Rainbow Solar

While driving through downtown Carson City I noticed The Solar Store.

I'd considered getting a solar panel for the Mystery Machine for sometime.

To get a better idea of how much power I'd need, the store loaned me a Kill-A-Watt.


I left my laptop and utility bag plugged in for 24 hours. My power consumption was just under 1 KW.

Watts: 45-55 on average (as low as 40, as high as 65)
Kilowatts: I used 0.96 KW in 24 hours.
Volts: 120V was brought down to 118.4V
Amps: fluctuated between 0.44-0.48
VA: 52-55
Hz: 59.9
PF: 0.79-0.82

Back at The Solar Store, we settled on an 80 Watt solar panel.

The width of the solar panel was just right to slide underneath my bed.

Rats! An access slot would have to be cut in the back doors.

The solar panel fits the windshield. A prop would be needed to hold it up. The glass would also reduce efficiency by as much as 30 percent.

The cost of the solar panel was $540. I'd also need a sealed battery and other components. All told, the cost would have about doubled.

It was a tempting purchase. We calculated I'd get about 4.5 hours of electric power per 6 hours of sunlight charging.

The panel dimensions were just right: 47.3" x 21.1" x 1.3". My under bed storage is: 47.5" x 25" x 12". An old foam cushion would sandwich the panel when it's stowed.



Nevertheless, I do most of my computer work at Starbucks. A few hours of lounging there charges all my devices for the day.

The solar panel would also be left unattended while charging outside the Mystery Machine. I worry about theft. Permanently mounting the solar panel on top of the camper is not a practical.

The biggest set-back was inside storage. I'd need to cut a slot in the backstop of my van. This would significantly weaken the structural integrity of the Mystery Machine.

This meant the solar panel was no longer a day project, but a major renovation.

In the end, I opted not to buy and install a solar panel. In the future, I intend to incorporate one in the Mystery Machine. And certainly, my next camper van will have one.