Recreational Vehicles (RVs) are designed to give you the freedom of the open road. In theory you can go anywhere you like, but often you are restricted to official camp sites because you need a source of electricity. Even if you only use your on-board appliances a little, your batteries will need recharging from time to time – usually more often than you had planned! And beware, regularly draining a battery will shorten its life dramatically. But there is an option available that will give you true flexibility to go where you want, and you can make it yourself easily and cheaply.
RVs can be fitted with gas generators, but these tend to be noisy and smelly. Nowadays it is quite common to fit a solar panel or two which will provide most if not all the power you need without hammering your battery, and these panels are very easy to make at home, even for the total novice. If you have a gas generator you can keep it as a backup – much less harmful for the ears and pocket. Keep it for powering the lights at your next outdoor party!
Solar panels for RVs can be easily stored if foldable, and they are usually quite light and easy to move. A single 8 square foot solar panel will produce about 75 to 100 watts, which is about the same as a pair of golf cart batteries. This would probably be enough for the average mid-size RV but it would depend, of course, on your own power needs. Most RVs use less than 400 watts. The best advice is to start with one or two solar panels, and add more as and when you feel they are necessary. We have some more information about these portable solar generators here.
If you plan to use your RV regularly in hot weather, you will have one or two other things to consider. You will need to fit a solar-powered battery charger with battery temperature compensation to reduce the danger of damaging your batteries. Also, roof-mounted solar panels can get very hot, which can affect their efficiency and can lead to a drop in voltage. Your solar panels will need to be rated at about 17 volts or higher to to stop this becoming a problem. Just keep these thoughts in mind when planning your RV’s solar panel system.
There are many solar panel kits on the market for RVs, but they can be quite expensive. We thoroughly recommend the make-it-yourself route. It is easy and fun and well within the competence of every oxygen-breathing adult, even the ham-fisted ones! And much cheaper than buying a kit. What you will need, however, is expert advice before you start to build a solar panel, otherwise you could end up with a system that does not work properly or even at all. Don’t worry, professional advice and step-by-step instructions are readily available if you know the right source, and only cost a few bucks. We believe this is a good investment.
