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RV Solar Kits and Inverter Power Systems
Having solar panels charging your batteries in your RV is now mainstream and growing
When we first started selling and using panels to charge batteries on our RV’s back in the early 2000’s, our use was an oddity. This oddity has become mainstream. More and more users are attracted to the freedom found by having off grid power at their fingertips. This has been powered by the following market and social forces:
- Mobile first workforce
- Mobile internet
- Lithium RV Battery banks
- More efficent solar modules and panels
- Inrcreased awareness in ability to go off-grid
- More efficent LED lighting
- Decreasing prices for the solar gear
- Better pure sine inverter systems
Updated for Summer 2024
12 Volt DC Fridges run in your camper, RV or vehicle
With all the summer heat, we have been so happy to have our 12 volt DC Refrigerator. Amanda at least once a month says that all vehicles should include a 12 volt DC rerigerator that just runs on a built in solar panel. Our Fridge has run Problem Free in our Sprinter van since 2015. It has brought home groceries, provided camping food, transported fish, and been a constant supply of super cold drinbks.
Ebikes and Unicycles are all the rage off-grid and while camping
We went to the Crater of Diamonds to watch the 2024 Solar Eclipse. This being our 2nd chance to see it. It was amazing weather and we were lucky enough to see a solar flare near the bottom of the sun. What a cool experience, but we picked up a new viewpoint into how popular ebikes (electric bikes), one-wheels and electric unicycles, and golf cart have become. We have decided to add sections to these three items to our site to discuss what we have found. Our family now has a one wheel and are shopping for both 2 wheel and three wheel electric bikes. We have been on the gold cart band wagon for almost a decade, so we hope to share thoughts there.
Check out these 3 new pages on our site for information as it becomes available:
Electric Unicycles and One-Wheels Guide for RV
Featured RV Solar installation
Installing solar on a Four Winds Class C RV
Plug into Freedom: Simplifying the Installation of an RV Solar Kit
We’ve completed the installation of two solar panels on a Class C Four Winds RV in about a day. The rv solar panel install was about 3 hours of the installation time. There were other components we added as well. With the solar upgrade, the RV will now have a reliable and sustainable source of energy that will allow running various electrical appliances and devices without relying on shore power or a generator.
Pre Wired RV solar in this Thor, made this installation super easy!
The pre-wiring of this particular Thor RV made the process a lot easier, but we still had to carefully choose the right size and type of solar panels and accessories that fit your needs and the specifications of the RV.
The cable entry plate was used, which made solar panel system wiring easier. We added a little extra caulk to help this cable entry plate deal with some pulled-away sealant. This cable entry plate was added at the factory for those not familiar with this RV solar program. This unit had a preinstalled controller made to support one panel. This made finding the prewired solar wires much easier.
We prepared the surface and carefully worked on laying out the panels. This RV had an area where plywood was used under the roof to support more robust solar panel mounting. We followed the recommendations from the manufacturer of the RV. We also used extra brackets for a more rigid installation, as the owner was concerned about the wind on the road.
The mounting of the panels on the roof was a critical step, and we made sure they were securely fastened. We used traditional mounting brackets and sealed the installation using the owners’ sealant.
We also had to upgrade the controller to ensure it could handle the increased capacity of the two panels. The original controller was only ten amps, but we replaced it with a 30 amp PWM controller from Go Power!
Since it was a prewired solar installation, we connected the panels with a matching branch connector set and then used a set of 3-foot MC-4 extension cables to connect to the branch connectors to the cable entry plate.
TIP: The rv solar panel boxes are great for laying out the panels on the roof. They are also great for covering rv solar panels when working with their connections. This shading will reduce their power output. Be sure to cover all panels completely.
With the successful completion of this installation, the owner can now enjoy the benefits of renewable energy on their next adventure. The RV now has the independence and comfort of running many electronics wherever and whenever they want. All while reducing their camping’s carbon footprint. Congratulations on this upgrade!
Featured Content
Are RV Prices Falling?
Economic conditions are changing swiftly. Inflation is high, and interest rates are rising rapidly to combat inflation. One could only expect that market forces that drove RV prices higher, when reversed, should push prices down. In the last few years, let us consider all the unusual factors that caused RV prices of both new and used units to go up significantly.
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The guide for Starlink for RV
Starlink, SpaceX’s Global Satellite Constellation, might be the remote worker and RVers’ dream connection. With a global connection footprint, you could really travel in your RV just about anywhere. There are some imortant conisderations to consider with how Starlink accounts operate and where you can use them. Let’s get started.
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Eight steps to get you RV ready to sell in 2023, Time to Get Going
Time to make your plan to sell your RV quickly and for a good price. These eight steps will get your ready and up for sale when the spring market is getting going. Spring is the best time to sell RVs as people are out and about looking for a new rig to take out on the road.
Read moreEmbrace the Freedom of the Open Road
posted CoastalRVCrew 08/2023In an era where flexibility and freedom are paramount, RVs redefine how we think about work and play. It's more than just exploration; it's about self-reliance and limitless possibilities.
🚍 The Modern Nomadic Lifestyle
Traveling by RV offers unparalleled freedom. Not only can you visit breathtaking locales at your own pace, but you can also live and work in them. Set up by a mountain, beside a tranquil lake, or amid a forest, the world becomes your office.
🌞 Power Your Independence with Solar
Going off-grid doesn't mean disconnecting. With RV solar panels, you harness the sun's energy, ensuring that your devices and essentials stay powered up no matter where you're parked. Be it for work or recreation, you can trust that the sun has covered you with powerful energy-filled rays.
⚡ Seamless Connectivity with Inverters and Starlink
Transform solar energy into usable electricity using inverters, powering everything from your laptop to your coffee maker. And with Starlink's satellite connectivity, you're always online, ensuring you stay connected to the world, no matter how far you venture out.
🏞️ Explore America's Wonders
- National Parks: These iconic destinations, from Yellowstone to Yosemite, offer majestic landscapes and a unique opportunity to work amidst nature's wonders.
- State Parks: Often less crowded than their national counterparts, state parks like Custer State Park or Valley of Fire provide tranquil settings to explore and catch up on work.
- Roadside Attractions: Places like the World's Largest Ball of Twine or Cadillac Ranch aren't just fun pit stops; they're quirky spots to take a work break and perhaps inspire creative thinking.
- Events and Meetings: Whether it's a music festival in the heartland or a business conference in a bustling city, your RV becomes your mobile base, letting you network and enjoy while ensuring you're always ready for the next business call.
Your Next Adventure Awaits!
Reimagine what your daily life can be. With the horizon as your backdrop and the world as your office, the open road invites you. Embrace the self-reliant RV lifestyle and redefine your boundaries.
Latest article:
Outside Supply launches new web site RVIssues.com
Are lithium batteries worth the cost?
Tips for finding your prewired RV Solar cables
Top 5 Inverter Chargers for 2023
Top 5 reasons to buy a onboard generator with your RV
Top 3 Reasons to Have Lithium Rv Battery Bank and One Reason Not To
Today we find ourselves with a wealth of opportunities for connectivity on the road. Ask yourself, if you could wake up and work anywhere, where would you want your view to overlook.
Outside Supply for years has worked on selling and delivering on solar and inverter kits for RVers. Over the last few years we have transitioned away from just being an ecommerce store and to a knowledge base for finding relevant products and information for our customers. We continue to review and inspect the latest gear from top brands like Go Power and Engel.
Need to calculate how many watts your device uses?
Use this tool to calculatee wattage for a device:
Simple wattage calculator for devices in your RV
To calculate the wattage of an item it is important to know both the amps and the volts that the item uses. This simple calculator will give you an easy conversion to watts.
It is based on volts X amps = watts.
Volts: Amps:Wattage: {wattage}
New information coming on lithium batteries for your RV and actual run time examples with 5000 BTU window unit air conditioner in a Van RV.
