Skoolie (bus conversion) Solar Calculator

A skoolie changes the math: roof space is nearly unlimited, so the constraint becomes battery bank size and budget. Families full-timing in a bus often run residential fridges, air conditioning, and full kitchens, pushing daily loads past 3–5 kWh. Size the array to your winter location and build the biggest LiFePO4 bank your budget and floor can carry.

Roof space: A school bus roof is huge (120–250 sq ft), so panels rarely limit you; battery and budget do.

Fitting panels to a Skoolie (bus conversion)

A bus roof inverts the usual problem: you have far more area than you need, so the constraint moves to weight, wiring runs, and budget. With 120–250 sq ft available, most skoolies could fit 2,000 W and never do, because the battery bank to store it costs more than the panels. Long roofs also mean long cable runs from the array to the controller, so voltage drop is a real design factor here in a way it is not on a van.

Solar alone, or solar plus alternator?

Skoolies carry the heaviest loads of anything on this site: induction cooking, big fridges, often a washing machine. They also have the chassis capacity for a 600 Ah bank without worrying about payload. Size the battery to the loads first; the roof will accommodate whatever array that implies.

Next steps for your Skoolie (bus conversion)

• Compare battery chemistry in the LiFePO4 vs AGM guide.
• Check your region's sun with the location pages.
• Get the wire right with wire gauge sizing.
• Work through the full pre-purchase checklist.

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