What Is a Solar Ready RV

What is a solar ready RV and what do I need to add panels?

RV with solar ready features

An RV unit that is labeled as being ready for solar panels is one where some of the solar wiring and mounting areas may have been completed for you in advance. This may belong to several programs like wired for solar or pre-wired for solar. These programs allow an owner to have an easier time installing a solar panel because of preparation that was done to make the RV solar-ready. This can include the following types of wiring and setups for an RV.

Some items in an RV that may be involved to make it prepared for solar.

Pre wired from roof to controller
MC-4 wiring circuit from roof to battery
Areas of an RV’s roof made rigid for easier panel installs
Locations for installation of charge controller
Heavier duty wiring between charge controller location and battery
Fusing of battery wire to charge controller
Circuit breaker for Solar Panel array cabling.
Portable solar kit wiring

Are you looking for where your prewired solar cables are in your RV?

A program designed to help the consumer with solar panel installs has caused them a lot of grief due to hard to find cable locations and wiring diagrams. Here are a few reasons why RVers have had issues with the prewired or Wired for solar program.

Sticker is removed at dealer prep

Sticker is place in wrong place in RV

Proper docmentation on controller and solar wiring not done well

The program would be better optimized if a small controller would actually be installed with all the wiring hooked. Small so it is cheap to aquire and is easily replaced with a new controller. Charge controllers are having a lot of changes coming to them as the industry heads to RV-C. This will mean the controller will be stored away and the panel to monitor it could be centralized or unified in your RV. Lets hope the RV-C makes the drop points easier to find and identify. Here are a few articles we have written to help you find the cables meant to run to the charge controller.

Tips for Finding Prewired Solar Cables in Your RV

My Fifth Wheel Camper Came Prewired With Solar on the Roof and Side Now What

My Travel Trailer Is Prewired for Solar Now What

Thor Prepped for Solar

Visit our Answers section to see how we have helped others find their lost cables.

Need to add solar panels to your RV?

Depending on how large your charge controller is on your mobile solar array, you may be able add additional panels. Important factors to know when trying to add panels to your array: * How many amps can your charge controller handle * How many amps of solar are in your array * How is your array wired (Parallel, Series, Series/Parallel) * How much space do you have on your RV roof for more solar panels Here is a selection of panels to grow a Go Power System

Go Power 190 E Expansion Panel

Go Power Flexible Solar Panel 100 Watt Expansion

Go Power Rigid 100 Watt Solar Panel Expansion Kit

There are other brans on the market, we have found Go Power! to be among the highest quality gear on the market. Their service has been friendly and reliable. However they can be a bit higher priced.

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. These residentials types will not runn off of your battery bank alone. You need an inverter, a large battery abnk and solar panels to operate seamlessly. A generator on board is always a good choice as well.

Go Power All electric kit at Amazon

Go Power AE-6 Solar Kit

Designed for refrigerators and larger loads

Buy from Amazon

More power from the sun for faster recharge times

Just add a battery bank of 500 to 1000 amp hours, and this kit will usually support your fridge off-grid. There will always be low light weeks where a short generator run or plugin will kepp you going. The AE-6 has the power to keep it charging and running. The six in the name is for 6 solar panels.