Best Solar Panels for RV

Solar energy is the future for RV owners. With renewable power supplies growing in popularity, lowering in price and with more reliable technology than ever before- you can now go anywhere without being tied to campgrounds that supply electricity hookups. The feeling of freedom opens up a world of undiscovered travel possibilities!

In this article we will explore the fundamentals of solar panels, what to consider when buying, and what are the best solar panels for RV.

Why Solar Panels

If camping off-grid is something you do often or planning to do, investing into this technology could drastically reduce the amount you would need to pay out just to charge our electronics from town electricity connections.

Solar Panels offer great benefits as an RV owner:

• Unlike conventional generators that you may use to help power your RV, you don’t have to worry about buying propane again for every trip
• Once installed on the roof of an RV or trailer with solar panels, there are almost no additional operating costs unless equipment needs to be replaced (new technology and renown brands are building very solid and lasting equipment)
• Solar panels can lengthen your RV battery life as they slowly charge your batteries
• If you are looking for a silent getaway, solar power could be the answer. Not only does it keep noise levels down, but also helps to reduce pollution by keeping your RV powered up!

Solar power is the ultimate renewable energy source, powered by a never-ending resource that's available everywhere. No matter where you are; as long as there’s sunlight shining down on your solar panels, they’ll do their job of converting sun into usable electricity and keep powering up all your devices for free 24/7!

At the end, the great outdoors is a wonderful place to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. But not even Mother Nature can keep you pacified if there is some loud gas generator running in the background and harming the environment too!

Types of Solar Panels

Solar Panels come as:

1. Monocrystalline solar panels

This type of panel is constructed from one solid piece of silicone, and this why they are the most efficient (having a higher charge output of more than 16%-17%). They produce a higher amount of power in low-light conditions

2. Polycrystalline solar panels

There are made from several pieces of silicone that are then combined. These are not as efficient as Monocrystalline but can still be a great option (they are less expensive too)

3. Amorphous - We will not waste time here. They are minimally used.

Structurally speaking they will come as:

1. Rigid panels

Although more commonly used, they don’t offer the advantage of flexing to adapt to uneven surfaces. Rigid type is more common on RV rooftops with ample roof surface. They are also less expensive vs Flexible panels

2. Flexible panels

Starting to gain more popularity although they are a more expensive option. As their name suggest, these panels can adapt to uneven surfaces, like small areas of RV rooftop, boating, small van, etc

Your Solar Power Needs

First things first: you need to calculate your estimated usage. Calculating your power usage can be done in two ways. You'll need to use a battery monitor, or by doing some basic math!

• Battery Monitors

With power being a living necessity for us to survive, we should take the necessary precautions and keep track of how much is consumed out of our RV battery. The Victron can do that job! Monitor your usage with its Bluetooth connectivity or on the screen from anywhere around you by connecting to it through Wi-Fi. With price at just over $200, this model offers features such as voltage monitoring which will warn you when your batteries are getting low so there won't be any surprises. Use the Victron to obtain an accurate energy consumption usage. And, you will be able to use the unit later on when you are powering your batteries via solar power.

• Math Calculations

If you are good with numbers and want to save some cash on a battery monitor then there is an alternative that does not require any research: You can calculate power consumption the old-fashioned way. You'll also need to do some research on the specific models of your appliances. You will have to find out how many watts each appliance uses and multiply that by how long you plan for it to be turned on any average day, in order get everything running at full-power without blowing a fuse!.

As we explain in our post RV Solar Panel Guide For Beginners. Here’s an example: Your rig has 1 television. The television uses 90 watt-hours or 90 watts per hour. If you plan to watch 3 hours of television per day then that calculation looks like this 90W x 3h = 270 watt-hours per day.  An average microwave uses 1200 watts per hour. You will need to do this for everything you expect to use while camping and add the totals together to get your overall usage.

Solar Panel Set Up

The first step in this process is not to be taken lightly. It requires careful consideration of many factors and cannot be rushed or skipped without consequences!

Available Roof Space and Desired Power Output

What if you had an entire room dedicated as one large storage spot? Reality is that you have limited space. 

You need a highly efficient solar panel using the least amount of space while still maximizing its output and can charge your battery in no time. This is why Monocrystalline panels are the best option since they offer the highest efficiency.

It is important to take into account the size of your RV or van when deciding how many panels you will need. The majority of larger RVs require four or more, but smaller vehicles can get by with less than two.

Your RV can only accommodate so much power. In order to run your electronics, you'll need a good input of current as well. More wattage is better because it will produce enough powerful currents to support numerous electrical activities at the same time. Higher wattages also come with higher efficiency ratings.

When shopping for an RV solar panels or kits, the most important consideration is future needs. This means if you were to look for additional energy output in the future and your consumption increases it's best that you get components capable of handling higher power outputs so that when needed they can be added on top with no issues!

How to Install Solar Panels on Your RV Roof?

1) You already went through this part and we assume you already know what you will buy (space and power as factors)

2) When you are installing your solar panels, make sure they will be installed on a leveled surface. With the sun always changing its position you can angle them when the RV is static so that it captures sun at an optimal time and position while you don't interfere with wind while driving around

3) Measure the roof. Map out where you want things to go so that there is room for panels and maneuverability if extra space or panel removal becomes necessary later on down the line. You can use cardboard as a layout idea by taping it up in an area of your choice before cutting into place with scissors!

4) When planning for roof layout, make sure to avoid anything interrupting sunlight from getting to your solar panels. This includes: antennas, vents and other potential obstacles that may block the sun's rays.

5) Installing in series will affect all panels by only one getting shade. If installation is parallel, only the panel getting shade will be affected. Still shade is something you want to avoid at all cost.

"The more power you have, the better! specially for cloudy days you won't regret having more power"

6) Wire into your RV. You can wire up your RV in any way that you see fit. Whether using an existing vent or drilling new holes, just make sure it gets done smoothly and easily to ensure maximum convenience. Wire down from roof to the belly and forward thru belly up to the charge controller, and forward to batteries. Inspect and find the best way to wire cables around.

"Don't use small or cheap cables as they can inhibit the flow of power. Preferably use the ones with less than 2% voltage drop" Read more on The Ultimate Guide To RV Solar Kits

7) Use circuit breakers to disconnect panels from controller, and controller from batteries and install a catastrophic fuse right at, or very close to the battery bank. This is critical 

8) Use combiner boxes at the panel level. Instead of running 8 wires (4 solar panels x 2 wires per panel) you will combine the wiring together into one pair of larger gauge wire. These boxes are typically mounted on the roof, in a central location, as to limit the wire lengths (runs) from all the solar panels to it. Look for weatherproof boxes.

9) Installing the controller. This is the most critical part of your new solar system. The controller will regulate how energy goes from panels into batteries. Make sure your solar controller is able to handle the maximum amount of amps that your solar panels will produce. As a rule of thumb, make your wiring from the solar controller to the battery bank as short as possible. This will minimize the size of wire needed and voltage drop (energy loss). In other words, locate the controller next or very close to the batteries

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Best Solar Panels for RV

Our Acopower Series are the highest quality panels to equip your RV with solar power, when and where you need to.

ACOPOWER 300W Mono Black Complete RV Solar System

Great for mid size RV or Vans. This kit has EVERYTHING you need to power up::

• Solar charging will provide up to 1440 Watt Hours (Wh) or 120 Amp hours of charge per day
• Includes 3x100 Watt Monocrystalline Solar Panel, 2pcs 100Ah Gel (Maintenance Free) Deep Cycle Battery, 1500 Watt DC to AC Power Inverter, 30-amp MPPT Solar Charge Controller (w/ LCD Display), a 50A fuse, a battery switch
• Easy and quick to install comes with all necessary Cables, all necessary solar mounting Z brackets

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ACOPOWER 400W Mono Black Complete RV Solar System