Who says solar energy is only for your home? Recently, thousands of RV owners installed solar panels on their fun rides for all the right reasons. Solar energy is completely eco-friendly, as opposed to gas-guzzlers that pump tons of toxic exhaust. The renewable energy is infinite, making it far more cost-effective in the long run compared to fossil fuels; gas prices are skyrocketing nowadays, and aren’t expected to drop anytime soon.
If you haven’t installed solar panels on your RV, you’re missing out. But, where to begin? And, how to go about it? How many solar panels will be needed to power your whole RV? How can you install solar panels on your RV? This reading will answer all these questions, and more.
Is It Possible to Power an RV Air Conditioner with Solar Power?
Yes, you can. But, RV ACs require tons of energy to operate. A typical RV AC unit will require a massive 3,500 W just to wake up, add 1,500 W to that for running. It is a big ask. So much so that an RV’s factory-fitted battery and an installed solar system won’t be able to withstand the tremendous load. This is where a ‘soft starter’ comes in, which will be discussed in-depth later on.
How Much Power Does it Take to Run an Air Conditioner Unit?
A 1000-watt system is the bare minimum to power an RV’s AC unit in harmony with other appliances. This could be achieved through any configuration— for example, four 250 W or two 500 W solar panels. And, you can’t rely on solar panels alone, you’ll need a complete ‘hybrid solar system’ that includes: a battery bank, solar charge controller, inverter, and AC soft starter.
Yet, with this solar power, you’ll only be able to power RV AC units with 5,000 to 10,000 BTU units— it depends. Considering a beefier RV, with a 15,000 to 35,000 BTU AC unit, you’ll need at least 1,500 W to do the trick— granted, you have the right system.
Pro Tip: amp up your RV’s solar system with extended battery capacity and superior solar panels in greater quantities.
How Many Solar Panels are Needed to Run my RV Air Conditioner?
According to RV solar energy experts, you should use your AC for 4 to 5 hours a day during the hottest hours. For that, a 1,500 W solar system will do the trick. But, we advise you to use your solar energy calculatedly because you’ll be needing it when the sun goes down.
Factors to Consider when Powering an RV Air Conditioner with Solar Energy
Every situation will be different, depending on various factors, including:
- The voltage and quality of panels
- The BTU rating of your RV, according to its size and energy requirements
- The components of your solar panels
So, here are a few factors to keep in mind before you spend thousands on your RV solar system.
24 Volt Vs. 12 Volt Solar Panels
While 12 V panels are smaller, rectangular in shape, and produce 150 to 200 W, 24 V panels are the real deal because they are residential-grade and larger, hence doubling the production to 400 W.
Here are the reasons why RV owners are switching to 24 V panels:
- They require less space and fewer panels while doubling the energy output, making 24 V panels a practical option.
- Since fewer cables and connectors will be needed, 24 V panels are easier to install.
- 24 V panels are more compatible with the latest batteries and inverters.
The Cost of Solar Panels; Monocrystalline Vs. Polycrystalline Panels
Since you’ll have limited space on your RV’s roof, go for the best quality to maximize energy production. Monocrystalline panels, which appear darker than other solar panels, are known for their efficiency; they convert solar energy into electricity at a faster rate than any other solar panel type.
Polycrystalline panels are blue in color and faster to produce, so they’re cheaper than monocrystalline options. But, they don’t belong on RVs because of limited roof space.
Solar Charge Controller
The solar charge controller is a key component in your solar system. It controls the energy transfer from your solar panels to solar batteries. Once batteries are fully charged, the solar charge controller lowers the voltage for trickle charging, or stops charging altogether. If your solar batteries get overcharged, they will burn down.
While a cheap solar charge controller is widely available, you should go for the best, offering the ultimate protection.
Battery Bank
Your battery bank is the heart of your ‘hybrid solar system’ since it enables you to live off-grid by storing energy produced by your solar panels. Plus, the best battery banks are 100% scalable, giving you total flexibility to increase your capacity.
2,000+ Watt Inverter
The inverter converts DC current to AC, which will be used by your RV’s AC. A Pure Sine Wave inverter is the norm these days.
Solar Power Meter
A solar power meter is your solar system’s best friend because it always knows what’s up with your solar system; instantly, you can get values of voltage, amperage, and wattage, of your solar system, always keeping you updated on the electric health of your solar system.
AC Soft Starter (Important)
If you’re using solar power to solely run your RV’s AC, an AC soft starter becomes imperative because, otherwise, it would be a considerable challenge. The soft starter enables the AC to start using much less energy, 75% less, to be specific. It provides the significant initial power surge needed to start an RV’s AC.
How Do I Install Solar Panels on My RV?
Follow these simple steps to install a solar system on your RV.
Determine Your Energy Requirements
With air conditioning, your energy requirements rise incredibly. To power other appliances along with the AC, such as fans, heating appliances, and laptops, you will need around 1,500 W of solar energy.
Start by individually identifying the wattage of all appliances that you will be using on your camping trip, or keep in your RV, then add them together.
Choose Individual Components or A Kit
Now, it’s time to assemble your RV’s solar system. You can either go for a off-the-shelf kit, or construct your own with the following components:
- Solar panels
- Solar charge controller
- Battery
- Wires, brackets, and connectors
Double-Check Equipment and Installation
Once you’re ready with every component and its connector in place, carefully follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and assemble the unit. We advise you to make your own checklist containing every component in use; double-check to see if everything is where it should be.
Test it Out
After following the simple and direct manufacturer guidelines, triple-check the solar system and let it rip!
BLUETTI’s Solution to Effortlessly Powering Your RV’s Air Conditioner
Here’s why all you need is the BLUETTI AC200 Max + 3*PV200 Solar Generator Kit to power your RV’s AC in great harmony with all other appliances: it is a one-stop solution, pairing immense performance with sheer practicality.
For an affordable price of $2,946, you get the AC200 Max along with 3 state-of-the-art, ultra-durable LFP cells offering 600 W of solar input. Switching our focus to the AC200 Max, it has a whopping 2,048 Wh capacity with a 2,200 W Full Power Pure Sine Wave inverter that can handle 4,800 W of surge.
All of this performance prowess is made possible by the AC200’s innovative LiFePO4 battery, which regulates its performance with unparalleled safety and consistency. The cutting-edge battery technology also makes this solar system unbelievably long-lasting, as it offers 3,500+ full cycles before its charging capacity drops to 80%.
While the AC200 Max delivers stellar performance for its price, it excels in delivering practicality. The solar generator kit is 100% modular, meaning you can expand it according to your increasing energy requirements. With 2 extension ports, you can either add 2 B230s to get 6,144 Wh, or 2 B300s to achieve a staggering 8,192 Wh! This is enough power to easily power your RV’s AC along with everything else— except the engine, of course.
Never worry about recharging again. In only 2 hours, you can recharge your entire system by combining 900 W of solar input and 500 W via the adaptor, adding to 1,400 W of energy generation. Furthermore, the AC200 also comes with 2 extra ports for AC input adapters, so you’ll get an extra 500 W of input with every module added.
Especially for RV owners, the AC200 boasts a built-in 30A NEMA TT-30 outlet along with a 12V 30A super powerful DC outlet. In total, you get 16 power outlets that cater 99% appliances.
The perfect finishing touch is the BLUETTI Smart App, which you can use to monitor and control your solar generator kit with your fingertips.
Final Thoughts
It is imperative to install a solar generator kit in your RV to power your air conditioner along with other appliances because it’s cleaner, cheaper, and eco-friendly. Before installing a kit, carefully calculate your energy requirements. And, finally, always be extremely careful, and scrutinize your progress as you go.
