Detertmining How Many Solar Panels Needed On Rv

Rv batteries have a certain amp hour rating indicating the total capacity of the battery.

Detertmining how many solar panels needed on rv.

Use a minimum 100 watt solar panel for basic battery maintenance on motorhomes. Solar calculator for rv or camper van conversions. Diy wiring diagrams for 100w 200w 300w 400w 600w 800w kits. Match your estimated weekly amp usage with the right rv.

This is assuming you are considering using 12 volt rv grade panels. This equals thirty amp hours a day meaning you would need two one hundred watt panels to fully recharge your rv. We suggest a battery bank of 800 amp hours. Use a minimum 65 watt solar panel for basic battery maintenance on trailers and fifth wheels.

Most solar panels feature one hundred watts of power and are capable of producing about six amps for each peak sun hour. Multiply total amps hours per day by the number of days per week i e. Step 2 calculate your total weekly amps needed. The number of solar panels you need on your rv roof will also depend on how heavily you use the electricity you re generating.

Multiply total amp hours x 2 days full time camping. Multiply total amps per day x 7 days. Determine if the number of panels needed will fit on the rv roof when sizing your rv solar system if your ideal solar calculations call for 3 solar panels but your roof space only allows for 2 panels. Most boondockers have between 200 to 400 amp hour battery banks.

However generally speaking most rvers travel with between one and three 100 watt solar panels which can generate approximately 6 amps per peak sun hour on average or around 30 amp hours daily. The general rule of thumb is that a 100 watt solar panel can produce about 30 amp hours per day so you can use this guideline to determine about how many panels you need. This is also assuming of course you have a lot of battery power too. Tips for estimating rv solar panel needs although actual output may vary based on the factors mentioned above you can get yourself to a ballpark figure using a couple of tips.

Product list and cost of components. To generate the stored electricity needed to run our rv air conditioner all day you d need over 340 square feet of solar panels ish plus 3600 amp hours of battery capacity and guaranteed perfect sunshine. You will either need to reduce your off grid loads or add a portable solar panel to increase your total wattage. Allow 200 amp hours of battery storage capacity and 150 to 250 watts of solar panels.

Step 3 find the perfect solar panels for your rv.