Solar systems for campervans, motorhomes and panel vans

Bernhard Reitmeier tested a solar module and created a short and a slightly longer explanatory video about the mobile DCsolar Power Move solar module. These two videos explain the use, advantages, and applications of the mobile solar system in a way that is easy for everyone to understand. DCsolar is a brand of SOLARA GmbH.

A road trip from Austria in a VW bus with solar panels on the roof, through Hungary, the Carpathian Mountains, and Moldova to the Black Sea. The return journey went via Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, and Bosnia, ending in Split.

On Saturday, July 7.7.2018, 1, after a long period of preparation, the day finally arrived: We set off in our orange VW T3 "Bulliver" (built in 1982, 50 hp, top speed: 90 km/h downhill) from Shopping City Seiersberg in Graz, Austria, simultaneously with 150 other junk car teams, embarking on our Balkan adventure, "Pothole Rodeo." The destination of our first leg was Novi Sad, the second largest city in Serbia. We crossed Hungary towards Croatia, and after a short transit, headed for Serbia. We were thoroughly searched at the Serbian border, but reached Novi Sad without any problems in the evening. The Danube metropolis greeted us with overcast skies and rain, so we ended the evening with a pleasant dinner.

Solar power makes it possible to have sufficient electricity even when you're on the go. Always have fully charged batteries, even far from home, thanks to a solar system. A solar panel charges the battery with a charge controller from SOLARA, even under the harshest conditions.

The second day started early: We tried to finish the first day's challenge (determining the engine displacement of all 150 participating team vehicles) in a rush and handed our results to the judge, who immediately presented us with the challenge for our second leg: In an envelope, we received 3 Romanian Leu (approx. €0,60). Our task was to obtain as many different fruits as possible from our trusted fruit and/or vegetable vendor. We set off northeast. Shortly after Timisoara, torrential rain suddenly began, and it wasn't long before a Romanian car in front of us completely wrecked. When we stopped to help, our VW bus showed its first signs of trouble: Due to the overload (blower, windshield wipers, hazard lights, etc.), the fan belt gave out, and we had to limp onto the hard shoulder. In heavy rain, we changed the rudder and continued to the next place where we could stop to dry off. Due to the time lost and the long distance still ahead, we chose the shortest route from there. Sighisoara (or Schäßburg) is the birthplace of Count Dracula and a romantically winding little town that we'll definitely be returning to. :)

Day 3 of our Balkan adventure began with rain. We set off towards Moldova, only to be greeted by some truly Moldovan potholes after a long wait at the border. Exactly what we had imagined the Balkans to be! ;) The day dragged on, as we (day challenge 3) delivered school supplies and toys to a childcare facility run by the organization ora. The joy of the caregivers, however, quickly made up for all the potholes. :) We arrived in Chisinau late in the evening and unfortunately only saw the Moldovan capital at night.

Solar systems with top test results provide power on the go. Mobile technology for charged batteries. Charge with solar power without a grid connection. A solar panel is easy to install and charges the battery with a charge controller from SOLARA.

Based on our latest observations regarding the quality of Moldovan roads, we planned our fourth leg so that we would take the shortest route back west to reach the good old Romanian country roads. We overtook countless families in horse-drawn carts, all of whom waved to us and were delighted when we wanted to take their picture. In the early evening, we finally reached the Black Sea, or more precisely, Constanta, our easternmost destination in these eight days, where we immediately plunged into the cold water. That evening, we dutifully fulfilled our daily challenge – drinking with locals – and were treated to several regional spirits by our new Romanian friends. ;)

We've always had solar power. Our solar system, designed for extreme travel, has achieved top test results, providing power on the go. Mobile solar technology has always ensured charged batteries. Charging with a solar panel is fantastic!

The final stage on day 8 finally took us through Bosnia to the beautiful Croatian city of Split, where we crossed the finish line and received our certificates.

The longest leg of our journey, at 750 kilometers, was finally our return home to beautiful Upper Austria.

Following the motto "Slow but steady," we were never the first to reach the finish lines, but the other teams were always happy to finally see our orange VW bus crawling up the mountain. ;) But: It's a rally, not a race.

Our conclusion: A fantastic adventure holiday with incredible experiences, places, and people! And who knows, maybe we'll be back next year when the search for Europe's last potholes continues… :)

Warm greetings from Team #106 Bullivers Reisen!

Lukas, Stefanie, Christian and Daniel

Camper:
Good morning,
I want to buy a foldable solar panel to charge the two leisure batteries in my VW T6 Beach. I've also come across the models from Solara.

My questions are:

• What are the main differences between the SOLARA Power Mobil (102 Wp) and DCsolar Power Flex (110 Wp) models?
• The DC solar module offers slightly more power at a significantly lower price. What are the advantages of the 102Wp model?

I'm one of those people who are happy to pay more for quality if it means it will last. As the saying goes, "It's always been more expensive to buy something twice!" I look forward to your reply.

SOLARA:
Thank you for your interest in our products. Our Power Mobil now also has a 110-watt output; in this respect, the two modules are now identical! Generally speaking, the Power Mobil solar modules are manufactured in Germany and are significantly more robust than the DCsolar Power Move solar module, which is produced for us in Asia. It's so durable that someone might accidentally step on it without any problems; it's also fully seawater resistant. It comes with a 5-year product warranty compared to 2 years for the DCsolar Power Move.

The Power Mobil solar module is designed for those who intend to use it almost daily for many years. Cables and charge controllers are identical for both modules.

Camper:
Thank you for the quick and informative explanation. Now I know the Power Mobil is right for me. I assume I'll need to have a suitable 12V socket installed, as the regular cigarette lighter/12V sockets probably won't work.

SOLARA:
Thank you for your feedback. Yes, you can use the regulator with your existing cigarette lighters; that's what it was designed for.

Camper:
I have one more question.

1. Regarding the Fox 062 solar charge controller: It is stated that the manufacturer only approves it for systems up to 100Wp. What is your opinion on this?
2. Is powering the vehicle via the existing 12V sockets unproblematic with regard to cable cross-section? VW T6 California Beach

SOLARA:
The charge controller can handle slightly more than 6A, which is also the maximum output from the solar panel, so there's no problem. We've sold countless solar systems in recent years and haven't received a single complaint about this issue, and most of these photovoltaic systems are used in vehicles like your camper.

The cable cross-section is not critical in my opinion, as significantly more than 6A can be drawn from it. It is only necessary to check beforehand whether the corresponding wiring has been modified or is still in its original condition.

Camper:
So, I was finally able to put the Power Mobil solar panel to use. Wonderful, the eyelets are already attached – it wasn't exactly easy, but it fits. My question:

What about using it in the rain? I'm away for the weekend and sleeping in my campervan. The Power Mobil solar panel is on the roof and attached to the C-rails. There's a thunderstorm forecast for today. I assume that shouldn't bother the solar panel or its connector (it's splash-proof). Is that correct? I'm very pleased with the quality of the panel.

SOLARA:
Thank you for the positive feedback. You can leave the solar panel outside without any problems; it is fully resistant to seawater, so there's no issue.

Camper:
Thank you for the quick reply. That's how I understood the information on your website as well. Attached is a photo from the weekend, which you are welcome to use.