How to Install Solar Panels on RV

Here are the steps to connecting your solar panels to your batteries: Mount your solar panels on the roof of your RV. Mount your charge controller inside the RV as close to your batteries as possible. Run your wiring from the solar panels into the RV and over to the charge controller.

How to set up solar panels for RV:

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Solar Panels In Series-Parallel Arrays

The advantage of the series-parallel configuration is that you’ve increased the output wattage to 400 amps — enough to power most anything you want (even in mediocre weather, where your solar panels are not getting maximum sunlight).

You’re able to still use the standard 10-gauge wires — because you’ve kept the amperage within its limitation by doubling the voltage.

The smaller the size of copper wire, the less expensive and more flexible it is for installation throughout your RV.

Related: Diy solar power battery bank

Different Batteries

In my case, the travel trailer came stock with two 75-amp hour batteries. That’s adequate to run most systems of the stock RV for a day or two.

However, that’s not adequate to run the 2,500-watt inverter, widescreen TV, satellite receiver, automatic satellite dish, computer, and other incidental electronics that are required for my “normal life”.

Not wishing to discard 2 new (perfectly good but too small) batteries, I opted to set up my RV solar power system with 2 battery banks — individually charged through 2 separate charge controllers.

With plenty of solar panels on the roof, their output goes to each of the 2 charge controllers — which each go to separate battery banks.

The original 2 batteries on the tongue of the trailer provide power to the standard equipment RV systems and an additional bank of three 120-amp hour batteries, located in the front storage compartment.

By each bank having its own charge controller, the issue of different sizes or types of batteries has been addressed.

400 watts of solar panels is more than adequate to take care of both battery banks.

There are digital displays next to the bed to indicate the voltage of each separate battery bank. 

Related: DIY solar power lights