BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture RV Solar Panels for your RV

Getting your first solar panels can be an exciting, and confusing, experience. Let's open up the forum here to discuss all things solar.

How much power can one get from solar panels? Can I use my applianices like AC, microwave, toaster and fan off solar, or just smaller amp needs like my laptop and TV?

You can definitely get yourself set up to power your appliances like a coffee maker, microwave, toaster, small fan, and the furnace too. The only thing I am not sure about is an air conditioner. Many solar places have worksheets that list all of the appliances that you use so you can determine what your power needs are. So the big considerations are what are you going to use, and how often will you use them. Will the fan be running an average of four hours every day? The coffee maker on for 30 minutes every day?

When we got our first solar panel, we filled out one of those worksheets. At that time, we were minimalists on a very tight budget. Basically, we just needed to power up the onboard lights, our cell phones, laptops, stuff like that. We weren�t using any appliances, so we didn�t factor that in. However, we did get a bigger panel than we believed we needed, just in case. We ended up with a 50 watt panel that we purchased for around $200-250. There is so much room to go up though, they have 320 watt RV panels!

What about weight as well as size? (I'm assuming the panel is attached to the roof, right?) We are concerned with weight because we're pretty much at our max towing weight. The added height would impact our wind resistance while driving.

"We ended up with a 50 watt panel that we purchased for around $200-250."

That sounds pretty good to me. That is just for the panels, yes? Then you need to buy batteries and also hire someone to set it all up?

Yep, that is just for the panel. You know you actually don't have to have anybody connect anything for you. Just have them tell you what to do. You could just have the panel sit in your window or bungee cord it to one of your tires. You actually can connect it to the coach battery you have right now. And you would need an inverter.

However, if you do want to secure the solar panel to the roof, then you would need to get somebody to do it. And then they would run the wiring inside and do all the connections for you. Many places sell the RV solar kits and the cost includes everything that you need to go along with whatever size panel you choose.

I do have an inverter but i think I'd need a larger one.

That does not sound too hard about taking the panel in and out as needed and hooking it to the coach battery.

SWK - I didn't answer your weight question. RV solar panels seem super light. I can pick our standalone panel up really easily, but I'll have to check exactly how much it weighs and get back with you.

Jilly, that really is the easiest method. I'm still doing research for an article on the basics of solar. Hopefully I will have that one finished in the next couple of weeks. I'll let you know when it's posted.

Thanks. There is a lot to learn for setting up solar systems, but i suppose at some point one just has to DO it.

I think you are right. Hey, you could make your art studio run on solar!