RV Solar Panels Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the different types of RV solar panels that are available for my RV and what are their pros and cons?
There are a many different types of panels to choose from and they have many substantial differences between them.
The first type of RV solar panels are the most common. These hopefully consist of strong tempered glass and rigid metal frames if you get quality panels. These also hopefully have very long performance warranties, and are the most efficient panels in terms of their size.
They consist of two types, monocrystalline and polycrystalline. Monocrystalline panels are slightly more efficient than polycrystalline, and are slightly more expensive. These glass panels do have limitations as they don’t perform well on overcast days, and the entire panel shuts down if there is any shading. Also, to perform to full specifications, they must face south and receive full sun for five to six hours a day.
The second type of RV Solar Panel are Thin Film. These panels are light weight and flexible. They can be rolled up and stored in a backpack, or adhered to your RV using a peel and stick feature. These panels are very versatile but also have their limitations. They are less efficient then their glass cousins but perform well on cloudy days, and the entire panel doesn’t shut down when there is shading present. They also don’t have to face south and work well lying flat on your RV.
2. How much power will a solar panel create, and how long will it power all my stuff?
Solar panels convert energy from the sun into electricity to supply the various gadgets on board your RV. The panels only provide power during the day, so if you plan on using electricity at night or on cloudy/rainy days you have to rely on batteries. How long the power in your batteries lasts depends on three things:
1) The quality and efficiency of your solar panels*
2) Your battery bank size
3) Consumption of electricity in your RV
The first and most important step is to determine the amount of power your RV uses in a typical day – without completely draining your batteries. This is easier said then done! When sizing the right RV Solar Panels, you have to first calculate a typical days use in terms of amp hours. You basically need to be able to replace those amps in a day plus or minus 30% extra to reserve for bad weather . Sound to complicated? It sort of is, that’s why we have included our easy to use solar calculator that can also be found on our home page. It can help determine the ideal size for your new system.
3. How big should my battery bank be for me to use solar power?
That’s a great question, one that could take many pages to explain. We will try and keep it simple. Once again our solar calculator can help you determine the size of your battery bank as well. It all depends on your typical daily usage. At the bottom of our solar calculator you can determine what your typical daily use in terms of amp hours is. Since you don’t ever want to discharge your batteries more than 75% to 50% to extend battery life, you need enough capacity to be able to deal with an average days use plus alittle extra. Basically the equation we use is take the inverse of the fraction of the level of discharge desired and multiply that by the average daily use in amp hours. So if we only want to discharge our battery a quarter of the way (75%) we take the inverse of ¼ or 4 x our average daily use in amp hours. So as an example say we use an average of 100 amp hours in a day and want to discharge our batteries no more than ¼ of the way (75%) . So 4/1 x100 = 400 amp hours!
One way to think about it would be if gasoline fell from the sky like rain, wouldn’t you want the biggest bucket you can find to store it all?. The same idea goes for solar energy. Since the light from the sun is completely free, you have the opportunity with your RV solar panels to collect and store as much of that free energy as you can!
So the simple answer to your question is to store as much free solar energy as possible. A bigger bank of batteries will make sure that you have plenty of energy to run all your gadgets and be prepared for cloudy days when your RV solar panels don’t produce as much power as you like.
4. How do I size a solar panel system for my RV?
There are a lot variables to consider when attempting to size a solar system. Generally, bigger is better. You want to be able to replace the power you use in a day while reserving enough for the rainy days when your system isn’t performing to full capacity. Things like how many days in a row or a week you plan to use your system, actively reducing power consumption, and geography / time of year are all thing to consider. By using our RV Solar Calculator you can determine the optimal size system for your RV. The calculator lists several popular appliances and gadgets and provides how many amp hours they typically consume. Once you add up your typical usage you can determine the appropriate size RV Solar Panels you’ll need and also help to determine an Inverter and Battery bank size!
5. Will RV solar panels run my microwave?
Absolutely, but it will require the use of an inverter. An inverter is a device that takes the direct current (DC) from your batteries and solar panels, and converts it to alternating current (AC) the power you use in your home. It’s also very important to remember that most microwaves when first turned on, will generally use double the amount of stated wattage so you’ll need an inverter that can handle that amount of power!
6. Should I tilt my solar panels?
You should always try to tilt your crystalline panels at a 45 degree angle pointed south for optimal efficiency. Thin Film RV Solar Panels work better when applied flat on a roof. That being said, during the summer months when the sun is drifting higher in the sky, you can leave you RV solar panels flat on the roof and there will be less loss in efficiency. However during the winter months the sun is lower in the sky, and will greatly benefit from tilting your panels at a 45 degree angle. You may want to do a little experimentation with yours to determine what works best for you.
7. What exactly is an inverter?
An inverter is a device that converts the electricity your RV Solar Panel and battery use (DC), into the normal power your used to using in your home (AC), so that you have no problem running your 120 volt appliances (the ones with a 3 prong plug) in your RV. . There are two different types of inverters:
- Modified sine wave inverters are the older type of inverter. They produce AC power, just not completely perfect. Many devices will have a hard time working when powered by a modified sine wave inverter.
- Pure sine wave inverters or true sine wave inverters, produce quality AC power. They will run all AC appliances that are within the wattage range of the inverter and will not give you a hard time like modified sine wave inverters.
8. What size inverter do I need for my RV?
The easiest way would be to use our solar calculator. The more accurate way to size your inverter is to check the wattage of each individual appliance that you plan on running at the same time. Then you simply add up these numbers and pick an inverter that can handle the largest power requirement at once.
9. With RV Solar Kit and an Inverter from Rvsolarsystemsonline.com will I be able to turn that dirty,stinky, noisy generator off?
As many customers have found out first hand – the answer is yes!
Just remember that every RV owner is different, especially when it comes to their power requirements. So, it is very important to determine how much power your family will actually use. The first step to having a green RV is reducing your consumption. Often one can significantly reduce the size of a battery and solar system required just by replacing some lights and appliances! The easiest way to see the effects of this first hand is to use our solar calculator. Our calculator will help you accurately size a system so that you can replace your generator. You can stop all the noise, stop carrying all the extra fuel, inhaling those awful fumes, and polluting the environment while saving money on maintenance and fuel costs.
The quiet combination of RV Solar Panels, Batteries, and an Inverter can completely eliminate the need for ever running a loud polluting generator!
