How Much Solar on a Cloudy Day?
A cloudy day does not mean zero solar output, but it is nowhere near what your panel rating promises. If you have…
mppt
Fusing and Wiring Solar Safely
A solar array that is not fused correctly is one of the more common fire risks I see in DIY van and…
How Shade Kills Solar Output
A single branch shadow across one corner of your solar array can cut total output in half, not by a proportional amount…
Can Solar Alone Charge a Lithium Bank?
Yes, solar can fully charge a lithium bank with no other input, and plenty of full-time vanlifers run that way year-round. The…
How Much Solar to Charge Your Lithium?
Sizing solar for a lithium bank comes down to a handful of numbers you can pull off your own devices and battery…
How to Size an MPPT Controller
Sizing an MPPT controller wrong is one of the most common and most expensive mistakes I see in DIY solar setups. Undersize…
MPPT vs PWM for a Lithium Bank
Every solar shopping trip runs into the same fork in the road: MPPT or PWM. The short version is that MPPT is…
Solar Charging for Lithium: Full Setup
Pairing solar with a LiFePO4 battery bank is one of the best upgrades you can make to a van, RV or boat,…
Solar Controller Settings for LiFePO4
Get your solar controller settings wrong and you either starve your lithium bank of a full charge or cook it with too…