After RVing for 2.5 years without solar, we decided it was time to install some RV solar panels as part of a bigger RV solar system.
Although our generator was cost effective and worked great, we wanted more power: the kind that falls on our roof everyday and is completely silent seemed like just the ticket.
In this video, Cait gives a great introduction to what we we planned for our first RV Solar System and why.
RV Solar System Requirements
We want to build a system that is:
- Able to power all of our tech requirements
- Able to run our AC with generator assistance
- Robust enough to cook with electric appliances
DIY RV Solar System Budget
We also need to keep the build under $4000.
If you are unfamiliar with solar $4000 may seem like a lot of money, but large solar systems get expensive very quick, so this is actually a very tight budget!
How Many RV Solar Panels?
We decided on a ~1200W system to start that we can expand to about 1800W easily. This system uses 4 residential-style glass solar panels at 285 watts each.
We purchased these panels from a guy off Craigslist who was selling off some panels that he had bought in bulk for a home installation – so we got them for a very good price.
These panels are pretty large, about 7 feet long by 3.5 feet wide. They also weigh about 55 lbs each.
Rest of the RV Solar System Components:
We will use lithium-ion batteries and a hybrid inverter in this RV solar system build.
The install happened in 3 Phases:
- PHASE 1 – RV Solar Panels on the Roof connected to existing 12V batteries
- PHASE 2 – 24 Volt Lithium Ion Batteries installed
- PHASE 3 – 120V inverter installed to power the entire RV
Let’s get started with Phase 1.
Phase 1 – Connect RV Solar Panels to Existing 12V Battery System
The following diagram overviews what we installed in Phase 1. See below for full res download.
For a high-resolution, downloadable copy of the schematic, click the “Download” button below ⬇
RV Solar System Overview
The following video walks through the entire system and all the components. It also goes over the RV solar panels being installed.
So far we have been very happy with the system!
We are also very excited for Phase 2 where we install a Lithium Ion battery from a Tesla Model S in our RV!
Articles about this project:
- RV Solar Panels – Solar Phase 1 (this article)
- The Tesla Battery – Solar Phase 2
- The Inverter – Solar Phase 3
- Updated Tesla Module RV Installation (with updated list of components)
Disclaimer: While Tesla batteries are a very high quality and safe when handled and run within operating characteristics, if something goes wrong they can be quite dangerous. It is your responsibility to fully understand and make sure the system is safely programmed and installed if you choose to take on an install like this. Furthermore, this build is not endorsed or supported by any manufacturers of the compenents used in this build, and they may not provide support on an install like this if you run into trouble. I am not able to provide individual support on these builds. You might be able to find community support over in the Second-Life Batteries Facebook Group.
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Thanks for showing and sharing your solar system install install. Do you know when you will publish the second phase. Really interested to see the final result as i am interested to install a similar system.
Sorry for the delay! We should have the next video up this week!
Questions, if I have a 12 Volt battery bank can I put a 24 Volt solar panels on the roof, I want to keep the battery bank at 12 Volt but in time increase the panels on my roof to about 1000 Watts max, I will be using the Victron 150/70 charge controller
You will be pushing the limits of the charge controller and still will clip some of the potential of your panels but yes that would work. To get the max out of your panels you would need an 85A controller or higher. If you use an MPPT like the one you mentioned you can even go higher than 24V off the panels, you could go with a standard 40V panel or put them in series.
So the panels can be 24 or 40 volt and the battery bank can remain at 12 volts and the charge controller will make the needed adjustments?
Yup with a good MPPT charge controller, just check the MPPT limits and know that the limitation on amperage is the lower voltage side. This is the unit we use and can take up to 100V solar panels and charge a 12 or 24V system. 50 amps max which will occur on the battery side as its lower than our solar which usually runs 32-38V. The beauty of higher voltage panels is you will start charging much earlier and charge later in the day too than 12 or 24V panels !
I have a 100w panel, 20 amp Controller (nonMPPT), 1000w Inverter, & 75ah AGM Battery. What size of breaker do I need between Panel & controller and Fuse size between controller & battery & Fuse between controller & Inverter?
How about a products link area for easy finding of the products used??
Thanks
Amazing detail and specifics, a real help for me!!
Now that you are using your Tesla battery are you still running all the panels in parallel? I’m about to put in a similar system of 4- 255W panels with a Voc of 37.8V and 8.9A short circuit voltage. I’ll be hooking them up in a 2S2P configuration into my Victron SmartSolar 100/50 MPPT controller. That will allow me to run 10ga. wire down to the controller.
What size of angled Alum did you use? I will be doing a solar project in the spring and I liked your mounting brackets.
what size angle aluminum did you order from onlinemetals.com?
Thanks,
Stev
Whenever I read a blog, I trust that it doesnt baffle me as much as this one. That is to say, I realize it was my decision to peruse, yet I really thought youd have something fascinating to state. All I hear is a cluster of whimpering about something that you could fix in the event that you werent excessively bustling searching for consideration.
Had an interesting time reading this. Thanks for the information. sounds so great and helpful. Kudos!
Tom, I’ve enjoyed reading your articles and watching your videos. As I prepare to install a similar system on my trailer I realized that you haven’t installed any string fuses in your 4 parallel solar array. So, I think you are presently not complying with NEC 690.9.
Could you provide a list of all the components or parts list, I would like to use it to do my own research.
Thanks
Bill
Do you post the settings of bms 712 for the Tesla battery anywhere that I could use on my system
Thank for the great help
Rusty