Looking to set up a van with solar power whats the recommended usage for it?

[handsofeye]

I want to set up a sprinter van to run enough power to run my laptop charge my cell phone and power a fridge so I can live out of the van.

how many panels are needed to run an operation like this. Also anyone done something similiar?

[russ]

Hi & Welcome to Solar Panel Talk!

Please remove your URL from the location where you placed it - in the location slot - otherwise I will

Russ

[Sunking]

Will the van be driven, or the engine started daily ? If so you do not need any solar panels.

[handsofeye]

yes it will be driven and started daily. I will be living out of it and driving around from time to time

[Naptown]

Then you could just go with a large battery bank to cover your needs. A battery isolator so you can charge both your starting battery and house batter(y) ies. and a small inverter. If you are using a lot of power you may want to consider installing a larger alternator to charge quicker.
There are some good marine/ RV stuff out there that will simplify the process greatly.

[Mike90250]

Balmar makes high output alternaters & controllers, for rapid charging of batteries in stop & go conditions.

http://www.balmar.net/page2mainalternator.html

Another option instead of a large, parallel 12V bank, you could complicate things with a 24, 36 or 48V bank, less loss in the wires. You need to calculate the watt hours needed to keep things cold till the next engine start.

[Sunking]

yes it will be driven and started daily. I will be living out of it and driving around from time to time

OK then you have no need for solar, just an auxiliary battery charged from the alternator.

At most you can put up about a 200 watt solar panel on your van. Assuming you live in AZ with the panel facing and tilted directly and tracking the sun will generate about 1 Kwh of usable energy. Otherwise considerbly less than that. You rvehicle alternator can do that in 15 to 30 minutes depending upon the size of the alternator.

What I suggest is a good quality AGM battery of 12 volts AT 200 AH, and use a battery isolator to charge it with your vehicle alternator. A good DEKA 12 Volt 200 AH AGm will cost you about $450, and another $100 for a good Isolator.