What is the technical guide for Rv Solar Panel Kit?

It is more and more common to see solar panels on the roof of recreational vehicles (RV). Although solar panels cannot replace the internal combustion engine and turn your RV into an all electric car, they can let you run your lights and appliances cleanly instead of relying on fossil fuel generators. Solar panels also give you the freedom to camp off the grid and where generators are not allowed, without having to find an available connection point in a crowded campsite. Of course, with solar panels, you can reduce your carbon footprint. Here, we discuss the RV solar modules and whether they are worth investing in your next RV trip.



RV solar module



RV solar is not as simple as connecting solar panels to the roof and plugging in electrical appliances. The following are the main components of the RV solar system.



1. Solar panel



The panel can be flexible, portable or rigid. Lightweight flexible panels are more suitable for molded rather than flat RV roofs, while portable panels can be placed anywhere on or outside the vehicle, so they can capture sunlight even if the RV is parked in the shade. Rigid panels are heavier, but they are also more durable and efficient. The panel can generate 150 watts of power in flexible and portable panels and up to 250 to 300 watts in rigid panels.



2. Battery



Most recreational vehicles have two batteries. The 12 volt lead acid/AGM starter battery is used to start the engine, while the 12 volt RV "house" battery pack is used to run DC powered equipment such as fans, lights, and water systems.



The AC/DC inverter can provide 120 V power through the "shore power" connection of the RV campsite to supply power to air conditioners, microwave ovens and other energy intensive equipment. In more modern motorhomes, the old lead-acid motorhome battery pack has been replaced by the lithium iron phosphate battery charged by the solar panel and the motorhome engine alternator through the DC/DC charger. Together, they provide faster charging speed and longer battery pack life, which is particularly suitable for offline use.



Some RV owners upgrade to lithium-ion batteries, which are lighter, more efficient, maintenance free, can hold more energy and have a longer service life. The disadvantage is that their costs are much higher.



3. Solar charging controller



The solar charging controller protects your battery by regulating the current from the solar panel to the battery. The controller matches the voltage output of the solar panel with the voltage capacity of the battery.



4. Inverter



Many recreational vehicles have been equipped with inverters, which can convert the direct current in the 12 volt battery into 120 volt alternating current for lamps and other electrical equipment. More expensive inverters can generate more reliable and stable power required to operate sensitive equipment such as electronic or medical equipment.



5. Transfer switch



The change-over switch allows you to switch the power from the battery to shore power when you park at the campsite, or turn off the propane source when you drive.