OZK Customs + Zamp Solar Obsidian Solar Panel Kits

Zamp Obsidian 180 or 200-Watt Solar Panel Kits

Likely, if you intend to take your van where you won’t be able to access campsite electric plug-ins, you’re already considering a beefy battery system. The next consideration is how to keep that system fully charged, whether you go with one of our Goal Zero Yeti mobile power banks, or the built-in Victron system. While running your van is always going to be the fastest way to recharge your conversion van battery system, you may not want to have to run your van every day when you are at a remote campsite. Solar is a great option to help maintain your van’s base power draw off the grid. A 180 or 200-watt solar kit may not totally recharge your battery, but it can offset some of the demands on your battery system from the AC system, lights, or refrigerator – especially when you intend to be off the beaten road for an extended time.

Zamp Solar offers superior solar panel kits in their Obsidian Series, with options of 90, 180, and 200-Watt kits that install on your van’s roof. The Obsidian Series panels work with any type of 12-volt battery and feature an ultra-thin profile for lighter weight, just over 10 lbs per panel, and improved aerodynamics when mounted on your adventure van’s roof rack But their 30% reduction in weight doesn’t make them any less tough – each panel is built with tempered glass laminate that matches industrial solar panels for hail, snow load, and strength requirements.

Each 100-watt panel is roughly 44” tall and 21” wide, while being just over .6” thick, with a rugged anodized aluminum frame. This means they are as thin as a flexible panel and have we mentioned how lightweight they are? But they boast the longevity of a much heavier standard solar panel. Proudly American-made, the Obsidian solar panels are purpose-built for the adventure conversion van life, featuring an Omni-Rail mounting system that gives you flexible mounting points for your van’s roof. This is an extremely convenient feature for potential future changes in your van’s roof configuration.

Each panel has just over a 5-amp output with a 25-year warranty on output. The 90-Watt panels, most popularly installed as the two panel 180-Watt solar kit, also generate 5 amps and weigh just over 10 lbs each – an incredibly light weight for their size and power output. They are built with longer, narrower dimensions – 60” tall and 14” wide – that offer you different mounting options depending on your van’s rooftop configuration and storage requirements.

We know that as an adventure van owner, you need light weight, low profile, rugged panels that will stand up to all of your adventures, and Zamp Solar has provided just that with their Obsidian series panels.

More About Zamp Solar

Zamp Solar was founded for the off-grid adventure industry. Beginning in 2010, Zamp has consistently pushed the bar of what was possible for off-grid, mobile power solutions through their innovative solar panel kits, purpose-built for the off-the-beaten-path lifestyle. Quickly expanding in a growing market for mobile power solutions, Zamp was acquired by Dometic in 2021. Dometic’s respected name and broad market reach has allowed Zamp Solar to broaden their ability to provide the highest quality solutions to the adventure van market, among many others.

Each panel from Zamp Solar is handcrafted in the United States, with high attention to detail, since all details matter in a market as potentially extreme as the adventure van market. Features such as weight, durability, and movable mounting points are all integrated with an eye towards knowledgeable camper and conversion van enthusiasts. Now considered the premier producer of innovative, industry-leading off-grid solar solutions in America, Zamp is OZK Van’s first choice for solar panel kits for the Van Life adventurer.

Check back soon for more info on the Zamp Solar Obsidian panels from our OZK Customs podcast experts. Learn more about use cases, the pros and cons of this solar option vs. the others we offer, and other questions you never thought to ask!