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 you like, but often you are limited to where to park for the night because you need a source of electricity. Even if you use your batteries to power on-board appliances they will need recharging from time to time – usually more often than you had planned! And be warned, regularly flattening a battery will shorten its life dramatically. But there is now an attractive option that will give you the freedom of the road, and you can make it yourself easily and cheaply.
Most RVs have on-board generators, but these tend to be noisy, smelly and gas-guzzlers. These days you can fit solar panels to your RV which will give you all or most of the power you need without hammering your battery, and literally anybody can put these together in their backyard. Your generator, if you have one, can then become a backup – much less wearing on the ears and pocket. Keep your generator for powering the lights at your next backyard party!
Solar panels for RVs can be easily stored if foldable, and they tend to be quite lightweight so are easily moveable. One 4ft x 2 ft solar panel will generate about 75 to 100 watts, which is about the same as a pair of golf cart batteries. A typical 24 ft RV would probably manage on this but it would depend, of course, on your personal electrical requirements. Most RVs use no more than 400 watts. Perhaps start with a couple of solar panels, and fit some more as needed. We have some more information about this 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 to fit a solar-powered battery charger with battery temperature compensation to prevent overcharging of, and damage to, your batteries. Also, solar panels on the roof of an RV can get very warm, which can lower their efficiency and can lead to a drop in voltage. Ensure that your solar panels have a rating of at least 17 volts 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 making your own. You will find it very easy, a lot of fun, and literally anybody can do it. And much cheaper than buying a kit. 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 believe this is a good investment.