Running A Full Sized Solar Panel On An Rv

Solar panel mc4 connectors connecting panels to combiner box.

Running a full sized solar panel on an rv.

Best expandable solar rv kit. If you are looking at this for an rv check out the rv solar panel guide as well use a solar calculator for a realistic estimate a solar power calculator will require some work on your end in terms of inputting what you want solar power for and looking at the wattage of your devices and appliances. Remember back when we decided to rip out our rv refrigerator because it kicked the bucket and lived out of a cooler for a year. Currently as we speak our self installed rv solar panels are completely running our new refrigerator.

Rv solar panels work by converting sunlight into electricity or power. For cable run lengths typical in rv applications we recommend 8 gauge for 10 amp systems 6 gauge wire for 30 amp systems 4 gauge wire for 40 amps systems and 2 gauge for 100a systems. Well folks those days are long behind us. Solar panels are sold in varying sizes but a 100 watt panel is a commonly found size particularly for rvs.

The panels create an electric current each time the sun hits them. For example to charge a 12v rv house battery you should pair it with a single 12v solar panel or multiple 12v panels wired in parallel. How do rv solar panels work. This is the one that will control the amount of current that gets into the battery.

As you can see operating a large refrigerator on just solar can become very expensive. 24 hours a day we have refrigerated food and it is damn glorious. It s called a controller because it modifies how much energy reaches the battery so as not to overcharge them. Besides the 8 batteries and 10 panels a couple adequate sized charge controllers and a smart battery charger would also be required for this example.

That panel is rated at 100 watts at peak efficiency meaning on a 78 degree cloudless day at solar noon on the equator during the equinox. The renogy solar panels came with short wires with mc4 connectors attached from the factory. Renogy 100 watt solar kit 30 amp charge controller cables. If running a solar system to power electrical items in your rv is new to you and you want to try it on a small scale this 12 volt kit is ideal.

7824 watt hrs day 160watts panel x 5 hours sunlight per day 9 78 10 panels. Since the panels in our systems are always connected in parallel you can assume about 6 amps per 100 watts of solar panels. Basically the rv solar panels route to a solar charge controller which sends the energy your panels have created to the on board battery system. I don t know too many people who rv under those conditions.