Solar RVs On The Road

Why Install Solar Panels for RV?

The Recreational Vehicle (RV) allows you to stay wherever you want without any worrying about hotel bookings and changing your next destination at your own will. In fact, you are free to drive the vehicle wherever you want. However, you are often restricted to the nearest camp, as you need to recharge your vehicle’s battery. In addition, you may use your vehicle’s battery to charge your other appliances on regularly basis. It is important to know that regularly draining your vehicle’s battery may reduce its life. However, you can save your vehicle’s battery from being damaged and even save your time and move ahead towards your destination by purchasing a solar panel for RV.

Solar panels for RV’s are easy to pack, as they are flexible and light in weight. Generally, a single RV solar panel is able to generate about 70 to 90 watts of electric power. It is more than enough for your 25ft RV, however if you have more number of small electric appliances, then you may have to build a higher capacity of solar panel. it is better to install a single solar panel in your RV at the initial stage and then install few more on the basis of your requirements.

If you are a regular traveler during summer, then you have to consider a few things. First, you have to fit a solar panel for RV along with battery temperature controller to control the temperature of your vehicle’s battery and second, if you install solar panels at the roof, then it is important to have a solar panel that has a rating of minimum 17 volts to bear the excessive heat.

The independence it gives you, the comfort of being at home no matter where you go and so much more. Up until now, RV owners have generally used gas generators for power or have paid for an electrical connection at places where they stop. These last comes at around $20 a night and can spell quite a bit in terms of expenditure in the long run. A great alternative instead would be solar panels for RV. There are a range of RV solar panels to choose from. The small ones are those that can help charge the smaller batteries around your RV. The bigger ones are those that can power up your entire RV. This includes high wattage appliances like the TV, satellite connection, a microwave and any other electronics that you have on board.

The main advantage of solar panels for RV are that they will serve their purpose even in the most remotest of locations and even when you have to make unscheduled stops in the middle of nowhere for a break. Different panel sizes are available from around 65 watt panels all the way up to 130 watts. These RV solar panels are available in a range of mounts allowing you to permanently fix them to the top of your RV. There are also those that come with strong suction cups and these can easily be removed for maintenance work and remounted.

You don’t have to worry about these panels once they are mounted. They are strong and can stand all sorts of rough weather. Solar panels for your RV are also shock resistant panels. A lot of work has been done on this technology and today they are much lighter in weight and much more effective. In terms of price as well, you can now get yourself a kit for approximately $1000 to $4000 depending on what system or power you want. The expense may seem high, but it will pay for it self in the long run.

Besides the lighting benefits of solar panels for RVs, there are a few other ways in which they work well. They are great for those camping sites where generators are not allowed. There is absolutely no noise emitted from these panels. This makes them very eco-friendly. The fact that they come with a battery backup means that you will be able to have power even on the most cloudy days. Also considering there is a huge variety of panels available you will find use for them on campsites, to charge batteries, cell phones, a portable radio as well as flashlights. A solar panel can be used along with other means of power generation.

Once you take on this project, you will find that buying solar panels is not all that difficult, as there are a range of retailers selling panels in every conceivable size and shape. You will just have to assess your needs and decide on your purchases accordingly. Each retailer will have a different price for the solar panels that they sell. The best bet is to go online and check on the availability. The kind of discounts available there are unmatchable.

A solar power battery charger is also something you should pick up. Remember that these batteries will be exposed to a great variety of temperatures and they should be maintained accordingly. The best way to get the most out of your RV solar panels is to lay them at an angle on the top of your RV. This will get them working brilliantly at normal temperatures. Laying them flat can cause a power fluctuation.

Understanding how RV solar panels work will help you have a better understanding of how good the product can be. These panels convert the rays of the sun into electricity. This is done through the batteries that are incorporated in these mechanisms. The great thing about solar panels on an RV is that you are no longer limited to a range of destinations that have great sunshine or electricity. Your travel horizon is significantly expanded. Of course, the cost too comes down significantly. Their convenience is undeniable in terms of freedom of movement as well as the savings you will make on electricity connections at RV camps.  Barbara Andrews.