The Power of Solar for Your RV
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How to install solar power on a RV. I have added an update after 9 months at the end of this description. I only found out that people were using solar energy to charge their RV batteries a few months ago when I was searching for a solution for my batteries going dead when I was out boondocking (dry camping) in the cold weather and running my furnace at night. I spent many many hours researching and planning my own upgrade to solar before starting. I decided that if I was going to go to all that expense and work I might as well document it. This video is the result of that. As the video will show, I bought the solar panel from Homedepot.com because it was both convenient with free shipping to my home and as good a price as I found anywhere because I was able to apply my military discout. (So even though I say in the video I paid $374, that was the price before the discount.) Unfortunately they did not have the other parts I wanted/needed including an MPPT controller with remote display and so I found that and the Z brackets and MC-4 connector wire on Amazon.com. The other little attachment parts and wire to go to the battery I bought at my local Home Depot store. I found the in line fuse holder and fuse I talk about in the video at a local car stereo sales and install shop. I got lots of good help by asking questions on the RV Dreams forum at: http://www.rv-dreams.com/ Bill & Linda Napier and Jack & Danielle Mayer were especially knowledgeable and helpful. I also got help on the Good Sam Club forum at: http://www.rv.net/forum/ UPDATE May 2014: I've had the system on for about 9 months as I make this update, though many of those months the RV was in winters storage and not in use. Several have asked how the system is working so I'm answering here. First I don't regret for one minute adding the system, it works very well and recharges my batteries very quickly even in cloudy conditions. If anything, a 250 watt panel may be bigger than I really needed, but I'd rather have bigger than too little. One other action I plan, probably this summer, is taking out my two 12 V batteries which are wired in parallel and provide about 130 Amp hours and replacing them with two "Golf Cart" 6 V batteries wired in series which will give me 12 V and about 240 Amp hours. I'm also in the process of switching out all my light bulbs from incandescent to LED, which I understand operate on about 1/10th the power. I have already put in four of the LED and they are a little more true daylight color and it seems to me about the same brightness of the incandescent. Some people don't like the more blue shade but as a photographer I like it very much. I keep thinking I should add an inverter to run at least the microwave and some chargers, but I want to do a true sine wave one when I do and they are considerably more expensive than the modified, so I'm still thinking about it.
Comments
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This is one of the better videos I've seen on this subject, great presentation. As an old Marine instructor I appreciate the KISS technique that you used! As soon as the snow melts again I'm going to tackle this project for my truck camper.
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Nicejob,thankyou
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I was waiting for you to do a backward flip off your RV @ 7:00 hahaha
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Excellent video
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I installed a 100 watt panel to my R.V. last year and added the controller for the bank of 4 deep cycle batteries, and an inverter to operate my tiny frig., and all lights were converted to LED. It works great out in the woods. When I can plug in I do with a 30 amp inverter I purchased from EBAY. Your idea of running the wire through the vent hole was Awesome. I did the same and NO leaks! My 110 power is separate from the air conditioner on the roof.
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nice job, and a really good video!
im an electrician of over 30 years. I love your fuses and seatbelts! hahahaha. funny! very true though! people dont reslize a simple car battery will get a piece of copper wire the thickness of a pencil amd make it glow red hot in a matter of seconds! when in doubt, fuse it!
this is one of my winter projects for my popup camper.
thanks again. -
Excellent video!
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We really enjoyed your presentation on Solar for RVs. We loved the wardrobe changes!
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That Sir, was a great video! Can you come over to Nova Scotia, Canada and install a Solar Panel on my New-to-Me RV!!! I am anxious to see how they worked out for you!! I am going to check and see if you did a follow up. I am certainly getting them for my 22 ft Wide-body Vanguard.
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If you want to make it too just use InpliX handbooks.
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Very nice video, well done and great job on the solar install
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Pretty nice! I know somebody that paid $1200.00 plus parts to do just what you did here. Are those batteries wired is series or parallel? The only reason I ask, is because I don't know that I have seen a 24v RV house battery set with just two batteries. AND, I am trying to figure out the benefits of 24v verses a 12v system. Seems like double the amp hours while remaining at 12v would be more beneficial. BUT, I wonder why so many people prefer 24v or even a 48v systems over a 12v. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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Hello Scott,
Good how to video. How are your batteries hooked up? Are you running 6 volt batteries in series or do you have 24 volt batteries you are using and the higher amps? Solar is one thing but knowing about the battery bank is also an interesting topic. -
This is one fantastic video! You're easy to listen to informative and it didn't seem rehearsed to the point of it not actually being as simple as you make it seem hah. Thanks for the upload.
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hellow scott law my question is are you also using a generator also apart from the solar system and if you do is the generator charging off the solar panel or from an other source thanks
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Thank you sir, much appreciated, great video!
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thank you very much for the info.my wife and i some times run low on power and im allways thinking about it.Having to start the truck to charge up.solor is the way to go. Thank you again Carl.Timmins on. Canada.
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Thank you for your time and effort Mr. Scott, I enjoyed it, and I especially liked the new idea of using vent pipes to run wires! Million dollar idea!
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Nice video, thanks for taking the time and filming it.
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What kind/size screws did you use to mount the panels with?
14m 47sLenght
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