Installing RV solar panels can be a daunting task at first. However if you have a sense of logic and are good with your hands, it should be a piece of cake for you. This assumes you are familiar with the construction of your recreational vehicle.

First and foremost, you have to select the correct solar panel for this application. This requires in-depth knowledge on different types of PV panels and a good understanding of your energy consumption pattern.

A good sales consultant is able to help you choose an ideal set of solar panels for your mobile home. He is also able to help you select mounting brackets (panel mounts) and accessories that complement your purchase.

Once you’ve got your solar panels ready, you will have to find a charge controller, a junction box, a drill, some sealant and lengths of connecting wires.

First, cover the surface of your solar panels with paper so it doesn’t generate electricity. Then make sure all power sources are disconnected. This includes the coach battery, the generator and all shore cables or connectors.

After this is done, find a good spot on your roof for the PV panel. You should avoid places that are near to heat sources and large vibrations. On top of this, the mounts must be attached on spots with good structural support. Otherwise the weight of solar panels may cause the metal underneath to bend after some time.

You can choose to run your cables through vents instead of cutting a new hole. Therefore mounting your solar panels near to a vent may be a good choice, depending on what the vent is originally used for.

When fixing the panel mounts, you will need to seal the gaps at the holes on the roof structure to avoid leaks.

After the PV panels are mounted, they should be well within the edge of your RV’s roof. Otherwise passing branches or leaves may get caught at the solar panel frame and start tearing it away from its mounts.

Soon after the solar panels are mounted, you can start to fit the charge controller (power regulator) at a corner inside your RV. You can also cut a hole in the interior panel just to hold this component.

Finally, connect the wires from the solar panels to the charge controller and test to see if you are getting the correct voltage output. Then run cables from the charge controller to the coach battery, making sure the polarity is correct. (Meaning you must connect the positive battery terminal to positive regulator terminal and then negative terminal to negative.)

With RV solar panels installed, your batteries are charged whenever your recreational vehicle is out in the open.

For optimal performance, install a separate set of deep-cycle batteries and allow your solar panels to charge it during the day. In this way, your appliances can draw from a dedicated power source without touching the vehicle’s electrical system.

Continue Reading:

1. Recreational Vehicle (RV) Solar Panels
2. Solar Panel Installation
3. How To Build A Solar Panel Charge Controller

Solar Panel Installation

Solar panel installation may be a daunting task for most people — it requires you to know where and how to site your solar panels. Moreover installation on roofs exposes you to the danger of falling. You are also at risk of electrocution while wiring your inverters.

But we do not have to be discouraged. Knowing what to do can help us tremendously and keep us away from danger. Some important installation know-how can make your job much safer and easier. Here are some points to consider before you install your solar panel…

In the northern hemisphere, we’d like our solar panels to tilt towards to south so that it can receive the most sunlight throughout the year. If we have a south-facing roof, all we need to do is line the solar panels along the surface of the roof. Otherwise we’ll need additional brackets to tilt the photovoltaic panels toward the south.

The roof is usually the best place to site your solar panels, but there are exceptions. Therefore you have to do a thorough survey to know where is the best place to locate your panels.

During the survey, you’ll have to take into consideration shading from plants and nearby structures. Shading has an adverse effect on solar energy production. The amount of electricity generated by photovoltaic cells reduces by a significant percentage with slight shading.

Through different seasons of the year, the position of the sun changes. So you’ll have to take this into consideration. An easy way to find the location that receives the most sunlight throughout the year is to use a Solar Pathfinder. This instrument shows you at a glance where shadows will be at different times of the day and different seasons of the year.

If the ideal location is on your rooftop, you’ll have to find out the maximum loading your roof can withstand. If the solar panels are too heavy, you will need to provide additional reinforcement to the roof structure before installation.

After the location is finalized, actual work can begin. You’ll have to get the correct solar panel mount to fix them at the ideal place — there are pole mounts, roof-ground mounts and flush mounts.

When installing on roofs, we frequently use flush mounts. This is the cheapest and easiest way to mount small solar panels. These are metal brackets that support both ends of a solar panel. It elevates the solar panels a few inches away from the roof to form a gap in between. This allows air to flow through, cooling the solar panels. It is vital to moderate the solar panel temperature so as to maintain the efficiency of photovoltaic cells.

Roof-ground mounts are grid-like structures that are used primarily for large solar panels. They can be installed on the ground or on roofs. A pole mount is used mainly for supporting a small, single solar panel.

After the solar panels are fixed, you’ll have to run and connect the electrical cables. The actual connections depend on whether you want a grid-tied or off-grid system.

With proper solar panel installation, each panel will be able to withstand strong winds and work efficiently for decades. You can also expect your property to increase in value with a solar energy system installed.

Continue Reading:

1. Solar Pathfinder – What Does It Do For You?
2. Installing Solar Water Heaters
3. Solar Panel Efficiency