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Solar panel for a campervan

Updated: October 2026

You are parked off a 230 V hook-up, and a solar panel for a campervan has to put back some of what the lights, the fridge and the phones take out. It will not replace a winter hook-up if you also want a kettle. A roof module, a suitcase and a flexible sheet solve different limits. The modules are in our [solar panel comparison](/hub/electrical-equipment/solar-panel). If you are not sure you are buying for a vehicle, start with [rigid or foldable solar panel](/hub/electrical-equipment/solar-panel/sub/solar-panel-rigid-or-foldable). A purchase through our links may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

You are parked off a 230 V hook-up, and a solar panel for a campervan has to put back some of what the lights, the fridge and the phones take out. It will not replace a winter hook-up if you also want a kettle.

Our top picks

Renogy Renogy 200W rigid

Best overall

Renogy Renogy 200W rigid
8.7/10about £129.99
View offer
DOKIO DOKIO 100W suitcase

Best value

DOKIO DOKIO 100W suitcase
9.3/10about £79.99
View offer
Topsolar Topsolar 180W flexible

Rank 3

Topsolar Topsolar 180W flexible
7.4/10about £119.99
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.What the leisure battery is actually powering
  2. 2.Roof, bag, or a flexible sheet
  3. 3.Which panels in this set fit a van
  4. 4.What a British winter still needs

What the leisure battery is actually powering

Practical Caravan's sizing guide, as a publisher rule of thumb rather than a test of these ASINs, puts about 50–80 W against lights and phones, about 100–150 W against short trips, and about 150–200 W and above against regular off-grid use. The DOKIO 100 W suitcase sits at the short-trip end. The Renogy 200 W rigid panel, at 10.6 kg, sits at the regular-touring end if the roof can take it. Payload is not printed on these listings. Check the van's plate.

Roof, bag, or a flexible sheet

A rigid roof panel works while you drive, and only while the roof is in the sun. You cannot tip a fixed roof to 45 degrees in January. Brackets are not in the Renogy box. The Renogy 200 W is 10.6 kg before feet. The ECO-WORTHY pair's weight field is 20.4 kg. A suitcase comes out when you can aim it. The DOKIO case is 7.94 kg with legs and a stated 10 A controller. The Ecosonique 200 W folder is about 5 kg, and UK owners report it blowing over. A flexible sheet is for a curve a frame will not follow. The Topsolar 180 W sheet is about 3 kg and about 2 mm. The warranty field is one year. Connection order is on how to connect a solar panel.
Renogy Renogy 200W rigid

Testsieger

Renogy Renogy 200W rigid
8.7/10about £129.99
View offer

Which panels in this set fit a van

For a light weekend, choose the DOKIO suitcase if you do not own a controller. For a fridge on tour, the Renogy 200 W is the match if the roof takes 10.6 kg and you will buy a controller and brackets. For curved GRP, the Topsolar sheet is the only flexible listing. Stay inside the claimed 40 cm bend radius. For a power station in the cab, use Ecosonique or MHPOWOS if the manual accepts 24 V or XT60. The Ecosonique chip is not a leisure-battery regulator.

What a British winter still needs

A fixed roof panel lies almost flat. In December the day is short and you cannot hinge the roof toward the sun. A suitcase aimed at lunch helps the battery and does not become a mains supply. ShadowFlux 200 W reviews include about 46 W in heavy rain for one owner, and output too low to register for two others. House export and Smart Export Guarantee do not belong on a campervan.

Common questions

Is 100 watts enough for a weekend, or do I need 200 watts?
For lights and phones, Practical Caravan's rule of thumb starts around 50–80 W, and 100 W covers many short trips if the fridge is modest. Regular off-grid use with a fridge is that guide's 150–200 W band. Here that points at the DOKIO or the small AeternaSol for a light weekend, and at the Renogy 200 W when the roof can carry 10.6 kg. Both fall in cloud. Neither runs a kettle.
Should the panel live on the roof or in a bag?
On the roof if you want power while you drive and you can bracket a rigid panel inside payload. In a bag if you want to aim it, accepting that it does nothing in the locker. The DOKIO suitcase is the bag with a controller. The Renogy 200 W is the roof panel without one. A suitcase can blow over. Ecosonique reviews already say so.
Is a flexible panel safe on a GRP coachbuilt roof?
It can follow a gentle curve, and one UK buyer bonded the Topsolar sheet to GRP. Out & About Live warns that bonded flexible panels run hot and are easy to damage while fitting. Stay inside Topsolar's 40 cm minimum bend radius. You still add a controller. UK sun readings around 100–130 W mean the 180 W title is a ceiling.
Will solar replace a hook-up in January?
Not for heavy loads. A flat roof cannot be tilted to 45 degrees, and the day is short. A suitcase you aim at lunch helps the battery. Keep the hook-up, or drop the inverter loads, if you need heat or cooking. A summer top-up on a Sprinter is not a January budget.
Do I still need a charge controller on a van?
Yes, unless the controller is the DOKIO 10 A unit or the power station's solar input. The Renogy, Topsolar, AeternaSol and ECO-WORTHY cartons do not include one. The Ecosonique USB protection is not a leisure-battery regulator. Fuse the battery side as the controller manual says. This page does not invent that fuse rating.
Which listing is the wrong voltage for a simple 12 V controller?
The ShadowFlux 200 W, which prints 36.5 V, and the ShadowFlux 120 W, which prints 33.69 V, if you have not checked the controller maximum. The Ecosonique suitcase at 24 V needs the same check. The ordinary Renogy 200 W at 20 V maximum is the calmer figure, and it is still not a reason to clip the panel straight to the battery. If shade is not your problem, 36.5 V is an expensive way to buy the same footprint.

Related pages

Solar panel buying guide

Leisure battery

Solar panel

Best solar panel: Renogy glass or a DOKIO suitcase

How to connect a solar panel: battery first, then panel

Rigid or foldable solar panel: frame, case, or sheet

Sources

Public UK sources are listed below. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures on the saved listings. Last checked October 2026.

  1. GPDO 2015, Schedule 2, Part 14 (retrieved October 2026)
  2. GOV.UK, Smart Export Guarantee (retrieved October 2026)
  3. MCS MIS 3002, Solar PV systems (retrieved October 2026)
  4. GOV.UK VAT Notice 708/6 (retrieved October 2026)
  5. Approved Document P (retrieved October 2026)
  6. BS EN IEC 61215-1:2021 via NBS (retrieved October 2026)
  7. Planning Inspectorate note on megawatts-peak (retrieved October 2026)