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      • The Minimalist (great for small vans and cars)
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      • Solar Trailer
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    • Inverters
    • Solar Charge Controllers
    • Battery Chargers
    • Wire and Connectors
    • Fuses and Circuit Breakers
    • Battery Monitors
    • Battery Capacity Testers
    • Automatic Transfer Switches
    • Battery Isolators
    • Tools
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  • DIY Solar Book
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    • Solar Power for First Timers
    • General Solar Education Videos
    • DIY LiFePO4 Video Series
    • Solar Wiring Configuration Diagrams
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    • How to Mount Solar Panels to a Vehicle
    • How to connect Solar Panels to your Solar Generator
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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

Picture
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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 Li Time 12V 100Ah Battery. Best bang for the buck lithium battery around!
  • Largest Surge Capacity in the market! When connected to a 12V inverter, it pulls as hard as a 5000W solar generator. This model in particular has a special BMS manufactured by Li Time to accomplish this. You can even run a 48V golf kart by putting them in series or trolling motor with a single battery!
  • Low Temperature Protection. Every other battery at this price point does not have low temperature cut off. This one does!
  • The build quality is better than any battery they have made to date. I have tested them all, and this one is the best. 
  • You can use 4X of these batteries in series to create a 5kWh 48V battery for $1,476! Which is the same price as a server rack battery (I would still go with server rack battery though)
  • And it is under $400. Pretty wild!

This battery will last 3,000 to 5,000+ cycles. It is small and light weight. 
​
100Ah Li Time Battery Click Here to Purchase

​If you need a cheaper battery, ​click here for more options

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! I used this one for a few years without a single issue. 

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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This device will tell you how much power you have left before your batteries go to zero. Simply attaches at the main negative lead of your battery bank.

​
Click Here to purchase



If you want a higher quality battery monitor with bluetooth connectivity and data logging, check out the Victron Smart Shunt instead. It does cost more, but it is a fantastic device that I use on all of my systems: 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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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:

Home

Plug-n-play Systems

All-in-one complete systems

Lithium Batteries

The Book


Solar System Component Directory

DIY Solar Videos

DIY Solar Forum


Copyright  Prowse Publications LLC © 2023
Prowse Publications LLC (www.mobile-solarpower.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program,
​an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
I make a commission for sales made through affiliate links posted on this website
  • Home
  • DIY Solar Packages
    • Vehicle Mounted 12v Systems >
      • The Minimalist (great for small vans and cars)
      • The Classic 400 Watt (RV's, Vans, Buses)
      • 400 Watt w/ Alternator Charging
      • The Off Grid King (Power Anything!)
      • 48V Offgrid System Blueprint
      • Mobile 48V System
    • Complete 48V Solar Kits
    • All-in-One 12/24/48V Packages
    • Code Compliant 48V Offgrid System
    • Design Your Own Raw LiFePO4 System
    • Grid-tie Systems
    • Other Packages >
      • Solar Trailer
      • 2000 watt, 24v Solar System
      • 4000 watt, 24v Solar System
      • Milk Crate Solar Power System
      • 12v Solar without a Battery
  • Solar Batteries
    • 12V Lithium Batteries
    • 48V Server Rack LiFePO4
    • 48V Vertical Mount LiFePO4
    • Raw LiFePO4 Cells
    • BMS
    • Sealed Lead Acid Batteries
  • Solar Components
    • 50-250W Solar Panels
    • 300W+ Solar Panels
    • 48V All-in-one Buyer's Guide
    • Inverters
    • Solar Charge Controllers
    • Battery Chargers
    • Wire and Connectors
    • Fuses and Circuit Breakers
    • Battery Monitors
    • Battery Capacity Testers
    • Automatic Transfer Switches
    • Battery Isolators
    • Tools
  • Plug-N-Play Systems
    • Full Size Systems
    • Ultra Portable Systems
  • Appliances
    • Solar Friendly Air Conditioners
    • 12v Fridges
  • DIY Solar Book
  • Videos
    • Electricity for Dummies
    • Solar Power for First Timers
    • General Solar Education Videos
    • DIY LiFePO4 Video Series
    • Solar Wiring Configuration Diagrams
  • The Forum
  • Help Section
    • How to Mount Solar Panels to a Vehicle
    • How to connect Solar Panels to your Solar Generator
  • Contact Me
  • Support the forum
  • Policies and Disclaimers