I’ve had a few questions about the solar panels on my Sienna. Yes, they’re definitely not “stealth” 😄 They make it pretty obvious that this isn’t just a regular minivan.
But stealth was never a big priority for my build. I knew we’d spend most nights at campgrounds, so I preferred having enough solar power to actually support the way we travel.
I have 2 x 195W panels = 390W on the roof, and that makes a huge difference with my fully electric kitchen. I regularly use an induction cooktop, kettle and panini press, especially when we’re on the road and not plugged in at a campground.
And the panels ended up solving another problem completely by accident — rain protection over the moonroof!
I can leave the moonroof open for ventilation at night without worrying about rain coming in. And unlike opening a side window, the ventilation opening is much better protected from someone reaching inside.
So yes, I sacrificed some stealth — but gained power, ventilation and rain protection from the same setup.
Here’s my “Swiss Army knife” solar setup if you want to see how it works:
Leave a comment