example is a starting point, not a prescription.
Frequently asked questions
How many batteries does a camper van / rv need?
For the example load of 1565 Wh/day with 2 day(s) of autonomy on LiFePO4 at 12V, you need roughly 4.43 kWh of battery (369 Ah). Your actual needs depend on your devices and how many cloudy days you want to cover.
What size solar array for a camper van / rv?
About 504 W at 4.5 peak sun hours, to recharge the daily load. Cloudier locations or higher usage need more.
Looking for a definition or a quick answer? See the solar & battery glossary for terms used on this page, or the FAQ for common sizing questions.
Sources & standards
- NFPA 1192 — Standard on Recreational Vehicles — Construction requirements for RVs, including low-voltage DC electrical systems.
- RVIA — Association & ANSI-Adopted Standards — Industry body that adopts NFPA 1192 and related ANSI standards for RV electrical systems.