And if you’ve got an RV of your own, you are doubtlessly wondering how it’s possible for you to get one of those RV solar panels and how to set it up for yourself.

Here’s what you want to understand so you can do it. The very first thing to realize is that you are potentially not going to be able to generate enough power to fill all your electricity needs for an entire day with your new RV solar cell.

Now, two hundred watts is actually not very much power and that is what a basic solar panel will generate. Not wanting to discourage you from undertaking this excellent idea, we just want to help you to tackle it with practical expectations. The point of an RV solar energy panel should be to add to your available power, not provide the entire thing. With that noted it’s a brilliant idea to first sit down and work out how much supplemental power you would realistically like your RV solar panel system to generate for you. How much power are you planning to use? What’s the wattage of your Television, fan, blender, etc? And how long do you mean to run each of them in a single day.

If you think you will be using eight hundred watts, for example, then you will need to install four 200 watt panels. If you live in less sunnier climes, you might need more.

The best and most inventive idea is to get a deep cycle battery so you can charge it up when the sun’s not out and an inverter so you can plug your appliances in and utilise the solar electricity you have stored up and can use it when you need it, even if it is dark or raining outside.

Check that either your batteries or your RV solar panel has a charging controller that can meter the charging process and shut it down before you overcharge your batteries. Barring that, an additional battery charge meter is useful. Without one, you risk prematurely reducing the lifespan of your batteries. When you install the RV solar panel, point it upwards so you can catch the most sun during the main sunlight hours, 11am-3pm, when it’s highest in the sky.

Do also take care to note the new height of your RV now that it’s got an RV solar energy panel on top of it. The very last thing you wish to do is smack that into a low underpass, right?

Batteries are a must if you are off-grid or you want to store the energy generated by a solar panel because you can not store the electricity you generate by any other means. You either have to use it immediately or store it in a battery bank.

Our recommended supplier of batteries is the altE Store, who offer a range of batteries and accessories including:

Flooded Lead Acid

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Sealed Agm

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Sealed Gel Cell

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Desulfators

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Enclosures

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Ventilators/Battery Fans

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Battery Watering Caps

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The problem with RV vehicles is that when you are stationary the battery isn’t being charged. Therefore, if you have a shower, cook and have the lights, the chances are you are going to run your battery flat very quickly. It is worth having a chat with a RV solar power specialist to see what can be done to solve this problem.