RV Photovoltaic Power Systems

RV solar power systems use photovoltaic (PV) panels to produce electricity from sunlight. They are wired to a charge controller and battery bank, delivering clean, reliable energy.

Whether you’re parked at a campsite or traveling, these renewable energy systems provide a constant source of electricity, without producing harmful emissions or depleting finite resources.

Solar Panels

Solar panels are the power generation system that convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity. This DC energy is stored in your RV’s batteries, and then an inverter converts the energy to alternating current (AC) electricity that runs your appliances.

You can mount regular rooftop solar panels to your RV, camper or van using mounting brackets, but there are also more portable options for those who like to boondock. Galiardi and Hutchison use flexible, lightweight panels that contour to a vehicle’s roof without the need for drilling holes or installing brackets. The panels can be removed when you want to use your RV for camping or other outdoor activities.

A single solar panel is usually enough to provide all the electricity you need when you’re boondocking. However, each rig is unique in terms of its power consumption and available daily peak sun hours.

It’s a good idea to do some research on these factors before purchasing your solar panels. There are three types of RV solar panels: monocrystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous. The monocrystalline panels have the highest efficiency ratings and are a more durable option. Polycrystalline solar panels are cheaper but have lower efficiency ratings. Amorphous panels are thin and bendable, but they don’t have a high efficiency rating or longevity. Regardless of which type you choose, all PV panels have wires that connect them to the charge controller and battery bank. These wires should have a fuse slightly larger than the charge controller’s rated current to prevent overvoltage issues.

Charge Controller

The charge controller is an essential component in a solar system with battery backups. The basic function is to prevent overcharging the batteries by limiting or interrupting current flow from the solar panel array when the batteries reach full charge. It also regulates the DC voltage and current sent to the load and batteries by setting the power output from the PV panels. It uses a system known as Maximum Power Point Tracking to optimize the power output from the solar panels. It comes in many different sizes and features, ranging from simple 1 or 2 stage controls using relays or shunt transistors to high end MPPT programmable units with displays, computer interfaces, etc.

It is sized based on the total array watts and nominal battery rv photovoltaic system voltage (amount of energy it will produce at a given temperature). A voltmeter in the charge controller is a must, but most come with built-in digital displays to show charge status.

The charge controller mounts inside the RV and wires run from the solar panel to it and then to the batteries. The batteries are a bank of 12VDC cells that supply DC power to your lights and appliances while you’re traveling. The batteries can also store excess energy to use at a later time. The charge controller and battery monitor determine how quickly the batteries will fully charge.

Batteries

A solar system has several components that must work together: solar panels generate electricity, batteries store it, and a controller keeps the process running smoothly. You can find all of these parts at an RV solar shop or online. Generally, the bigger the solar array and battery bank, the more power you can generate. To figure out how big an array and battery bank you need, calculate the total watts of energy your RV uses over a day. Then divide that number by volts to determine how many amp hours of power you need.

A battery’s chemistry is simple: the chemical reactions between the anode and cathode produce electrons that flow through wires to the other side of the cell (the opposite pole). The electrons create current, which is the power we use in our devices and appliances. Batteries can be connected in series or parallel to increase their voltage and capacity. But be careful: if you connect batteries that have different voltages, they could short circuit and cause overheating or fire.

RV solar batteries are usually deep cycle, gel or AGM types that require minimal maintenance and have a long lifespan. They’re ideal for boondocking, or camping beyond traditional electrical hookups. Some even come with a battery monitor that acts like your gas gauge to show your remaining charge.

Inverter

When solar panels sit atop your RV while you’re traveling or parked in sunny locations, the cells within them absorb the sun’s energy. This energy is then transformed into an electric current that travels through wires to your RV’s battery charge controller. The charge controller controls how much of that current is fed into the battery, allowing it to store electricity for later use when you’re boondocking. That DC power then passes through an inverter, which changes it into 120-Volt AC power that powers your appliances, lights and other gadgets.

Your battery bank may contain lead-acid or lithium batteries, but most RV owners choose lithium batteries for the superior performance they offer in solar systems. They have longer Mobile Power Battery lifespans than lead-acid batteries, reducing total cost of ownership by years. Lithium batteries are also more resistant to corrosion, requiring less maintenance and care.

When your PV system is connected to the grid, it must comply with certain power quality requirements in order to prevent major disturbances to the grid. Several studies [9, 10, 11] explore the impact of PV on power quality, analyzing characteristics such as harmonic distortion and power factor.