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 haveā¦
solar charging
Should Solar or Alternator Charge First?
If you have solar panels and a DC-DC charger feeding the same lithium bank, you have probably wondered which one should takeā¦
Victron vs Renogy MPPT Controllers
Victron and Renogy make the two MPPT controllers most van and RV builders actually consider. Both charge lithium well, but they aimā¦
Do You Need to Tilt RV Solar Panels?
Tilt brackets promise more watts, but on most RVs they cost you more time and hassle than they are worth. Here isā¦
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 amountā¦
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. Theā¦
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. Undersizeā¦
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 isā¦
Portable or Rooftop Solar for Vans?
Picking between portable and rooftop solar for a van build with lithium batteries comes down to how you actually travel, not whichā¦