Portable Solar Generators For RVs
A Recreational Vehicle (RV) gives you independence from hotel bookings and allows you to change your journey at will. In theory you can go anywhere the mood takes you, but often you are restricted to official camp sites because you need a source of electricity. Even using your batteries sparingly to work on-board appliances you will still find they will need recharging from time to time – usually more often than you had planned! And beware, regularly draining a battery will shorten its life considerably. But there is an alternative that will give you the freedom of the road, and it can be made easily and for very little money.
Many RVs have gas generators on-board, but these tend to be noisy, smelly and gas-guzzlers. Nowadays it is quite common to fit a solar panel or two which will provide most if not all the power you need without damaging your battery, and literally anybody can put these together in their backyard. If you have a gas generator you can keep it as a backup – much less harmful for the ears and pocket. Keep it for powering the lights at your next outdoor party!
Solar panels for RVs can be easily stored if foldable, and they are usually quite light and easy to move. A single 4ft x 2 ft solar panel will produce about 75 to 100 watts, which is about equal to a pair of golf cart batteries. This would probably be sufficient for a typical 24ft RV but it would depend, of course, on your personal electrical requirements. Most RVs use less than 400 watts. The best advice is to start with one or two solar panels, and add more as and when you feel they are necessary. We have some more information about these portable solar generators here.
If you plan to use your RV regularly in hot weather, you will have one or two other things to consider. You will need a solar-powered battery charger with battery temperature compensation to reduce the danger of damaging your batteries. Also, solar panels on the roof of an RV can get very warm, which can affect their efficiency and can lead to voltage drops. Your solar panels will need to be rated at about 17 volts or higher to ofset this loss. Just keep these thoughts in mind when planning your RV’s solar panel system.
There is a good range of RV solar panel kits on the market but these tend to be very pricey. We thoroughly recommend the make-it-yourself route. You will find it very easy, a lot of fun, and literally anybody can do it. And you will save a packet compared with the bought variety. It is very sensible, however, to get professional advice and guidance as you plan and build your solar panel, otherwise you could end up with a system that does not work properly or even at all. Don’t worry, professional advice and step-by-step instructions are readily available if you know the right source, and only cost a few bucks. We know this will be a good investment.
