Step 3 find the perfect solar panels for your rv.
Detertmining how many solar panels needed on rv.
For the more conservative consumers of electricity.
You will need at least 1 800 watts of solar panels to run your rv air conditioner.
This is assuming you are considering using 12 volt rv grade panels.
Match your estimated weekly amp usage with the right rv.
Step 2 calculate your total weekly amps needed.
Diy wiring diagrams for 100w 200w 300w 400w 600w 800w kits.
This is also assuming of course you have a lot of battery power too.
Most solar panels feature one hundred watts of power and are capable of producing about six amps for each peak sun hour.
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.
Rv batteries have a certain amp hour rating indicating the total capacity of the battery.
We suggest a battery bank of 800 amp hours.
Multiply total amp hours x 2 days full time camping.
Product list and cost of components.
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.
Use a minimum 100 watt solar panel for basic battery maintenance on motorhomes.
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.
Approximately 75 of that capacity can be used because at a certain point the voltage drops to a level that will no longer provide power the math to calculate how much solar power you need for your rv.
Multiply total amps hours per day by the number of days per week i e.
Allow 200 amp hours of battery storage capacity and 150 to 250 watts of solar panels.
You will either need to reduce your off grid loads or add a portable solar panel to increase your total wattage.
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.
Multiply total amps per day x 7 days.
This equals thirty amp hours a day meaning you would need two one hundred watt panels to fully recharge your rv.
Most boondockers have between 200 to 400 amp hour battery banks.
Solar calculator for rv or camper van conversions.