Also keep in mind that solar panels experience a 75 90 drop in efficiency on cloudy days so it s good to have slightly more than you need when it comes to solar power about a 20 cushion if possible to account for less than ideal conditions.
What do i need for solar power for camping.
Let s get some terminology clear for 12 volt newbies.
John september 15 2020 at 2 00 pm.
When calculating solar panel sizes you have 3 things to be aware of.
I was looking at 300w panels maybe 2 to help not have to run generator as much.
Go boondocking and only use your rv battery ies as your power source.
Without getting into too much electrical theory it s enough to know that the power rating of a solar panel is one of its most critical features measured in watts w it tells you how much energy the solar panel can send to the connected device such as your mobile phone or tablet.
It s important to keep in mind that even with this much solar power you still may need a generator if it s been cloudy for days or if your rv is parked in shade.
Directly provide electricity to run your 120v appliances such as air conditioning microwave electrical outlets etc.
Hello james i have a 45 renegade motorhome and want to install solar we do a lot of dry camping in glamis ca sand dunes for 4 8 days at a time.
Solar power is a clean form of energy that s natural renewable and best of all free.
Watts amps and volts.
290 thoughts on how much solar do i need on my rv.
Using an adequate portable solar system allows you to travel to unpowered and remote locations without sacrificing items like fridges led camping lights mobile devices and more.
Your rv isn t a house and it can still run out of juice.
How to choose the best solar panels for camping power rating.
Operate all of the electrical equipment in the same way you want to operate it while using rv solar panels normal usage here no conserving so you get a true reading of how much power you will.
A 300 amp hour camper battery for instance would need around 300 watts of solar power.
For the 12v newbies.
Solar panels do one thing they charge your rv s batteries.
Ac power is what a power point at home or a 12v 240v inverter gives you.
The benefits of camping with solar power.
Dc power is what you get from your 12v battery in your vehicle caravan.
Here s how we determined the amount of solar power we needed for our rv boondocking trips and recommend you do the same.