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The Minimalist Solar Package

This setup works well if you:
  • Plan to install in a minivan/car/off-road truck/cargo van with limited roof space
  • Want a lightweight setup
  • Plan to run a laptop, USB charger, and some LED lights (but do not plan to run any large motors/microwaves or large appliances)
Recommended components:
  • 100 amp hour usable deep cycle battery
  • 100-200 watt solar panel 
  • 20 amp MPPT charge controller (PWM controller if on a tight budget)
  • 750 watt inverter
Estimated Cost of Recommended Components:
  • ​$130-$260 for Solar Panels
  • $125 for Solar Charge Controller
  • $280 for Lead Acid Batteries or $950 for Lithium Batteries
  • $170 for Inverter
  • $140 for Branch Connectors/Cable Entry Gland/Wire/Crimp Connectors/Fuses
  • $50-$150 for Tools (Cheap tools are available, but you are better off buying high quality tools)
Estimated Total Cost with 200 watt solar panel array:
  • Complete System with Lead Acid Batteries: $1,075.00
  • Complete System with Lithium Batteries: $1,745.00
    (Lithium is still cheaper option because it will last 4-8 times longer than the lead acid system)
    ​

Major Components of this system mounted to a wooden board

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What I recommend
​(I Make A Commission For Purchases Made Through The Links Below)

Buy this battery:

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The SOK 100 amp hour Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery. 

This battery will last 3,000 to 5,000+ cycles. It is small and light weight. This battery is much cheaper than a lead acid battery, if you take its longevity into account. 


100Ah SOK Battery Click Here

206Ah SOK Battery Click Here
​
If the battery above is out of stock,
​click here for more options



If you plan to use your system for less than 3 years, and weight is not an issue, you can buy this battery instead:
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100 amp hour AGM Sealed Lead Acid Battery
  • Weight: 75 lbs
  • ​Charge Cycle Life: 500-1,000 cycles
  • Depth of Discharge(how much of the batteries capacity you can actually use): 50%
  • (Cheaper initially, but expensive in the long run)
​Click Here for a cheap price



Buy 200 watt solar kit:

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Doesn't get cheaper or easier than this! This kit is everything you need to charge a 12V battery with solar. 
  • 2X 100W Monocrystalline Panels
  • 1X 20A Lithium Specific MPPT w/ Bluetooth Communication
  • Solar panel extension wires w/ MC-4 and inline fuses
  • 2X Z-brackets for mounting your solar panels
  • Large fuse for the MPPT

Buy direct from rich solar by clicking here

​Or from amazon.com by clicking here

Buy This 1000 watt inverter:

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Really great inverter! 

Click here for a cheap price

Wiring products:

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​High-Quality Copper Wire for DC appliance hookup
(most wire on amazon is "copper clad aluminum", which is cheaper but lower in quality):

50 feet 10 gauge Blue/Black
Click Here
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Solar Panel to Solar Charge Controller Cable: 
Click Here 
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Solar Panel Cable Entry Gland

When your solar panel array wires enter your vehicle, you will need to drill two holes. Use this cover to prevent roof leaks from developing.

Click Here

Fuses Required for this system:
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Main 200 amp Bolt-on Battery Fuse

Put this directly on the positive terminal of your battery. This fuse works well with the recommended 1000 watt inverter for this package. 

​Click Here
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Fuse Block (connect 12 volt appliances here

​Connect solar charge controller here as well. If you are using the recommended 20 amp mppt mentioned earlier, attach it to a 25 amp fuse on this fuse block.
​
Click here

​

Solar Panel Mounts:

Every vehicle is different, so check out my book or this page (click here) to figure out how to mount your solar panels

Battery Monitor:

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Required for all systems. Tells you voltage of the battery and amp draw. Simply attaches at the main negative lead of your battery bank.

​
Click Here

Required Tools:

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Precision Wire Stripper
​(recommended)


8-22 gauge wire
Click Here
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Hammer Type Crimper
Can crimp up to 4/0 gauge wire, and it is much cheaper than other large wire crimpers. If you plan to build only one system, this is the tool for you. 

Click Here
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Ratcheting Crimper
Allows you to crimp standard size crimp connectors. Does not work well on waterproof connectors.
 Click Here
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High quality manual force crimper
I use this crimper when I am dealing with a non-standard size connector. The long arms provide a lot of leverage and I can usually crimp anything under 8 gauge. 

Click Here ​

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​Crimp Connector set
There are cheaper crimp connector sets available, but they are junk! Spend the extra money and buy a high quality set of connectors. The cheap chinese ones will fail and I have had it happen before. This is what I currently use:
Click Here

Accessories:

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12 volt USB charge strip
Click here
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Battery bank to cigarette light adapter
Click Here
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46 Liter Dometic Solar Power Fridge
 Click Here

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Power panel with switches and USB/cigarette lighter plug
Click Here


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Color Changing LED lights
 Click here


or
​
White LED light strip
 Click here

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When connecting fans or lights or pretty much anything, use these quick connectors that are rated to 60 amps! I have used them for years for my rc airplanes and helicopters, but they are insanely useful for living in a rv. 


Click Here 
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Super useful clippers. Use them to cut anything small.

​
Click Here

How to Build this system step by step:

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Lithium Batteries

The Book

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Prowse Publications LLC (www.mobile-solarpower.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program,
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I make a commission for sales made through affiliate links posted on this website