Why don’t Europeans fit solar panels to the roofs of their motorhomes?

[RV-AL]

I am staying on a campsite above Bilbao which is terraced and I am on the upper level. Looking out I have a great view of the city but also of the roofs of the 12 motorhomes on the terrace below. The first thing that struck me was that their roofs were all very clean (pleased my roof wasn’t over looked), but then that with the exception of two vans none had any solar panels and those that did only had what looked like single 80 watt panels which probably came with the vans. Most of the vans are Spanish or Portugese registered where they have a lot more sun than us with a couple of Dutch and German. I have 500 watts and am wondering if I over did it on the upgrades!

Does anyone have a theory on way the Europeans don’t go for solar panels, or is my sample just unrepresentative?

 

[G-RMPS]

Excellent site, that one in Bilbao. Interesting road up the hill, but a bus stop outside to visit the city. Hot bread in the office. And I go on the front row showing off my moss, and 100 watts.

 

[Dutch 68]

Suprised with the Germans, the ones I know are all up on solar, there is a massive overland show in Bad Kissingen every year and all have solar plus Mastervolt have a big stand there. I know some great Dutch swear words that might come in handy

Yeah just ask, I know a fair few too, also in German if needed

 

[dryad]

I suspect the French maybe don’t bother with solar as they’re used to free or very cheap aires with leccy provided, possibly..

 

[Badknee]

I get fed up with the French & Spanish starting up their engines at 8 am and ruining my beauty sleep.
If they are going to stay on Aires without EHU why don't they make their vans fit for purpose.

God knows you need all the beauty sleep you can get Lenny HB

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[Captain Yoghurtpot]

I would say the reason that the ones you can see don’t have panels on their because they are on a campsite. I assume if they are campsite people, they have the ability and are possibly paying for electricity.

If you go to camping areas that don’t have electricity supplied/or available you would see more SPs

OR........
Is there a preference for using a Powerbank rather than solar, recharged from a ground-based portable panel.
Easier to fit, less hassle with wiring upgrades and replacing batteries to Lithium and fitting inverters?
Think there is a thread about such products on here.

 

[Northernraider]

OR........
Is there a preference for using a Powerbank rather than solar, recharged from a ground-based portable panel.
Easier to fit, less hassle with wiring upgrades and replacing batteries to Lithium and fitting inverters?
Think there is a thread about such products on here.

Why they running engines then?

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Why they running engines then?

I have no idea!
Charging their leisure battery for now AND powerbank for later?
Perhaps someone might like to go and ask them?

 

[jumar]

There are so many signs of naivety in the lives of Motorhome owners. Some very strange activities can be seen on a regular basis, if you have the time to be observing their actions...or some times you cannot fail to see what they have done, or are doing..
On this thread alone...starting an engine and leaving it running to charge the battery waking Lenny HB in the process...or where they park....on an empty campsite...right next to you....one nation in particular are known to do this...as for getting the vehicle level...my Lord...has anyone seen me do this...it's classic...
Without doubt most newcomers, including myself back in 1994 haven't got a clue..and learn as we go along...well some of us do...
Here on fun we can reach out, to experienced motorhomers for advice...I did only yesterday..from the man who has lost beauty sleep recently...but do other nations have such forums and groups that provide such information...other than the salesman who sold the van and has never spent a single night using one...Just my early morning thoughts...no engines running here, no overloud TV in the van that's parked too close...just us and nature...Bliss.

 

[Ridgeway]

Remember that quite a lot of people in Europe don’t do anything on their vans, DIY wise. Same as cars as it’s all controlled and regulated and hence it means getting such upgrades done at the camper/WoMo garage which will most likely provide a very off putting price in the first place.

Here i got quoted a simple upgrade to add 1 more panel to my existing 200w Solar system, that was £2k.

Looking at the vans where we store ours, non have solar (except us) and non have any modifications really. The odd time i bump into the owners of the storage vans and they see me on the roof or my arse sticking out from the engine bay they often jokingly comment that i can do theirs next, then they go off to have another bottle of wine and watch someone else cut the grass in their garden

So i thinks it’s the habit of getting someone else to do it vs it’s costs too much and do we really need it anyway…..

Look at car tuning in most EU countries vs the UK, same story that due to controls it makes it very hard to do unless you pay through the nose and go the official route. Again very little DIY tuners.

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[Widge]

Remember that quite a lot of people in Europe don’t do anything on their vans, DIY wise. Same as cars as it’s all controlled and regulated and hence it means getting such upgrades done at the camper/WoMo garage which will most likely provide a very off putting price in the first place.

Here i got quoted a simple upgrade to add 1 more panel to my existing 200w Solar system, that was £2k.

Looking at the vans where we store ours, non have solar (except us) and non have any modifications really. The odd time i bump into the owners of the storage vans and they see me on the roof or my arse sticking out from the engine bay they often jokingly comment that i can do theirs next, then they go off to have another bottle of wine and watch someone else cut the grass in their garden

So i thinks it’s the habit of getting someone else to do it vs it’s costs too much and do we really need it anyway…..

Look at car tuning in most EU countries vs the UK, same story that due to controls it makes it very hard to do unless you pay through the nose and go the official route. Again very little DIY tuners.

When we had our 1981 transit camper i looked into changing the engine for one out of a later transit, a common upgrade in the uk, but no chance, a vehicle mechanically has to be out the factory spec, i could have changed it for the v6 petrol, but only if i did all the changes that were done for that model in the factory.

 

[Northernraider]

When we had our 1981 transit camper i looked into changing the engine for one out of a later transit, a common upgrade in the uk, but no chance, a vehicle mechanically has to be out the factory spec, i could have changed it for the v6 petrol, but only if i did all the changes that were done for that model in the factory.

It's weird because when I was on the vw scene we had vehicles come from all over Europe and many were modified, there's actually a huge car guy culture throughout europe so there must be some leeway on things

 

[Widge]

It's weird because when I was on the vw scene we had vehicles come from all over Europe and many were modified, there's actually a huge car guy culture throughout europe so there must be some leeway on things

Maybe different in other European countries, but officially not allowed in france, although i think a lot of people ignore the rules. I had a long chat to a local Renault guy i know, he does rallying so has modified vehicles, but if i understood him correctly, they were allowed on the public roads but only in the context of an event, you were not allowed to drive them around as a normal car.

 

[gus-lopez]

Gnomes...Who the F**K has Gnomes in their Motorhome...(Motorgnome)

Unfortunately as Tam has already said even I have seen them. & potted plants?

all controlled and regulated and hence it means getting such upgrades done at the camper/WoMo garage which will most likely provide a very off putting price in the first place.

Here i got quoted a simple upgrade to add 1 more panel to my existing 200w Solar system, that was £2k.

You may well be right?

Look at car tuning in most EU countries vs the UK, same story that due to controls it makes it very hard to do unless you pay through the nose and go the official route. Again very little DIY tuners.

On a UK car site I use there are quite a few French ,Dutch;germans & they have ways around the rules but that comply. so of the work involved though is mind boggling. Then there are others German & French who take it for its TüV or CT as standard then refit all the aftermarket parts they have installed.

so there must be some leeway on things

you'd be surprised how many will pay.All the 4x4 stuff here has to have all & everything homologated & it is cheaper by far to do the whole lot at once via a'project' than it is to do individually.
When I did my project back in 2020 I could include all & everything that I wanted .Pity I forgot the bull bar & the fact that I had already changed the double seat to a single,although in most ITV places this isn't a problem

 

[Lenny HB]

or where they park....on an empty campsite...right next to you....one nation in particular are known to do this...

You forgot to mention the ½ hour shuffling back and forth to get a sat signal and they dissappear inside put TV on full blast with windows & doors open and you have to find your ear plugs.
Then they run their engines at 8 am, then drive to the next place and repeat.
You wonder why they have Motorhomes.

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[gus-lopez]

Then they run their engines at 8 am, then drive to the next place and repeat.

That's of course if they haven't left before 7am to avoid paying

 

[MichaelT]

You forgot to mention the ½ hour shuffling back and forth to get a sat signal and they dissappear inside put TV on full blast with windows & doors open and you have to find your ear plugs.
Then they run their engines at 8 am, then drive to the next place and repeat.
You wonder why they have Motorhomes.

Then they plug in to EHU if available.

We arrived at gravelines after a late crossing, pulled up and got set up. Watching tv and heard an engine running (past 10pm), thought it was another van arriving but noticed it was still going 5 minutes later, opened door and next door had engine running, politely knocked on door and luckily the engine went straight off.

 

[Whippet93]

The price of solar these days is cheap . And there's an abundance of sun down here .


What's up with them

and the price of fuel they use isn't cheap or environmentally friendly!

 

[rambo]

yep same in uk this time of year. i been parked up all week and at night the number of mh's that leave there engine running/ticking over for 30-40 mins to get some charge......stop it..... all dose is clog dpf ,and probably a lot of guys that do this are anti genny .....note to self put my code reader diagnostic tool in van ££££££

 

[bobnick]

My theory is they are not tight arses like some we know and look for sites with EHU.

I know i know the whole essence of MHing/camping blah blah is the feedom and not proper unless you park-up in some deserted spot or glorified car park.......................................bet i'm in trouble now.

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[jumar]

This is our European van taking advantage of early morning sun utilising a tilting panel..

 

[TrudeandDall]

Presumably those that are used to sunshine try to park in the shade where solar makes no sense

That is exactly the reason my daughter's French in-laws said when I asked about their lack of solar charging. It is way to hot in the south of France for a big chunk of the summer to rely on the sun to recharge their van. It's in the shade for comfortable camping for them and a EHU.

 

[jumar]

That is exactly the reason my daughter's French in-laws said when I asked about their lack of solar charging. It is way to hot in the south of France for a big chunk of the summer to rely on the sun to recharge their van. It's in the shade for comfortable camping for them and a EHU.

And here in Spain it's fairly warm too..therefore autumn through to early spring the fixed panels do their but...during the hot summer a portable panel comes into its own...van in the shade, panel in the sun...it works well for us...no EHU needed...

 

[NR]

But even if they are on EHU in Spain and Portugal it is only 6 amps and you see some of the mega German trucks like the morellos etc without solar.

Being a Brit I had to have four and they stick a decent charge into my 680A.