Are you thinking of living in your RV full-time, or are you interested in traveling to off-grid locations? Then in our opinion, installing solar panels onto your RV would indeed be a smart investment.
But how many solar panels do you need for an RV?
Typically, an RV will require anywhere from two to four 200-watt monocrystalline solar panels to compensate for its energy usage. The precise quantity of solar panels required will vary based on factors such as the RV’s location and the amount of electricity consumed on a daily basis.
This article will guide you in calculating the suitable number of solar panels needed for your RV, depending on your individual situation.
How Many Solar Panels Do I Need For My RV?
- Peak sun hours
- Electrical consumption
- Solar panel output rating
Because RVs are designed for mobility, their solar systems must be compact, lightweight, and durable enough to withstand the rigors of travel.
Additionally, RVs tend to have limited roof space, which can also impact the number and size of solar panels that can be installed. This means that you as the RV owner must carefully consider your energy requirements and the available space when designing and installing your solar system.
We’ll provide you with the necessary knowledge to size your RV’s solar system by taking into account the three factors mentioned above. Firstly, we will elaborate on each of these factors, and subsequently, we will equip you with the formula to calculate the number of solar panels required for your RV.
Peak sun hours
It cannot be emphasized enough that peak sun hours are the crucial factor in determining the number of solar panels needed for your RV.
Different locations have different amounts of GHI (Global Horizontal Irradiation). If you don’t know what this is, I recommend reading this article.
In short, Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) represents the amount of solar radiation that reaches the earth’s surface, accounting for the impact of changing weather patterns.
Knowing the amount of peak sun hours specific to your country is essential to calculate the optimal number of solar panels required for your RV.
Once you have established the peak sun hours for your location, be sure to take note of this number.
Electrical consumption
The second most important aspect of sizing your RV solar system is knowing how much power you consume.
Once you have this information, you can determine the amount of solar energy that needs to be generated in order to keep your RV appliances running smoothly.
So, how do you determine the overall power consumption of your RV?
Well, on average, an RV will use between 4 – 15kWh a day. This comes out to roughly 124 – 465 kWh a month or 1,488 – 5,580 kWh a year.
With that being said, we do recommend making a table like the one below, which outlines all the appliances you use in your RV, their wattage, and the number of hours each is used.
| Appliance | Watt (W) | Hour usage per day (h) | Daily Consumption (Wh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Fridge | 40 | 24 | 960 |
| Microwave | 800 | 0.5 | 400 |
| Plasma TV | 200 | 4 | 800 |
| Cellphones (x3) | 54 | 2 | 108 |
| LED Bulbs (x8) | 80 | 5 | 400 |
| Laptop (x3) | 300 | 4 | 1200 |
| Coffee Maker | 1000 | 0.15 | 150 |
| Water Purifier | 60 | 1 | 60 |
| Blender | 500 | 0.1 | 50 |
| Water Heater | 1440 | 0.5 | 720 |
| Total Daily Consumption (Wh) | 4,848 |
The kWh consumption will vary significantly depending on whether your RV utilizes propane for heating and cooking or relies solely on electricity. For the purpose of our example, we will consider an RV that uses propane. However, you may adjust the calculations based on your RV’s specific setup.
Solar panel output rating
Lastly, you need to determine your solar panel’s power rating.
Most RVs equip either 100-watt or 200-watt solar panels on top of their roof.
We would recommend 200-watt solar panels for your RV, like the ones from Renogy or Newpowa, for example.
Solar Panel Formula For RV (Example 1)
Once you have collected all the necessary information related to the three points mentioned earlier, you can use our specially designed-formula to calculate the required number of solar panels for your RV.
Don’t worry if you feel intimidated by the math involved in the calculation. We assure you that it’s easy to understand once you become familiar with the different units of measurement used.
Okay, so to figure out how many solar panels your RV will need, we will use the formula above.
(Monthly electric usage ÷ monthly peak sun hours) x 1000 ÷ solar panel power rating.
Let’s start with an example.
Let’s say you’re planning to travel across Arizona in your RV. On average, this state receives 5.7 peak sun hours per day or 176.7 peak sun hours per month.
So, let’s apply our formula.
4.8 kWh x 31 days = 148,8 kWh monthly.
148,8 ÷ 176,7 = 0,842 x 1000 = 842 watts.
842 ÷ 200 = 4,21
By applying our formula, you can determine that an RV traveling through Arizona and utilizing 4.8 kWh of electricity per month will require approximately 4.21 (200-watt) solar panels to offset its entire energy consumption. Since solar panels cannot be split into half units, we suggest rounding up the figure to 5 solar panels.
Solar Panel Formula For RV (Example 2)
Let’s do another example with the exact same RV using the same electricity consumption, except this time it is driving through Michigan.
1377 ÷ 200 = 6,8 (7) solar panels needed for RV in Michigan.
As you can see, the location of your RV alone greatly affects the number of solar panels it will require. With that being said, let’s do one more example.
Solar Panel Formula For RV (Example 3)
Now, let’s take an example of an RV that consumes much more electricity than the previous ones. Suppose an RV consumes 400 kWh of electricity per month while traveling through Idaho.
400 ÷ 120 = 3,33 x 1000 = 3333
3333 ÷ 200 = 16.665 (17)
Therefore, the RV in Idaho consuming 400 kWh of electricity per month will need approximately 17 solar panels.
As you can see from these examples, the number of solar panels required for an RV can vary significantly. However, by using our formula, you can easily determine your basic solar panel requirements.
FAQs
Final Thoughts
To sum it up, putting solar panels on your RV is a wise move, especially if you plan on living in it full-time or going off the grid.
However, the number of panels you need depends on a few things, like how much energy you use, how many hours of sunlight you get, and how powerful the panels are.
RVs need solar systems that are small, light, and strong, so you have to think carefully about how much energy you need and how much space you have. Considering these things, you can use our easy formula to figure out how many panels your RV might need.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section below. We would be happy to help you with any solar/RV-related queries.
