The types and characteristics of solar panels:

The commonly used solar panels can generally be divided into three categories: monocrystalline silicon solar panels, polycrystalline silicon solar panels, and amorphous silicon solar panels.

Monocrystal silicon photovoltaic modules are solar panels made from high-purity single crystal silicon rods, and are currently widely used in the photovoltaic market. Monocrystal silicon photovoltaic modules have the highest photoelectric conversion efficiency, so most RV enthusiasts choose Monocrystal silicon photovoltaic modules.

Selection of solar panels for RVs:

Solar hard panel: The advantage is that after being installed overhead, there is a certain space left with the roof, allowing air to form convection in this space. It can avoid direct sunlight on the roof, which can save some electricity for the air conditioning in summer;

The price is a bit cheaper compared to others. The disadvantage is that the installation requirements are high and not aesthetically pleasing.

Solar soft panel: The advantage is that it is beautiful and low-key, and installation is relatively convenient.

Note: The lower the temperature of the solar cell, the higher the efficiency. Flexible attachment to the roof is not conducive to heat dissipation, resulting in lower efficiency. The disadvantage summary is: low efficiency and high price.

In addition, the power of solar panels in practical applications can generally only reach 70% of the rated power. However, most of the solar panels installed on the roof of RVs can only be laid flat, making it difficult to form the optimal angle of illumination with sunlight, which in turn can result in a loss of 20% -30% of power.

Therefore, the actual output power of the RV solar panel is about half of the nominal rated power. So, when choosing solar panels for RV enthusiasts, try to have as many as possible and a large area.

Due to the scalability of solar power generation and the limited roof area of RVs, foldable and portable solar panels have emerged. Not only are they convenient to carry, but they can also effectively supplement solar power generation, making them a good choice for everyone.

Working principle of solar system

The direct output voltage of solar energy is generally 12V, 24V, 48V. To provide electrical energy for appliances with 220V voltage, it is necessary to convert the DC energy generated by the solar power generation system into AC energy through an inverter.

In some situations, when multiple voltage loads are needed, DC-DC inverters are also used. For example, converting 24V energy into 5V energy can be directly used after conversion, You can also store the battery for emergency use.

How much electricity can solar panels charge in a day?

If a solar panel with a rated power of 400W has a theoretical storage capacity of 400W ÷ 18V in one hour under standard lighting intensity and battery power shortage × 12V × 1h=0.267kW · h, which is commonly known as 0.267 kilowatt hours of electricity. If calculated based on an average of 6 hours of sunlight per day. So 0.267kW · h × 6=1.602kW · h, equivalent to approximately 1.6 kilowatt hours of electricity.

After calculation, we can see that in theory, a group of 400W solar panels can produce 1.6 kilowatt hours of electricity a day. If the light intensity and the electric energy in the middle of the loss are included, the charging efficiency is calculated as 70%, and the actual charging capacity of a day is 1.6 x 0.9=1.12 kilowatt hours of electricity.

So what kind of electrical appliances can this 1.12 kilowatt hour battery bear for normal operation? For a self-propelled C-type RV within 6 meters, the total lighting equipment for the RV is temporarily calculated as 100W.

The combined power of 80W refrigerator, 80W LCD TV, 30W laptop and mobile phone is about 300W, which means that these electrical devices can work together for 1.6 ÷ 0.3=5.3 hours. Now you should understand, so many professional players would recommend choosing solar energy between 300-400W.

RV home appliance power and daily electricity consumption

Firstly, we need to know the power consumption of commonly used household appliances in RVs, and how much electricity they consume in a day.

1. A 21 inch TV with a power of approximately 50 watts is expected to be used for 10 hours a day, with a cumulative power consumption of 500 watts, approximately 0.5 kilowatt hours!

2. A 90 liter refrigerator, used throughout the day, will not consume more than 0.5 degrees of cumulative electricity. (It is generally recommended to use a stop switch, so that the startup time of the refrigerator can be controlled and will not exceed 0.2 degrees Celsius in a day)

3. A 100 watt laptop (usually 60 watts) is expected to last for 5 hours a day and consume a total of 500 watts of electricity, approximately 0.5 kilowatt hours.

4. The Rice cooker with a capacity of about 800 watts and a volume of 4L is expected to be used twice a day for half an hour, with a cumulative power consumption of 400 watts, about 0.4 kilowatt hours.

5. The 900 watt electric Pressure cooking is expected to be used twice a day for half an hour, with a cumulative power consumption of 450 watts, about 0.45 kilowatt hours.

6. An electric water heater with a capacity of around 800 watts and a capacity of 4L is expected to be used three times a day for 5 minutes each time, consuming a total of 200 watts of electricity, approximately 0.2 kilowatt hours.

7. A 10 watt LED light, calculated based on the quantity of 3, consumes a total of 150 watts of electricity for 5 hours a day, approximately 0.15 kilowatt hours.

8. The 500 watt resistance wire electric furnace (Induction cooking is not recommended, with high power and high power consumption) is expected to be used twice a day for 20 minutes each time, with a cumulative power consumption of 350 watts, about 0.35 kilowatt hours.

9. Calculated based on a single air conditioner, it is approximately 1000 watts per hour. If it is turned on for 5 hours, it will consume approximately 5 kilowatts of electricity.

Of course, these are only a few electric appliances for RVs, and there are still many areas where RVs need electricity. Therefore, a good way to solve the problem of RVs using electricity is very important. Solar energy may not be able to completely solve these problems, but it is indeed the most ideal electric auxiliary equipment for RVs at present!

Precautions for using solar energy in RVs

1. Installing solar modules is not just a simple matter of installing them casually. You need to calculate how many watts of solar modules you need based on the electricity consumption of your RV appliances, and then calculate how much battery you need based on the estimated number of days of electricity reserves. It is also important to see whether the calculated solar panels can meet the roof area requirements and whether the design is reasonable.

2. For installing solar modules, it is important to note that: first, do not step on them; Secondly, it cannot be covered up.

3. To buy a solar panel, it is necessary to install a controller to prevent overcharging or discharging the battery. Otherwise, you may not need to use the car for a few days, and the sun may be toxic these days. If you do not have a controller, keep charging the battery. Overcharging means that your battery has a high probability of being scrapped prematurely.

4. Most of China is located in the Northern Hemisphere, and it is best to install solar panels that form a certain angle with the roof, making it easier to absorb sunlight. Some car enthusiasts have measured that the conversion efficiency of flat solar panels is much lower than that of angled installation.