Calculating Appropriate Solar System Size for Your RV

In this premium video lesson RV repair and maintenance expert Dave Solberg teaches you how to select the right solar system size for your vehicle.

Referring to the Go Power! website, Dave walks you through the process of calculating the size of solar panels you need to power your vehicle. Additionally, he explains how to determine your required battery bank size based on the amount of amp hours you’ll typically employ on your specific type of camping.

What do you need to know about RV solar systems?

First things first, you should ask yourself whether your vehicle will benefit from utilizing solar power. The majority of RVers will opt against solar because almost all of the campgrounds they use offer 24/7 access to electrical plug-ins.

However, if you do extensive or even seasonal boondocking (remote camping), solar power might be just what you need. If that’s the case, you should do some research to discover how much amp draw is necessary for your kind of camping. Solar system size and type will vary depending upon your particular habits.

How to gauge your required solar system size

Dave begins the lesson by helping you to find how much amp draw you’ll need; this is an essential step. If you miscalculate the amount of power you require, you’ll end up with a solar system that underperforms and leaves you stranded without sufficient power. Or you’ll get a system that’s too big and you won’t maximize its potential. So take the time to figure out what’s ideal for your vehicle and your camping style.

Once you know your amp draw, Dave continues the process by discussing what’s available and the pros and cons of certain systems. With Dave’s guidance and the expertise of Go Power!, you should have no problem finding the best solar system size for your rig!