Solar Panels for RVs and Campers

Solar panels for RVs and campers

Solar panels for RVs and campers operate similarly like residential and commercial solar panels just on a smaller, more transportable dimension. Once they’re put on your RV the solar panels capture sunlight and turn it into useable power for your vehicle. In turn, you may employ this electricity to operate the appliances, lights and outlets in your RV.

Solar power for rvs can be an important part of the electrical supply.

Without solar panels, you’ll need to rely on another power source for electricity, such as a generator or camping connection. RV solar panels provide a practical and ecologically appropriate alternative to these traditional sources since they rely on renewable power.

Buying solar panels for your RV is a superb approach to charge your batteries as once installed, solar power supplies pure, silent energy that you may exploit anytime the sun is out.

But before plunging into buying panels and batteries and components, you should pick the optimal type of solar panel for your RV.

Why should I get a solar panel for my RV?

It just doesn’t get much greener than solar power. Modern photovoltaic solar panels gather natural light and transfer it into power. The more light, the more power you acquire, however even cloudy days give some current.

Solar panels are great for motorhome owners as they keep your leisure batteries charged up in summer. They also give energy for low-draw electronics, such as alarms and trackers, when a ‘van’s in storage for months.

They’re a gift for off-gridders too, generating enough electricity to keep your leisure batteries charged when you have no hook-up.

To sum up, solar panels are tremendously handy for a motorhome, as they’re relatively priced, easy to operate and eco-friendly.

How does a solar panel function in a RV?

Photovoltaic solar panels are covered with a thin coating of silicon. When sunlight hits the screen, photons are absorbed, which causes electrons to separate from the silicon atoms and fly around.

This creates a DC electric current, which is ‘collected’ and directed, via a controller, to charge your leisure batteries. Typically, an RV solar panel offers 17-18V of charge.

Motorhomes frequently require substantial charging power for extended travels away from mains hookups, especially when fitted with power-hungry equipment such as refrigerators. This means you’ll almost probably require a robust motorhome solar panel system (rated between 60 and 130 watts) permanently positioned on the top of your vehicle. (And, of course, solar panels, unlike generators, are silent, ecologically friendly, and require no continuous maintenance.)

 Solar electric power is one of the greatest things that has happened to the RV world.

Now we’re going to explore the different types of solar panels available, the ideal area to put them, and how many you will need.

You should spend between $1.15 and $2.50 per watt for kits that comprise one or more solar panels, cables, and a charge controller. Additionally, most systems require the purchase of one or more suitable lead-acid or AGM (absorbent glass mat) batteries, which range in price from $100 to $400 depending on size. Additionally, you may require an inverter ($50 to $400) to convert the DC battery power to 120-volt AC current suited for plug-in electronics.

What Are Portable RV Solar Panels?

Portable RV solar panels are more compact versions of the solar panels that RVers put on their roof. These miniature versions of RV solar panels come in many different styles and sizes.

Getting the best portable solar panels for RV battery charging is one of the most crucial investments you can make. With this, you are free to use the sun’s unlimited energy. Also, this permits you to transfer such energy into electricity effortlessly. An RV requires all the electrical power it can gather as it supports numerous appliances at the same time.

Some portable solar panels fold up into a carrying case and tuck away nicely for storage. Other portable panels come with stands. These forms of solar panels could be thin and flexible or bigger and substantial, depending on the brand and type.

Portable solar panels are taken out when in use and may be positioned anywhere around your RV. You may even lay them on top if you desire, but they are not mounted down so you will always need to pack them away while travelling.

At first sight, flexible solar panels seem like they would be a superior product to alternative rigid solar panels, and in certain respects, they are. But in some areas, flexible solar panels are substantially inferior.

What Are Flexible Solar Panels?

Flexible solar panels are just what their name indicates – they are solar panels that can bend. However, by “flexible,” we don’t suggest they can be rolled up. Rather, they can typically bend to a fair extent. If they are bent too much, the internal cells and electrical structure will still fail. So be sure to notice the limits from the manufacturer.

When not in use, portable solar panels are removed and can be placed wherever on your rig. You may even place them on top if desired, but because they are not secured, you will constantly need to put them away while travelling.

Everything You Need to Know About Charging an RV Battery with a Solar Generator

Almost every RV, motorhome, camper, and pop-up trailer will require some form of 12 volt electrical system to power electrical accessories and appliances. Generally, everything in your RV, from the lights to the wall outlets used to charge your smartphone, will be powered by a 12 volt battery bank.

Regrettably, unless you are connected to shore power, your RV’s battery system might quickly become completely exhausted. This is where solar energy may truly assist. Not only are folding solar panels, lightweight solar generators, and other portable solar equipment now small enough to fit in an RV, but solar power also enables you to charge your batteries in even the most remote locations. With the proper equipment, you can maintain a charge on your RV batteries from anywhere the sun shines.

Given the rising popularity of solar generators, many RV enthusiasts are questioning if they can charge their RV battery directly with a solar generator. To solve this topic, we are going to explain all you need to know about solar generators and RV batteries. We will also share some crucial information on the types of solar panels you may take with you on your next RV vacation.

Determining How Much Solar Power Your RV Actually Needs

Before you begin looking for solar generators and solar panels, the first thing you need to question is how much solar power do you genuinely need to charge your RV’s batteries?

Whether you are simply trying to charge a single 12 volt RV battery, or you are hoping to maintain a full backup battery bank topped up, understanding the precise quantity of power you require is an immensely crucial piece of knowledge to have.

Assuming you are simply wanting to charge a certain number of batteries, estimating how much solar power you will actually need is actually very basic. Most batteries will plainly disclose their power rating right on the shell of the battery.

If your battery is new, you may simply use the amp hour and voltage rating of the battery to estimate your solar requirements. If the batteries you are trying to charge are extensively used, you may need to compute the true amp-hours rating, as battery capacity will gradually reduce over time.

Measuring Your RV Batteries

Like any other type of battery, RV batteries are rated using distinct factors that help explain how effectively they will truly work. One of the most relevant measurements is amp hours, or AH, which specifies how much current a battery can provide over an hour.

To determine the amp hour rating of a standard 12 volt RV battery, you will need to use a multimeter. Simply attach a simple resistor to the battery’s terminals and then observe the discharge until the voltage decreases to the 12 volts the battery is rated for. You may then use the battery’s genuine current to get its amp hours rating.

Once you have exact measurements for your RV batteries, you can next choose the proper solar equipment for your requirements.

Using a Solar Generator to Charge Your RV Batteries

Solar generators are perfect for RVs, as they may work as an all-in-one solar power station. Not only can they be hooked directly to your RV battery, which makes charging quite easy, they have a built-in charge controller, power converter, their own deep cycle solar battery bank, and all the output charging connectors you could possibly need.

You simply need to combine your solar generator with an acceptable number of solar panels and you can begin charging your RV batteries with clean, environmentally-friendly solar electricity immediately.

On top of everything else, solar generators are supposed to be highly portable. Most variants include lightweight designs, built-in carrying handles, solid and durable exteriors, and easy-to-read LCD or LED display screens, so you can monitor the charge status of any linked batteries, as well as the remaining power inside the solar generator itself.

Connecting a Solar Generator to an RV Battery

While it is possible to connect a solar generator directly to the terminals on your RV’s batteries, most people actually find it easier to charge their RV battery through the 12V automotive outlet in their RV’s dashboard.

Unlike a gasoline-powered generator, a solar generator emits zero emissions, so you can easily use the generator inside your RV. You only have to link your generator into the 12V charging port and let it trickle charge your RV battery.

Once the battery has been charged, you would simply disconnect the solar generator. From there, you could take the solar generator outdoors and link it to your solar panel array, which would guarantee it is charged and ready to go the next time your RV’s battery needs a charge.

Some solar generators will also come with alligator clip charging connectors, so users may connect the gadget to their car battery in cases when they need a boost. You may use this strategy to charge your RV batter, as well as any other 12 volt batteries you are employing as part of your RV’s power bank.

Charging Your Devices Directly

Another advantage of employing a solar generator is the fact that you can charge and power electrical devices and appliances directly. Rather of employing your solar generator purely as a battery charger, you can actually take some of the load off of your RV batteries by using the generator to power some of the gadgets that would otherwise drain your RV batteries.

Most solar generators will offer a number of output connectors, including typical AC wall-style outputs, many USB ports, a 12VDC outlet, and even the newer USB-C outlets. Rather than constantly using electricity from your RV batteries, you may put stuff into your solar generator.

Solar Panels for RVs

Choosing solar panels for your RV is somewhat different from choosing solar panels to employ as part of a permanent solar power system. For starters, portability is a crucial challenge. Not only do the solar panels need to be tiny so you can store them when they are not in use, you will want to hunt for solar panels that have a power rating that is suitable for your solar generator.

Can I use a solar battery charger to keep my RV battery charged?

The short answer is yes, a solar panel can be used to charge an RV battery. You first must establish how much power you spent, so you know how much you need to replace.

Your heater will be rated in watts or amps. Multiply that value by the estimated number of hours the heater worked, and you will obtain your baseline number. Once you have it you can decide what size panel you need.

.Remember that solar only charges when the sun is shining on the panel, which is roughly 6-7 hours per day average. To charge a drained RV sized battery using a solar panel charger in 6 hours would take a couple 100 watt+ panels.