RV solar. What do I need?

RV solar. What do I need? 🚐 If you're ready to harness the power of the sun to enhance your RVing experience and reduce your reliance on traditional power sources, you're in the right place. Don't miss out as we provide you with the knowledge you need to embark on your energy-independent journey.
Make sure to check out @TechTipTNT as we do a deep dive on this subject, How to design you RV solar system. • How To Design Your RV ...
Be sure to like, comment with your solar-related questions, and subscribe for more informative RVing content.
Find a Rv Technician near you: rvtaa.org/locate
Learn to maintain and repair your RV with confidence. rvtechcourse.com/
***Become a mobile RV technician or inspector and start making money on the road! info.nrvta.com/contact-us/
#NationalRVTrainingAcademy #RVTravel #RVSolar #SolarPower #RVlife #techtiptuesday

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

Check out the @techtiptnt deep dive on this topic here kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4u5inSkhrF_bLM

[@markjackson1970]

Todd danced around the answer to the question like Fred Astaire and I still don’t know how much solar I need 😂

[@jeffreyvaughn4775]

You either need one panel to keep your batteries charged while not in use. Or you need to cover your whole roof, plus a generator.

[@user-zy9vr4mu3f]

He only has 2 minutes... go to the longer video and he kinda gets the answer there

[@davedorrance9944]

Thanks Todd. I can never get enough of your wisdom. Be well brother!

[@skiimountaineer]

There’s never enough, shade , rainey days

[@RVRepairSolutions]

So much for the two minutes (Yeah it's worth it). Great content to pass on. Many of our customers are going with Renogy which we install and service. Will definitely check out the system you mentioned.

[@hammer48ful]

Glad I stay small. Most of the campsites we go to in NE are shady. I have two movable panels that I can top off my batteries, charge up my computer, and my phones and I'm good to go. I try to keep it simple, that's why we call it camping.

[@tracymeskel2839]

Hello from NW Oregon! Hard to get solar, when your in the PNW. Which is also the reason we head south, to sun.

[@annejoshpoissant1582]

we got a Class C with one AC. We got a 90lbs Ecoflow Delta Pro that packs 3600w and 2 x 400w portable solar panels wheighing about 30lbs each. We have determined that using the Ecoflow at night will cover us for 3 days if AC not too demanding. We have also installed a SoftStartRV on the AC. We do a lot of boondocking so if we set up in daytime for 4 hrs we can recharge it fully. The advantage of Ecoflow is we can charge it on hookup or even at EV charging station. I have set up the ecoflow in a husky box on a hitch rack and just need to get the cable out and hookup. I fitted the box with a weatherproof door for the cable and a fan in a lockable opening for venting. We are considering an extra 3600w battery for future, if needed. We still use our propane generator and our fridge is dual power.

[@paullogan9960]

First thing you need is a piece of paper & pencil. Write down all electric you have. make 2 lists need to have. MUST have. fridge goes where? see?? add the watts of each item. That is the load. Does an A/C compressor act the same as on a 220V house? It need the watts listed, PLUS 25% to start. Now use the handy tools on line to calculate. You can cheat if you have a generator. With the fridge running, turn on 1 A/C. How much did the gen drop how hard is it pulling? what did the volt meter drop by? (BTW, I am a generator tech). Some people looking at a generator at big box, I ask what are they going to run. Get a list and figure what to run. With my generator 40 ft. away from house, I bring cable to house and plug in. (That was $500just for extension plugs to have run in the house.(I have not run the wires to new plugs yet since I do not want a lockout on power box cause my gen is 10K.

[@tribalncgaming1091]

I am building a 2kw panels, 3kw hybrid all in one 24v inverter (powmr) and 4 x 200ah lifep04 (2 sets in series for 24v output and 5kwh of battery) PowMR allows grid/gen input .. and can prioritize charging and bypass .. i selected PV (solar) as priority.. when that goes to low (dusk and evening) battery picks up load .. when battery hits 20-30% .. grid picks up.. and starts charging battery and running load. currently i am at 1 pair of 200ah batteries (24v) and 1kw of panels.. current cost under 2200.00 including breakers, 8awg cabling and connectors and mc4 extenders etc.

[@brianschindler1511]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@Isnt_ThatRight]

Gday tried to access your locate link you must have geo location locked. Researching for my van in Australia

[@JamesMcGillis]

Solar panels and their attendant systems can weigh a lot. Covering your roof with solar panels can add both weight and multiple penetrations of your roof membrane.

[@TwistedOff]

👍

[@keithbierwisch7045]

Thank you for this . How much do you need and how much do you want to spend 😅

[@ghostpepperrides4805]

Weight and money the limiting factor.

[@davidsussan8235]

Question Todd. If I'm using my solar panel to charge my rv batteries but turn of my load option because I'm not going to be using my rv for a while . Will that damage my batteies or solar panels ?

[@Dillybip]

Do you offer consultation ?

[@revanknight3202]

I have a asus g18 gaming laptop. 175w draw, let's say I want to game for 8 hours, how much do I need?

[@DBscrilla1]

What all do I need to just be able to power the AC during travel to location to location to cool it off?. Don’t really care about when I make it to the campsite.

[@eddiedoherty2349]

Here is the reality of solar in an RV. First, if the panels are mounted flat, you reduce the power they can generate by 20-30%. If you have them angled you must raise and lower them and park the correct direction. If you get ANY shading, like a small tree limb, power line, you lose 15%. If it’s partly cloudy you’ll get 50%. You lose 5% if the panels are dusty. Also, you can lose 5-10% in the wiring/installation. In summary, you’ll need a generator. I hate the sound of a generator while camping. I have tried to eliminate use, but can cut it down to an hour a day while boondocking. I spent 3 months boondocking in the winter. I have flat roof top solar and external panels I set the angle and rotated 3 times a day to match the sun. My advice, get no more than twice enough to run your fridge, adding lithium, only as my AHr as you currently have in lead acid. You’ll save thousands.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

We are glad that works for you.

[@bertkelly7650]

With all that solar, guess what else you will need...a generator.

[@jonedwards2107]

Got a little one, twice the power output of my panels, to charge my batteries when the sun isn’t fully available.

[@nyxcin1]

I am afraid of lithium simply because I have seen too much in the news about lithium batteries blowing up, catching fire, etc. Can we address the safety issues specifically relating to lithium? I suggest a troublehooting checklist PRIOR to needing it, along with contact numbers with manufacurerer hours of operation and keep it in a handy place.

[@EarlBalentine]

The newer Lithium batteries are getting better to safety features, Low power alert, high power, too cold, to hot via wifi to your phone. They have heating elements for keeping the batteries warm durning very cold weather. My iPhone has a lithium and all my power tools, flash lights, power banks etc. Technology keeps moving and some things have problems at 1st but the bugs get worked out.

[@jonedwards2107]

Lithium ion batteries are dangerous. LiFePo (lithium, iron, potassium) batteries are safe.

[@markratliff7991]

First thing to understand is the difference between Lithium "Ion" vs Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) RV "Lithium " batteries are the latter of the 2. Much safer than Litium Ion (cell phone batteries etc) that you hear all the horror stories about

[@johnnylightning1491]

I'll throw another limiting factor, convincing your wife you need solar and not a genny. I'm thinking a few dirty looks from fellow campers might help. Now a request, can you talk about BIRDS and how they work into a solar system, or maybe they don't and you need a Li-BIM. Keep the good stuff coming Todd.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

BIRDS?

[@johnnylightning1491]

@@NationalRVTrainingAcademy Bi-Directional Relay Device. It connects the chassis charging system to the house batteries.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

So if you want bi-directional a bim might be the only way. Keep the expiating solenoid between so you don’t drain out the Lithium to starter batts.

[@newamericatowguy3633]

Lol I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to connect our solar plug into an actual smaller system to run our rig. 😂😂😂

[@rvgossontheroadagain8052]

Thought? 35’ Alliance Avenue with 1600W on top and 800AH batteries. 3000W Victron multiplus. Can I run 2 ac’s?

[@markratliff7991]

Start by converting your 800AH to Watt Hours by multiplying AH x Volts.(Watts Law) Assuming you have 12V batteries multiply 800 x 12 = 9600 Watt Hours. Now divide 9600 by the load in watts your are wanting to run. Example: On average a 15K BTU AC uses about 1500W per hour with the compressor running . 9600/1500=6.4 hours. So in this example you could run 1 AC for approx 6 hours. Obviously there are a lot of variables to consider like what other AC loads are also consuming power like a residential refrigerator, etc, etc. The bottom line in NOTHING "runs" on Solar really. Solar is just a source to charge your battery bank. So ultimately how long you can run anything unplugged from an external power source (shore power or Generator) depends on how large your battery bank is!

[@rvgossontheroadagain8052]

Thanks Mark. I hear you. I tried to do too much with too little

[@CBRR10011]

Funny 😂😂😂 how much money you have Right!!!😢

[@tracymeskel2839]

Hello from NW Oregon! Hard to get solar, when your in the PNW. Which is also the reason we head south, to sun.