Determine Your Budget For Solar
How much solar you need is determined more by your budget than any other factor. 190 Watt Solar panels each have a cost associated with their purchase and installation. If you have a large budget , you can most likely skip this step. If you have a smaller budget, then this may be the overall limiting factor of your RV Solar system.
Sample RV solar kit cost as of January 2020
- 190 Watt Solar Panel Kit with 30 Amp PWM Charge Controller ranges from $600 to $700
- 190 Watt Solar Panel Kit with MPPT-40 Amp ranges from $950 to $1050
- Each additional 190 Watt solar panel expansion kit ranges from $440 to $540 dollars each
How much solar can I get on my RV for around $700?
Currently, the most efficient panels on the market are around 190 watts. These panels will give you the greatest bang for your buck while minimizing the number of panels needing to be mounted. A 190 watt solar kit with wires and charge controller from a quality brand will run you less than $700.00 if you use a PWM controller.
What is the best solar panel to use?
The best solar panel today is the 190-watt solar panel. It produces about 9.6 amps and very efficient. A high-quality 190-watt panel will produce about 9.2 amps on a 70-degree sunny day with an average altitude in the southern U.S.
Can I add more solar as funds become available?
Calculate Loads You Want To Use Off
Calculating the loads on your RV is not terribly difficult, but it is sometimes hard to account for every item you will want to run in all scenarios.
Amps * Volts = Watts
You can use a solar calculator or a solar calculation form to help you determine the draw from all of the loads you are wanting to use. Find the load of your appliance or device you would like to use. Then you can take into account the amount of time you would like to use the item.
Watt Solar Pre Wired Rv Kit
This 190 watt pre wired solar panel kit is designed for travel trailers, fifth wheels, Class C, Class B and motorhomes, and coaches that have the prewired solar connectors on the roof of the RV. This can either be a MC4 pigtail on the roof or a prewired system using an MC-4 cable entry plate.
Includes:
Go Power PWM 30 Bluetooth UL Lithium Compatible ControllerExtension cable set
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Nomadic Supply Company Freight Versus The Big Box Stores
Nomadic Supply Company wants you to receive your valuable products in absolutely pristine condition so we ship our large refrigerators via truck freight, and we handle and package them in a way that no other retailer does.
When we prepare refrigerators for shipment we spend a full hour to inspect, re-pack, prepare, and schedule your truck freight shipment for the following day. This process ensures that your order arrives to you completely undamaged and in brand new condition. Our competitors do not do any of this for you, and they are are infamous for having their refrigerator shipments arrive damaged.
Our detailed inspection and repacking process will cause a minor delay in shipping your order to you, but unlike all of the other online stores, our shipments actually arrive to you in one piece, without damage, every single time.
- We inspect, repack, & double or triple box refrigerators in our custom made, dual wall, fully overlapped, 450lb. test-rated boxes.
- Nomadic Supply Company adds 2 Styrofoam and reinforcements to the packaging and all of the large refrigerators are fully palletized.
- We take photos of your shipment before, during and after your order is completed. Our customers LOVE this!
We Do Not Recommend Residential Deliveries Via Truck Freight:
Residential deliveries are always more expensive than shipping to the closest freight terminal. Shipping to the closest truck freight terminal in your area has numerous advantages over shipping to your residence:
- It saves you a ton of money in truck freight fees, usually around 50%.
- You can schedule to pick the shipment up at your convenience rather than spending a full day at home waiting for it.
- You can thoroughly inspect your shipment for potential damage caused by the freight carrier before accepting & signing for it.
You must read and understand the entire LTL Freight process if you want to order a refrigerator from Nomadic Supply Company.
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Determine Available Roof Space For Installing Panels
A standard RV today is 96 inches or 8 feet wide. There are some Class A motorhomes that are wider and some trailers and truck campers that are more narrow, so be sure to get your exact width.
Determine the total square footage of your RVâs roof.
The width should be calculated by finding the usable width of your RVâs roof.
The length of your RV should be the length of the roof, do not include any length that does not have a roof, like a trailer tongue or cargo rack.
This will give you an idea of the absolute maximum square footage on your roof. This square footage will not be all useable to mount solar panels. You will still need to remove square footage from areas with air conditioners, vent pipes, TV antennas, awnings, roof racks, skylights, and fan ports.
Draw a sample RV roof using your width and length. Note all items on the roof that will keep you from mounting a solar panel. Consider how roof-mounted items and penetrations will cause shading on your panels and remove these areas from potential layout areas.
You will now have a good sample of what your RV roof looks like and can create a sample layout for your solar panels. This will be a huge help in sizing your rv solar system because you cannot put more panels than your roof can handle.
Build Your Very Own Rv Solar Power Kit For Your Rvchoose The Right Size Kit Built Using Overlander 190 Watt Rv Panels
A great RV solar power kit is built using newly upgraded Go Power 190 watts solar panels. These 12-volt panels are high efficiency which makes them better at collecting solar energy. Since they collect more energy they will charge your battery at a higher output per square foot. Each panel is about 27 Inches by 60 Inches in length. However, this measurement is not exact but is great for estimating the footprint and layout required for installing the entire array on your RV roof. Check the specification sheet below for more precise measurements.
Each panel has a junction box located on one side of the rear of the panel. Two MC4 connection cables which are 18 to 24 inches long are used for connection to the RV solar system wiring.
You can build your own kit by having one of Outside Supplys professionals customize a solar system to suit your specific power usage or you can choose from one of the many pre-built kits.
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Key Features Of The Overlander
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The 190-watt solar module is made of windproof and impact-resistant materials. It can withstand the roughest weather conditions.
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The controller is Bluetooth enabled and connects up to 600 watts of solar power.
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You can charge two batteries simultaneously from the same controller.
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The 30 Amp digital solar controller features GPs flagship Maximum Power Boost Technology .
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Includes a handy User Manual, which makes the process of installing your new kit easy and straightforward.
Summary Of How Much Solar Do You Need On Your Rv
The answer for Sizing RV Solar System is pretty obvious when you think about how much solar you will need when considering the factors above. The answer is always more. The reason is that when you have bad weather or intense shading, more panels will produce more power. There are areas and times when you will go off-grid that even the most meticulously designed RV system will not produce enough power. You can add safety margin and extra batteries to help with these times, but there will be times when it just wonât be enough.
My suggestions for designing your RV Solar System:If you run through this process, you will have a good idea of how many panels will make the best system for your RV.
- Start by adding as many solar panels as your budget allows
- Then reduce the number of solar panels to match what your solar controller can handle
- Then reduce the number of solar panels that can easily fit on your RVâs roof
Your solar panel charging system will be designed to take power from the sun to charge your batteries and power your inverter. See some of the components in an RV solar system.
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Main Benefits Of The 190w Overlander
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Overlander is the largest and most popular 12v single panel Go Power RV solar kit.
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Perfect for roof mounting on your RV, Campervan or Van conversion.
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Easy to install with instructions included .
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Designed to provide decades of uninterrupted power with no maintenance required.
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25-Year limited solar panel output power warranty.
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Need more power to complete your solar setup? You got it! Connect 3 panels for 570 watts with the same controller.
Overlander Solar Charging Expansion Kit
MODEL: OVERLANDER
The Overlander allows you to enjoy the peace and quiet without a generator, and no longer worry about draining your batteries while away from grid power. The Go Power! Overlander is the largest single 12-volt solar charging kit on the market, with 190 watts and 9.3 amps of power charging capability. This powerful battery charger is great for maintaining the charge in all types of batteries and is ideal for extended RVing or dry-camping.
Included in the Overlander Expansion Kit:
- 190W solar module
- 30-amp dual-bank, Bluetooth® PWM Solar Controller *
- 25 of MC4 output cable – RED
- 25 of MC4 output cable – BLACK
- Mounting hardware
*If you have the GP-PWM-30-UL controller WITHOUT Bluetooth, please check for the User Manual and Spec Sheet.
Specifications
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Choose A Solar Charge Controller
There are 2 main flavors of charge controllers that are on the market today.
- PWM Solar Charge Controllers
- MPPT Solar Charge Controllers
Choosing this charge controller will allow you to either maximize your budget or maximize your output. MPPT charge controllers are better and will allow you to store more power in your RV batteries. PWM charge controllers are less efficient but are about 25% of the cost of a comparable amperage controller. For the most part PWM controllers on allowing for parallel wiring where an MPPT controller can allow for series wiring, series-parallel, and parallel wiring, thus offering you even more choices in system design.
For more information on system design check out these articles:
- Issues with series solar panel wiring
- Designing RV solar system wiring design
- Choosing the best charge controller for your RV solar system
Watt Solar Panel By Go Power
The 190 Watt Solar Panel is the bare panel only, if you need an RV solar kit please visit the 190 Watt Solar Kits instead. The solar module from Go Power! is a monocrystalline unit that provides outstanding performance. It is a high-efficiency and cost effective choice for solar power for high-end off-grid and mobile applications.
The Go Power solar modules are built to last and features a 25-year limited power output warranty.
Durable To ensure long life, the high-efficiency solar cells are encapsulated between a special tempered, low-iron solar glass and a Tedlar®/polyester backing material. The mounting frame, manufactured from anodized marine-grade aluminum, allows the panel to be installed in extreme conditions.
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Choose A Solar Panel Type
Right now the main two sizes of solar panels used on RVs are 190-watt panels and 100-watt solar panels. These are the most efficient panels and are sized as follows:
- 190-wattsolar panel rated at 9.3 Amps:Go Power 190 Width 59.06 Inches X 26.3 InchesThis panel is 10.79 square feet and produces 17.60 watts per square foot
- 100-watt solar panel rated at 5.43 Amps:Go Power 100 Width 47.09 Inches X 21.46 InchesThis solar panel is 7.02 square feet and produces 14.25 watts per square foot
Go Power Overlander 190 Watt Solar Kit
The Overlander solar charging kit 190 Watts is the largest and most popular single panel 12-volt solar kit from Go Power! The roof-mounted monocrystalline panel provides energy even in low light conditions. The Overlander is ideal for extended RVing or dry camping and an excellent alternative to grid power. Quickly and easily install the solar panel on the roof of your vehicle or boat and no longer worry about draining your batteries dry again.
The 190W solar charging kit provides enough clean DC power to charge your RV’s batteries. With an additional inverter, the kit can be promptly converted to power appliances and smaller electronics.
If youre an owner of the solar ready travel trailer from Jayco overlander solar kit is just right for you. This powerful battery charger is great for Jayco customers and has all the necessary connections.
This 190w solar panel comes from Go Power!, a world-renowned leader in the mobile solar energy market. Its products are guaranteed to be of the highest quality. PROUDLY MADE IN THE USA.
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Charging And Protecting Rv Battery Bank
The solar controller prevents harmful overcharging by adjusting the power generated by the solar panel before it reaches your batteries. It uses pulse width modulation technology to regulate the output through pulses that provide a consistent charge. Typically, this type of technology is a good fit for smaller systems with lower voltages.
Using a multistage charging system, the controller automatically switches voltages while the battery bank charges. This accelerates the charge, but also helps extend battery life by adjusting the voltage during the different modes. The controller is compatible with multiple battery types and includes preset charging profiles for sealed/gel, AGM, flooded/wet cell, and lithium batteries.
Charging Modes
See How Go Power Solar Works
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Go Power 190 Watt Solar Panel
$447.99
Product OverviewMODEL: GP-PV-190MThe Go Power 190 watt Solar Panel is a high-efficiency monocrystalline solar module that provides outstanding performance and cost-effective solar power for high-end off-grid and mobile applications. This solar module is built to last and features a 25-year limited power output warranty.
To ensure long life, the high-efficiency solar cells are encapsulated between a special tempered, low-iron solar glass and a Tedlar/polyester backing material. The mounting frame, manufactured from anodized marine-grade aluminum, allows the GP-PV-190M to be installed in extreme conditions.
The GP-PV-190M is ideal for:
RV/Marine
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