There is no point in doing this halfway if you are going to do it it needs to be done right.
Build your own rv solar system.
If you are planning to add solar power to your rv i recommend you learn as much as possible up front.
Now it is time to mount the solar panel.
If you are going to build out your own custom solar system for your rv the first thing you need to do is make sure you are building a system that is large enough to handle your needs.
I tested the unit charged the battery and had a eureka moment when it produced 110 volt power from the sun.
Prepare the mounting stand.
When choosing an rv solar system it is best to start planning with identifying what kind of rv you have.
Buy all the components with an appropriate rating as per the previous steps.
Having a healthy bank of 12 volt or 6 volt batteries is vital to the performance of your rv s solar power system.
You can make it on your own or it is better to buy one from any store.
The diagrams instructional videos and written instructions in steve maxwell s build your own solar generator course were very helpful for understanding and constructing my own generator.
But once your battery is full it s full.
For step by step instructions you can see my instructable on building a pwm charge controller.
Technically they aren t part of the solar power system but without them you can t capture the electrical energy being created by your solar panels.
After design the solar system.
It will always be a valuable asset and even when you create your own monster solar system there will be a place for it.
An rv solar suitcase is an excellent first step into the world of solar power.
So if you build your rv solar energy system bigger than you need you ll wind up with a lot of wasted potential.
Which one you choose will depend on the size and the type of your system on your rv.
Create a big enough system.
This is because each type of recreational vehicle has specific requirements and limitations for off grid power and solar charging systems.
If you like to reduce your system cost you can make your own pwm charge controller.
That s actually a nerdy joke because the volt is the si unit of electrical potential.
First choose a suitable location on the rooftop where there is no obstruction sunlight.
Buy only deep cycle batteries for your rv these are rated in amp hours.
There are no one size fits all rv solar solutions.
Here s my video showing how a portable solar suitcase works and why it s the easiest option when it comes to getting solar power on your rv.
The solar system i installed works well because it s customized to suit our needs and style of camping.
You may also like my new 3 0 design of an arduino mppt solar charge controller.