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RV Solar Guide


An Online Guide to RV solar power systems and components

Complete online RV solar guide

Welcome to the RV Solar Guide, a guide to off-grid solar power systems for RVs that allow boondocking self-sustainably. This guide should inform beginners about RV solar’s why, how, and what.

This guide was updated on 8/06/2023:

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To get started in RV solar take a trip off-grid

We must take a little trip off the grid in a virtual RV to get the why of RV solar systems. In our virtual RV, we go to campgrounds and national parks. In these campgrounds, we find power and plug our camper into the RV pedestal at our campsite. We can run everything we need; life is great. It does seem a little loud, and the neighbors are close. Overall nice, though.

Our journey continues; we next travel to a national park. Here there are no pedestals and no services. There is no cord or pedestal where we enter the land of Boondocking or Dry Camping. Things are typically quieter here. Neighbors are further away. We have to be self-sustainable, which means both power and water.

Our virtual RVs have tanks to handle the water side of things. These tanks are:

On the power side of our RV, we have only one essential item to keep us going: RV house battery bank This battery bank powers pretty much all of the off-grid electrical loads like:

Once your house battery bank is dead, it is necessary to recharge. Since there is no cord, we must find another way to charge the RV battery bank. Enter our RV solar power system. This system will start charging our house batteries when the sun comes out. While we won’t be able to run everything, we are progressing toward keeping power coming in. As we move further through the RV solar guide, we will discuss the components, calculations, and systems that support the energy coming in. We will also set expectations for beginners of what to expect for budget, solar panel sizing, and RV solar tips and tricks.

Components of an RV solar system

An RV solar system takes many components to create, store and consume power off-grid. A solar rv is only as good as its weakest link. In RV solar, each part may sometimes be that link. We will discuss these issues in the following few sections.

The components that make up an RV solar system are:

Building the right system for your RV

While this list is not all-inclusive, we hope to flesh out the guide with even more information. This solar guide is one of the top guides on the Internet and has been used for years to assist customers in determining the right kind of solar setup to suit their mobile application best. With the addition of new solar types ranging from flexible panels to portable solar kits, we have added other information to the site as well. This informative guide has also been updated to included new information on Prewired for solar RVs and Campers. As well as new information on lithium batteries for house RV battery banks with details on requirements for solar controllers and unique specifications for lithium.

Prewired for solar RVs are very common

Many of our readers have RVs that have been prewired for solar and are interested in starting to off-grid camp or go boondocking. Time was you would have to run the wire from the roof to the controller and down to the battery. Some of this wiring may have been completed for you already.

Layout your solar panels before installing them

Having fewer holes in your RV roof is a good thing. Take a little time discussing how the panels lay out with the installer. Allow room for growth and optimizes the solar panel’s placement to prevent shading. Our RV solar layout guide may help. Check out out Solar panel mounting brackets and hardware for information on solar panel brackets for your RV.

Use the prewired MC4 cables on your roof to add panels

Want to connect to the cable entry plate on the roof of your RV?

This cable entry plate is the best way to make permanent solar panel connections that are out of the way and mostly safe from theft. The CEP-25 has MC-4 connector attachments that allow for quick connecting solar wires to the panels. MC-4 cables will extend usually 18 inches from the panel. These should be fine to conenct to cable entry for a single panel install that is close to the cable entry plate. If you want more than one solar panel or you cable entry plate is far from panel install, ordering a couple of extra MC4 extension cables can make wiring easier on the roof. These cables are almost always ordered in pairs, so get two of them.

When adding panels this is where MC-4 branch connectors will come into play when wiring in a standard parallel configuration. Most of the expansion kits will come witht these although you can order them as matched pairs.

Panels and kits if you have a charge controller installed

A 30 amp controller can typically handle up top three of these 190 watt panels.

Go Power 190 Watt RV Solar Expansion Kit
MC4 Extension Cables

Full RV solar kit if you still need the solar controller

You can add up to of the expansion kits above to a the base solar kit below.

Go Power 190 Watt Overlander RV Solar Kit
Go Power 30 Amp Controller

Use the wired on the side solar connector to go portable

Connecting to the solar port on the side of your RV

The port on the side is connected directly to the battery in most wiring setups. Check your Rv's manual to make sure this is the case.
This port has a standard connector in many portable solar kits. Commonly referred to as an SAE connector. Portable kits usually have the charge controller in line or on the back of the panel. This is why the port usually is wired directly to the battery.
If there is a side connection, a customer needs to look at our portable solar units and our portable solar guide for more information.

Many of the portable solar kits come with a wide range of connectors. This allows easy connecting to your RV and also other equipment.

Go Power 200 Watt Solar Kit
Go Power 130 Watt Portable Solar Kit
Renogy 200 watt portable solar kit
Go Power 90 Watt Portable Solar Kit

Sizing your RV solar system to match your needs

Updating the RV solar guide information and articles

As always, we continue to add new and updated pages every month. New foldable solar panel guides and solar on-the-side power guide covering portable solar kits.

Outside Supply is constantly working on adding more information to our RV solar information guide. Updating the guide includes arranging the information in an easier-to-follow format and adding new important RV solar information.

Installing the panels on your RV roof

Installing your solar panels on your RV roof after you have completed a plan for laying them out and gathered all the required materials.

Charging the RV’s house battery bank

The goal of your RV solar system should be to provide clean, reliable power throughout the day. Things are much easier when the sun is up, and the panels are producing power. At night, you need to rely on the stored power of your RV battery bank. Your solar system’s chance to get the batteries fully recharged is during the peak hours of sunlight. Storing away this power in the batteries allows for powering items in your RV when the sun has set.

The size of your battery bank controls how long you can run off-grid when not producing power. The house battery bank is your reserve. It is all the power your system has til morning, when the panels start charging again. This battery bank capacity is rated in amp hours. The more amp hours, the larger the battery bank’s storage capacity. AGM and lithium batteries make up many of the RV house battery banks. There are still some deep-cycle marine flooded batteries, although they are becoming less common. Lithium batteries are better but at a higher price. Read Are lithium RV batteries worth the cost? for more information on the choices.

A few benefits of lithium battery banks:

The downside of lithium batteries for your RV solar system:

Since I like to use blenders and induction cooktops off-grid, a larger battery bank is better for me. I remember how much power I use because I want lights and TV when camping off the grid at night. Determine what loads are essential to you. This will help you size your RV solar battery bank.

Ask RV Solar Question

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Recent updates include Added new information to consider the issues and failed causes of solar installs on RVs. Since Covid-19, RV sales have been off the chart. Many people have stepped into the realm of off-grid camping. Many of these have made the big leap with a residential refrigerator, which requires 760 Watts or more of solar and about 750 Ah of battery. Many mistakes and problems have been reported from customers who rushed into the cheapest kits and information on the Internet. We hope to add an article documenting the 10 Biggest Failure Points on RV Solar Systems.

We have also added new information regarding newer MPPT controllers and Lithium Battery charging profiles.

Selection of RV solar kits from multiple brands

Selection of Portable solar kits for RVs

Selection of Flexible solar panels from several brands

What Does Pre Wired for Solar Mean

](https://outsidesupply.com/) What can I expect from having a pre-wired for solar RV Being pre-wired for solar simply means that some of the legwork has done been done for you already inside of your RV. In the early days of RV solar kits it was common for a solar kit to only come with a set of cables that would need to be cut in half and run through a refrigerator Chase or a vent.

Go Power 30 Amp Transfer Switch

Go Power 30 Amp Transfer Switch This automatic 30 amp transfer switch is for RV power switching applications. It will automatically transfer power between two different inputs. The system is hardwired into an RV and will make a seamless transition between shore power or inverter power choice based on how it is wired. A few ways the transfer switch may be implemented var encodedProductUrls = [ "https:\/\/zwmpmn7lgubodpg4q6ipbzjesu0qined.lambda-url.us-east-1.on.aws\/?searchterm=electrical\x2bwire\x2bmeters\x26index=Automotive", "https:\/\/zwmpmn7lgubodpg4q6ipbzjesu0qined.lambda-url.us-east-1.on.aws\/?searchterm=rv\x2btransfer\x2bswitches\x26index=Automotive" ]; function constructProductHtml(product) { return ` ${product.

570 Watt RV Solar Kit

570 Watt RV Solar Kits A complete 570 watt RV solar kit with brackets, wire and charge controller. This is almost a 30 amp solar battery charging system for RV house batteries. 570 Watt Solar RV Kit with 190 watt panels This 570 Watt – three 190 watt panel kit is designed for travel trailers, fifth wheels, Class C, Class B and motorhomes and coaches. Includes: 3-190 Watt Panels 2 MC4 Cables for wiring 25′

RV Solar Super Power 250 Complete Lithium Inverter Solar Kit

RV 1140 Watt solar power 250 500 750 lithium battery 3000 inverter charger The old product is not available but the pieces of the kit were added to the boxes below. 250 Ah lithium house battery bank and 1140 watts of solar panels for larger travel trailers, fifth wheels, Class C, Class B and motorhomes and coaches. This can grow to 750 Amp hours by adding 3 batteries. 1140 Watt MPPT Solar System The answer to your off-grid refrigerator might just be the Go Power AE-6 kit Refrigerators in Class A, Class B and Fifth Wheels have gone to residential types.

Tips for Finding Prewired Solar Cables in Your RV

These tips for finding prewired solar cables in Your RV have over 37 users It can sometimes be really tricky to find the prewired solar cables in a solar-ready RV. Here are a few issues customers adding solar to their camper found: Missing Charge Controller Sticker Wires Missing Only half wiring is done Roof cable entry plate is not proper No information is available on the circuit We have written an article covering the topic of prewired solar RV issues and ways for manufacturers to solve these going forward.

Fifth Wheel Solar Panel Kits

Fifth Wheel trailers have the ability to have the largest most robust solar arrays on the market This is because these campers typically have lots of power needs and lots of roof space. Possible Residential Refrigerators Lots of lighting Lots of Entertainment Gear More occupants Longer camping times Choosing a reliable solar kit is a must when purchasing a setup for your Fifth Wheel Trailer. Clean solar panel install on fifth wheel camper.

How Many Panels Do I Need to Run My Lights and Water Pump

How many panels do I need to run my lights and water pump? ##Customer Steve has asked: How many panels do I need to run my lights and water pump? **Answer:**This is a question we get quite a bit when people are trying to determine the right amount of solar for their RV. Water pumps and lights are 2 of the main uses of power when off grid camping. Therefore these loads will operate at 12 volts off the battery which are charged by RV solar panels.

Pellet Stove Power Inverter

Is it possible to use an inverter to back up the power side of my Pellet Stove There are so many types of power inverters on the market. Which power inverter setup is right for backing up my pellet stove? Pellet stoves are just as varied as power inverters in style, requirements, and design. However there is one group of inverters that always (99.5% of the time work to back up Pellet Stoves) True sine wave power inverters in the 1000 + watt range will almost always run your pellet stove as an emergency backup.

Power Inverter Applications

Power Inverter Applications for Oxygen Concentrator Power Inverter Applications FAQ var encodedProductUrls = [ "https:\/\/zwmpmn7lgubodpg4q6ipbzjesu0qined.lambda-url.us-east-1.on.aws\/?searchterm=Sine\x2bWave\x2bInverter\x2bChargers\x26index=Automotive", "https:\/\/zwmpmn7lgubodpg4q6ipbzjesu0qined.lambda-url.us-east-1.on.aws\/?searchterm=3000\x2bWatt\x2bSine\x2bWave\x2bInverters\x26index=Automotive", "https:\/\/zwmpmn7lgubodpg4q6ipbzjesu0qined.lambda-url.us-east-1.on.aws\/?searchterm=Small\x2bSine\x2bWave\x2bInverters\x26index=Automotive" ]; function constructProductHtml(product) { return ` ${product.title} ${product.price} `; } function fetchDataFromUrls() { let divs = ["pro1", "pro2", "pro3"]; encodedProductUrls.forEach((url, index) = { fetch(url) .then(response = { if (!response.ok) { throw new Error(`Network response was not ok for URL: ${url}`); } return response.

RV Solar Guide

RV Solar Guide AN ONLINE GUIDE TO RV SOLAR Updated 05/25/2021: Added new information to consider the issues and failed causes of solar installs on RVs. Since Covid-19, RV sales have been off the chart. Many people have stepped into the realm of off-grid camping. Many of these have done the big leap with a residential refrigerator which requires 760 Watts or more of solar and about 750 Ah of battery.

Additional reads

Check out these articles for more information from Outside Supply.
Go Powers New Mppt 40 Controller
Go Powers New Mppt 40 Controller

MPPT 40 Controller by Go Power THIS PRODUCT HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED The MPPT 60 is the replacement product for this model. This item has all the same great qualities that the 40 Amp controller had, but even better. As solar arrays are getting larger for RV’s, Go Power released a new 40 amp MPPT controller aimed at providing power for the new residential refrigerator only Class A Coaches, fifth wheels and Travel Trailers.

Conversion Van Solar Kits
Conversion Van Solar Kits

Conversion Van Solar Kits We know what its like to convert your van into an exciting vehicle for road trips and dry camping. Our conversion van solar kits are designed just for that purpose. We have been working with people for a decade to help outfit their conversion vans for the open road. We always suggest putting as much solar as you can or need on the roof in a permanent mount first.

Power Inverter Information
Power Inverter Information

12 Volt Power Inverters There are many types of 12 volt power inverters on the market today. OutsideSupply.com is currently recommending Pure or True sine wave 12 volt power inverters for most applications. This is because power inverter prices have fallen. With the lower price of true sine wave inverters, a good high quality sine wave inverter will be better for your electronics. The inverter will most likely last longer since they are often a higher quality than their cheaper modified sine wave cousins.