Van Life
How to Size a Solar System for Van Life
Jordan MitchellJanuary 202612 min read
Van Solar Sizing Calculator
Your Requirements
Total Daily Usage
4,080 Wh
Battery Bank
4,896 Wh
Solar Panels
980 W
Batteries (2048Wh)
3
Panels (200W)
5
Van Life Appliance Power Guide
Here's what typical van life appliances use:
| Appliance | Watts | Hours/Day | Daily Wh | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Refrigerator (12V) | 45W | 24h | 1080Wh | High |
LED Lights (4x) | 20W | 6h | 120Wh | Low |
Laptop | 65W | 4h | 260Wh | Medium |
Phone Charger | 10W | 2h | 20Wh | Low |
Ceiling Fan | 30W | 8h | 240Wh | Medium |
Water Pump | 60W | 1h | 60Wh | Low |
Wi-Fi Router | 20W | 24h | 480Wh | Medium |
Coffee Maker | 800W | 0.5h | 400Wh | Medium |
Recommended Van Life Setup
Complete System Components
Important: Always oversize your system by 20-30%. Cloudy days, seasonal changes, and battery degradation will reduce your available power.
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