Why Portable Solar Panels Are A Must-Have For Motorhome Owners

 

You have probably thought of getting portable solar panels if you own a motorhome or an RV. Solar panels for recreational vehicles can be a great investment, but you need to consider whether or not they are practical for you, based on your energy needs and lifestyle.

Learning the ins and outs of portable solar panels, such as its intended use, installation process, and upkeep requirements, is essential before you begin shopping. In this guide, we will talk about the benefits of portable solar panels for motorhome owners, as well as cover a wealth of essential information that will help you make the right decision.

What Are Portable Solar Panels?

To put it simply, portable solar panels for RVs perform the same functions as their larger, fixed-installation counterparts, but are much easier to transport. Solar panels, once mounted atop a recreational vehicle, motorhome, or camper, soak up the sun's rays and transform them into energy. After that, this electricity can be utilized to power your RV’s various sockets, lights, and other electrical appliances.

In the absence of solar panels, you will need to resort to using a generator or a campsite hookup in order to get your electrical needs met. Due to their reliance on renewable energy, RV solar panels are a practical and sustainable replacement for these conventional options.

Why Portable Solar Panels Are A Must-Have For Motorhome Owners?

1) Clean Energy Source

Portable generators that run on gasoline are a common source of emergency power for campers and RV owners.

However, in spite of more stringent emission regulations, these portable diesel-driven generators still produce high amounts of CO2 and CO – along with a great deal of unpleasant noise.

To charge RV (or portable) batteries, solar systems convert sunlight into direct current (DC). If your aim is to lower your carbon footprint and become more environmentally-friendly,portable solar panels are your best bet because they do away with the noise and pollution that comes with fuel-powered generators.

2) Free Energy Source

The cost of regular, on-grid electricity is often in excess of several thousand dollars a year. In addition to that, many motorhome owners using conventional electricity also incur costs pertaining to maintenance, fuel, and utilizing shore power.

Although there is an up-front cost for portable solar solutions, the electricity they produce is completely free. You can charge your batteries and run your equipment with ease using portable panels because they are simple to put up and relocate.

Because solar energy is a renewable resource, the financial benefits of switching to it increase with time. Solar power is a great alternative to the expensive and unreliable electricity that comes from the grid.

3) Portable Power

Portable solar panels allow you to charge your electronics without having to be tied to an electrical outlet. You can relax knowing you won't have to worry about finding a power outlet, whether boon-docking or travelling far from civilization thanks to solar.

Most campers have an idea of what it costs to use shore power and what it takes to control electricity use while they are completely off the grid. You can charge your RV's batteries and use them to run electronics like TVs, computers, and refrigerators with the help of portable solar panels.

As many as one million people around the world call their recreational vehicle (RV) home. Solar power is an affordable option that can make life easier for these contemporary nomads.

4) Easy Installation

Portable solar panel systems do not necessitate extensive wiring or installation like permanent panel solutions do.

Portable panels only require exposure to sunshine and an electrical outlet. It will not take more than a few minutes to disassemble the system when you have finished charging your batteries.

5) Flexibility

Solar energy is not only good for campers. The needs of campers, weekend travelers, and those seeking other forms of outdoor adventure can be met through these ultraportable solutions.

There is no need to worry about heavy equipment or complicated installation procedures with a portable solar system.

If you want to charge your laptop, phone, or MP3 player, while at the beach or on a hike, you can easily do so using portable solar panel systems.

6) Low Maintenance

Cost-effective and low-maintenance, portable solar panel systems are becoming increasingly popular. To maximize the efficiency of portable solar panels, regular cleaning is pretty much all that is required.

In the unlikely event that you have problems with your portable panel system, you can rely on a nationwide support system of trained solar experts to rapidly diagnose the problem and implement a solution.

How Many Portable Solar Panels Does Your Motorhome Need?

Portable solar panel systems typically provide a smaller amount of energy than residential or commercial systems, which are meant to power an entire building. However, this is not a concern since you do not use as many electrical appliances in an RV or motorhome as you would in a conventional residence.

How many panels would be needed for a recreational vehicle? It all depends on the amount of solar your home gets, how much energy you use on average, and the panel efficiency.

The size of your RV solar system is determined primarily by your daily energy demand. To calculate your energy requirements, you need to list down all the appliances or devices you will be powering through solar energy, and the number of hours or minutes you will be using each appliance on a typical day.

Take, as an illustration, the case of a 300-watt microwave which you will be using for a total of 15 minutes every day. You will need to make the following calculation:

300-watt x (15/60) = 75 watts per hour. This is the amount of energy you will need to power your microwave for 15 minutes a day.

Follow the above steps with each electrical appliance/device.

Your daily electricity output can be calculated by multiplying the size of your system by the number of hours per day that your panels would be exposed to direct sunlight.

For instance, let us assume our portable solar panel system consists of five panels, each producing 100 watts of electricity. This gives a combined system output of 500 watts. We will also assume we are living in a fairly sunny region and will receive at least 4 hours of daily sunlight.

By multiplying the total system output (500 watts) by the number of daily sunlit hours (4), we get 2000 watt-hours –the amount of electricity we can expect our system to produce on a daily basis.

This output can be used as a baseline against which your energy needs (estimated above) can be compared, allowing you to fine-figure out the precise wattage and number of panels. 

For reference, 2000 watt-hours may be enough to turn on a light or two or even power a couple of small appliances, but it is unlikely to be able to produce enough electricity for heavy-duty appliances.

As a matter of fact, not even the most robust portable solar panels are made to support heavy or consistent use of electricity. Thus, if you require a great deal of energy, portable solar panels may not be the best choice for you.

Types of Portable Solar Panels

Below are the three main types of portable solar panels:

Mono-Crystalline Solar Panels

These will produce the greatest power in the shortest length of time, but they are also the most expensive of the three.

Polycrystalline Solar Panels

Despite being somewhat less effective, polycrystalline panels are durable and reliable.

Amorphous Solar Panels

The use of amorphous panels is more recent. Although they are not as effective as their competitors, their thin, flexible design makes them simple to set up.

Components of a Portable Solar Panel System

Alongside solar panels, a portable solar panel comprises various other components. These are:

Inverter

It changes DC solar power into usable AC power.

Battery

A solar battery is used to store any excess energy produced by the panels.

Charge Controller

Charge controllers ensure that the storage system does not overcharge.

To make things easier for first-time solar installers, these parts are frequently sold in bundles with solar panels. You can buy the necessary components separately if you already own the solar panels.

Become A Nomad With Portable Solar Power

Though it is technically possible to install conventional, roof-mounted solar panels on your motorhome, we do not recommend this. This is because traditional panels are considerably bulkier, and a motorhome or RV may not have the kind of space to accommodate these panels, or the kind of robustness to handle their weight.

Moreover, the voltage of a conventional panel may not be compatible with other components of your portable solar panel system.

Thus, if you own a motorhome, a portable solar panel system is your best bet. If you are looking for a system to power your nomadic lifestyle, we invite you to get in touch with us and explore our wide range of portable solar panel system options. We can consult and help you pick a system that best suits your unique needs, energy requirements, location, and budget.