Selection of solar panel dimensions
RVs do not require as much electricity as residential solar systems, especially because there are few devices that consume electricity like houses. When spending a day in a RV, you may watch several hours of TV (150W/h), use internet communication devices (25W/h) to work or surf the internet on a laptop (100W/h), brew coffee (1000W/h), or use other low-power tasks.
All of these devices have relatively low power consumption, except for the coffee machine which consumes 1000W per hour but can only run for 5-10 minutes. By considering and analyzing your electricity needs, it will help you estimate how much electricity is needed, allowing you to choose the appropriate size for the solar panels of your RV.
Budget cost of solar panels
RVs can be equipped with conventional solar systems, but they are usually more suitable for RV solar panel kits, which can be as low as $100 or as high as $3000, depending on the content included in the kit.
RV solar panel kits typically include RV solar panels, charging controllers, and wiring accessories, but some kits can also include power inverters and batteries, although the price is high.
The simplest 100W kit may cost around $100, but a 100W kit with flexible solar panels may cost up to $250. The price is getting higher and higher, depending on the quantity and quality of the products included in the kit.
Installation method of solar panels for RVs
Although portable solar panels do not need to be installed on the roof as they can be installed on the ground of camping sites, this is not the case for other types of solar panels. To truly utilize traditional and flexible RV solar panels, it is a wise choice to install them on the roof. There are different types of installation systems:
Fixed installation:
Fixed installation of solar panels is the most direct installation method for rigid or traditional solar panels. This type of installation requires you to drill holes on the roof of the RV and install mounting brackets to secure the solar panels in place, in a flat position on the top of the installation system.
Flexible installation:
Flexible solar panels can adapt to the shape of the RV, making it easier to install on any type of RV roof. To install these types of solar panels, it is usually necessary to use VHB tape to set the panels in place. You may need to drill another hole on the roof to feed the cable into the RV, but this installation only requires one hole.
Tilt installation:
You can use the tilt angle kit to install them instead of fixing the solar panels in a flat position. This is an installation system that includes a tilted platform that allows you to tilt the solar panels towards the sun based on your camping location. This type of installation system allows your RV’s solar panels to absorb more solar radiation and generate higher power output, especially in autumn or winter.
