There's a particular kind of freedom that comes with waking up somewhere remote—red dirt under your tyres, no neighbours in sight, and absolutely no obligation to pack up and find a powered campsite. For a growing number of Australian travellers, this isn't a weekend fantasy but a way of life. And increasingly, it's made possible by one thing: solar.
Understanding how to use solar to stay off-grid in your caravan isn't complicated, but it does require knowing how each component works together. A solar panel on its own won't keep your fridge cold or your phone charged. What you need is a complete system—panels, batteries, controllers, and inverters—working in harmony. This guide walks through everything you need to build reliable off-grid power, from selecting the right equipment to sizing a setup that won't leave you stranded.
Understanding Your Caravan Solar Setup Basics
Before spending money on gear, it helps to understand what you're actually building. A caravan solar system has four core components, each with a specific job.
Solar panels capture sunlight and convert it into DC electricity. They're the starting point, but on their own, they're about as useful as a tap without plumbing.
Charge controllers like the Outbax Solar Charge Controller 20A 12V/24V PWM act as the system's brain, regulating voltage and current flowing from your panels to your batteries. Without one, you risk overcharging and damaging your battery bank—an expensive mistake.
Battery banks store the energy your panels generate. This is what powers your gear at night, on overcast days, or whenever you're drawing more than your panels can produce in real time.
Inverters like the VoltX 12V 1KW Pure Sine Wave Inverter convert stored 12V DC power into 240V AC power. If you want to run a laptop, television, or any appliance with a standard plug, you need an inverter.
Think of it as a chain: panels generate power, the controller manages it, batteries store it, and the inverter makes it usable. Weakness in any link affects the whole system.
Choosing the Best Solar Panels for Your Travels
Not all solar panels suit every traveller. Your choice depends on how you travel, where you camp, and whether you want a permanent installation or something you can pack away.
Fixed and Rigid Solar Panels
For caravans and motorhomes with roof space, fixed rigid panels like the VoltX 12V 100W Fixed Solar Panel are the obvious choice. Once installed, they require virtually no attention—they charge your system while you drive and while you're parked. Quality panels use Grade-A monocrystalline cells for maximum efficiency and come with robust frames designed to handle Australian conditions. Outbax stocks a range of fixed panels specifically suited to local touring requirements.
Portable Folding Solar Panels and Blankets
If you prefer flexibility, portable folding panels are hard to beat. They pack down compactly, set up in minutes, and can be repositioned throughout the day to track the sun. Many feature ETFE coating—a durable polymer that resists scratches and improves light transmission. Solar blankets take portability even further, weighing significantly less than rigid alternatives while still delivering solid output.
Flexible Solar Panels
Flexible panels, like the VoltX 12V 100W Flexible Solar Panel, occupy a niche but useful role. They're designed for curved surfaces—van roofs, boat decks, or any situation where a rigid frame won't work. They're lightweight and low-profile, though generally less efficient than their rigid counterparts.
Here’s what one of our customers said:
“I have installed a panel to the roof of my golf cart. The roof is convex so the flex of the panel is necessary. The panel puts out good power to keep the cart running. Very happy with the purchase.”
Building a Complete Off-Grid Power System
Panels get the attention, but your battery and supporting components determine whether your system actually performs when it matters.
Why LiFePO4 Batteries Are the Smart Choice
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries like the VoltX 12V 300Ah Pro Lithium battery have become the standard for serious off-grid setups, and for good reason. Compared to older AGM or lead-acid technology, they offer dramatically longer lifespans—typically 2,000 to 5,000 charge cycles versus 300 to 500 for lead-acid. They're also significantly lighter (often half the weight), can be safely discharged to 80% or more of their capacity, and charge considerably faster.
Yes, they cost more upfront. But when you factor in replacement cycles and usable capacity, quality lithium batteries from suppliers like Outbax represent genuine long-term value.
Here’s what one of our customers said:
“Fantastic product and mighty performance. I have one of these batteries installed in our camping trailer to replace two small 40Ah batteries. What a difference! We comfortably run our Dometic 70l fridge, StarLink Mini, lighting, Nespresso machine and various other gadgets without fear of ever running out of power even when faced with a day or two of cloudy conditions. Charging is done with a solar system that produces up to 30A in full sun. Connected to a VoltX 2000W 240V inverter it doesn't struggle with voltage dropping to 12.4-12.8v with a 1500W load.
Nine months after installation and frequent use the battery is still sitting at 312Ah capacity. It's a big battery so it won't fit normal battery boxes, but at only 27kg it is light!”
MPPT vs PWM Charge Controllers
Charge controllers come in two types: PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) and MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking). PWM controllers are cheaper but less efficient. MPPT controllers actively optimise the power transfer from your panels, extracting up to 30% more energy, which is particularly valuable in cooler weather or when your batteries aren't fully depleted. For any serious off-grid setup, MPPT is worth the investment.
Selecting a Pure Sine Wave Inverter
Inverters also come in two varieties: modified sine wave and pure sine wave. Modified sine wave inverters cost less but produce "dirty" power that can damage sensitive electronics. Pure sine wave inverters produce clean AC power identical to what comes from a wall socket. If you're running a laptop, television, CPAP machine, or any modern appliance, pure sine wave isn't optional—it's essential.
A Simple Guide to Sizing Your Solar System
Getting the maths right means you won't run out of power when you need it most. The process involves three straightforward steps.
Step 1: Calculate your daily power consumption. List every appliance you'll use—fridge, lights, water pump, phone chargers, laptop—and estimate daily usage. Multiply each appliance's wattage by the hours you'll run it to get watt-hours (Wh). A 50W compressor fridge running 24 hours consumes 1,200Wh. A 10W LED light running 4 hours adds 40Wh. Total everything up.
Step 2: Size your battery bank. Convert your daily watt-hours to amp-hours by dividing by your system voltage (usually 12V). If you consume 1,500Wh daily, that's 125Ah. Then multiply by 2 or 3 to give yourself autonomy through cloudy days or extended shade camping. In this example, you'd want 250–375Ah of lithium battery capacity.
Step 3: Determine your solar panel wattage. Divide your daily watt-hours by average peak sun hours. For conservative Australian planning, use 4–5 hours. If you need 1,500Wh and estimate 4.5 peak hours, you'll need approximately 330W of solar panels to fully recharge your batteries each day.
Installation Tips and Maximising Solar Performance
Even the best equipment underperforms if poorly installed or maintained.
Keep wire runs as short as possible to minimise voltage drop—losses in long cables can significantly reduce charging efficiency. Ensure all connections are secure and weatherproofed. Use appropriate fuses and circuit breakers throughout the system. Outbax offers complete kits that include quality cabling and connectors matched to your panels and batteries.
For portable panels, angle them directly toward the sun and reposition throughout the day. A panel lying flat loses substantial output compared to one facing the sun squarely. Keep panels clean—dust, dirt, and bird droppings reduce efficiency more than most people realise.
Energy conservation matters too. Switch to LED lighting, run high-draw appliances like coffee machines during peak sun hours, and ensure your fridge has adequate ventilation. A well-managed system stretches your power further.
Achieving Genuine Energy Independence
Building a reliable off-grid solar system for your caravan isn't about chasing the biggest numbers or the lowest prices. It's about matching quality components to your actual power needs—efficient panels, durable LiFePO4 batteries, an MPPT controller, and a pure sine wave inverter.
Get the sizing right, install everything properly, and maintain your system, and you'll have dependable power wherever Australia's roads take you.
Ready to start planning? The Outbax range of solar panels, lithium batteries, and complete off-grid kits gives you everything you need for genuine travel freedom.
