Leisure Electrics
What is a Solar Panel & Charge Controller?
Keeps the leisure battery topped up for free while you're parked up.
Simplified animation — not to scale.
In plain English
A panel on the roof turns daylight into a trickle (or, on a sunny day, a decent stream) of charge for the leisure battery — handy for keeping the fridge and lights running on a static pitch without needing hook-up.
How it works
The panel produces variable DC voltage depending on sunlight. A charge controller (usually MPPT on newer setups) regulates that into a safe, steady charge for the battery, and stops once it's full so it doesn't overcharge.
Signs of trouble
- ⚠No charge showing on the monitor even in daylight
- ⚠Charge controller showing a fault light
- ⚠Panel visibly cracked, or bird mess reducing output
Rough UK cost
£150 – £600 fitted for panel plus MPPT controller, depending on wattage.
Ballpark only — depends on your van, converter and local labour rates.
Heads up: CamperAutonomy is for general guidance only. Anything gas-related must be signed off by a Gas Safe engineer with LPG endorsement.
More in Leisure Electrics
Leisure Battery
The separate battery that runs your lights, water pump and fridge — without you ever waking up to a dead engine.
Split Charge Relay / B2B Charger
The clever switch that sends spare engine power to your leisure battery as you drive.
Battery Monitor
The little screen (or app) that tells you how much power you actually have left.