Adding Solar to your RV - Part II

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 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. This is the second part of our two-part solar panel guide. If you haven’t read it yet, please read part one first, as this covers the basics and lays the groundwork for the rest of this article.

Types of Panels

Material

The best choices for RV solar panels are Mono-Crystalline panels and Poly-Crystalline panels. Both panels are created out of silicon, and both work in the same manner. Mono-Crystalline solar cells are created from single-crystal silicon. Poly-Crystalline solar cells are created out of many silicon fragments melted together. As a result, Mono-Crystalline panels are more efficient, but come at a higher cost.

Portable vs Fixed

Portable solar panels are a great place to start for RVers who aren’t ready to take the full plunge yet. These still require all of the same accessories, but without the full installation costs. Portable panels can also be used in conjunction with mounted panels in the event that there isn’t enough roof space for more panels, or as an option if the RV isn’t parked in a super sunny location. Another perk of these panels is that the angle can be adjusted to maximize effectiveness. Unfortunately, portable panels are not capable of pulling as much solar power as mounted panels. Portable solar panels range in cost depending on the material an quality of the panels. Some portable panels are waterproof, while others are not. It’s also important to ensure the cables are long enough to be able to take full advantage of the portability.