Adding Solar to your RV - Part I
TL;DR: Solar panels are a game-changer for RVers, especially boondockers. Learn how they work, calculate your needs, and choose the right accessories. Part one of our solar series helps you get started!
Solar panels are increasing in popularity for homes across the United States. These are also becoming an increasingly popular choice among RVers, as well. After all, an RV is just a small home-on-wheels, so why shouldn’t it also benefit from the experience of having solar? Solar is a clean, free (after the initial cost of installation) energy source that can really enhance an RVer’s experience, especially if they’ve boondock or are more interested in boondocking.
As a reminder, boondocking refers to camping without hookups. However, forgoing hookups does not necessarily require a lack of access to resources, such as electricity. Nearly all Harvest Hosts locations are boondocking-only, but this is where installing solar panels on your RV can come in handy. To be fair, some many RVers use generators to charge their batteries, but this method of receiving power can be expensive, loud, and bad for the environment.
For those who boondock often, solar is a great investment that allows users to combat excessive generator usage. If you are considering installing solar on your RV, then this article is for you. Grab your calculator and let’s do the math to see how much solar your RV will need. This is the first part of two in our series about solar panels, so keep an eye out for the second article following this one.
How does Solar Energy Work?
Everyone knows that solar panels convert sunlight into energy. But what happens after that is not so easily understood by most. In essence, the solar panels absorb the sunlight which creates an electric current that goes through the charge controller, which controls how much current goes through to the batteries for storage. The RV batteries produce DC power by default, and an inverter converts the power from DC to AC, which is what powers most household items like chargers, the TV, etc.
How Much Solar does my RV Need?
Tools
The amount of solar your RV needs will depend on how much energy you use on a daily basis. Generally speaking, most solar setups are not equipped to run large appliances like air conditioning. On the other hand, many boondockers choose to visit temperate environments to savior excessive heat and cold.