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More and more, RV enthusiasts want the freedom to travel off-grid while reducing their reliance on expensive, noisy fossil fuel generators. Solar panels, also called photovoltaics, are a game changer for energy independence. By harnessing the sun’s energy, you can save money, reduce air and noise pollution, and enjoy greater freedom while out on the road.
You also no longer have to worry about draining your motorhome batteries too much while parked. Whether you’re considering installing them on your existing RV or purchasing a model with built-in solar power, this guide will help you understand the costs, benefits, and best options available.
Benefits of Installing Solar Panels on Your RV
Here are some of the most important benefits of installing photovoltaics on your motorhome.
Savings
One of the primary benefits of using photovoltaics is the long-term savings you’ll enjoy. Your EcoFlow Rigid Photovoltaics can be expected to last 25 years or more. That means once your savings cover the cost of installing photovoltaics, you can enjoy clean, free energy for at least 20 years. No more going to the gas station to refill jerry cans with expensive fuel for noisy, smelly generators.
You will also enjoy other savings, like not paying electrical hookup fees at campgrounds. Using photovoltaics will also help extend the life of your RV batteries, reducing the frequency and cost of replacements.
Environmental Benefits
Using traditional generators is expensive and noisy, and they are also bad for the environment. They have a high carbon footprint, producing greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.
Fossil fuels also produce deadly pollutants like sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, and fine particulate matter that kill millions of people yearly and contribute to air, water, and soil pollution. Using them outdoors also causes noise pollution, disturbing the peaceful environment, and interfering with nesting birds and other animals.
EcoFlow Photovoltaics, on the other hand, are pollution-free and produce no greenhouse gas emissions, noise, or odors.
Convenience
Nothing is more convenient than waking up and putting on a pot of coffee using clean energy from your solar generator. There is no need to fill the generator, start it up, and wake your family with the noise. Instead, enjoy your coffee in peace and quiet. Then, let the sun recharge your solar battery anytime the sun shines.
Energy Independence
Photovoltaics give you the freedom to explore without needing to rely on campgrounds or noisy generators. This allows you to camp in more remote locations, including dry camping or boondocking, far from the crowds, and immerse yourself in nature without limitations or disruptions to the peaceful environment. They also allow you to stay off-grid for long periods without the need to purchase more costly fuel.
Increase RV Value
If you intend to sell your RV one day, installing photovoltaics will increase the resale value since many RV buyers are now looking for motorhomes that already have them installed.
Low-Maintenance
Once installed, photovoltaics need minimal maintenance other than a gentle wash with clean water once or twice a year to keep them running optimally. That’s far less maintenance than traditional generators.
How Much Does It Cost To Have Solar Panels Installed on an RV?
Installing photovoltaics on RVs requires purchasing the right equipment for the job and, in many cases, hiring the right professional to install them for you. The cost of it can vary widely, depending on several factors we will discuss below.
However, installing photovoltaics on your RV can generally cost anywhere from $500 to $15,000 or more, depending on the system size, components, installation method (DIY vs. professional), and energy needs.
What Affects The Pricing of RV Solar Panels?
System Size
Your system size significantly affects your cost since the larger the system, the more photovoltaics you need. More photovoltaics also mean a larger portable power station to store that energy so you can still have power at night or during especially poor weather. How many photovoltaics your RV needs depends entirely on your energy requirements.
Energy Requirements
Your energy needs will have an enormous impact on the size of the system you need. Running things like air conditioners or heaters will use much more power than those who just need to run a coffee maker and an electric grill.
To determine your energy needs, look at the rated watts of all your appliances and multiply that by the number of hours in a day they need to run. Add up those watt-hours, which will give you the required total capacity, which is the minimum size of the system you need.
However, you should always buy a system about 20% larger than your minimum needs to account for times when you need additional energy or when conditions are not optimal.
You still have additional options if you have higher energy needs than roof space. The EcoFlow Portable Photovoltaics are super convenient and easy to set up anywhere, and you can use them to supplement your roof solar system.
Bifacial photovoltaics are especially helpful when dealing with shade or limited space because they collect energy from both sides of the panel.
Type of Panel and Battery Storage
What kind of photovoltaics you get, polycrystalline, monocrystalline, or flexible panels, and their make and model will also affect your price. Just remember, cheaper seldom means better, especially with photovoltaics.
Cheap thin film or polycrystalline models have low conversion efficiencies, so you need more panels to produce the same energy. If your supplier offers poor warranties (less than 5 years), they probably won’t last long.
Purchasing battery storage is optional but highly recommended. Otherwise, you will not have power at night when the sun isn’t shining. The type of battery can also affect the price, with newer LiFePO4 batteries being the most efficient and lasting far longer than any others, but they come with a somewhat higher upfront cost.
However, given that you will need to replace a lead acid model 2-4 times before replacing that LiFePO4 just once, it is worth the extra cost for the enormous long-term savings you will enjoy.
RV Size and Design
Larger RVs or those with unique designs will require more panels and may require customized solutions, which can drive up the price due to specialized installations and additional labor.
DIY vs Professional Installation
If you have the skills and confidence to do the job yourself, you can save significant money by DIY compared to having professionals do the job for you.
What Type of Solar Panel Is Best for a Motorhome?
Polycrystalline vs. Monocrystalline vs. Flexible Panels
There are three primary options for photovoltaics. Polycrystalline models cost less. They’re cheaper to manufacture because they use multiple silicon crystals in each solar cell.
However, they have a lower conversion efficiency, between 16-19%, so you need more panels. They also have a poorer temperature coefficient, meaning they perform more poorly in hot weather and degrade faster, so they need replacing sooner.
Monocrystalline models cost only a bit more, but their conversion efficiencies are higher, in the 20-25% range, and they perform better in hot weather and won’t degrade as quickly. Models like the EcoFlow 400W Rigid Solar Panel are well worth the minimally higher price tag because you will produce more energy, and your system will last longer.
The other option for motorhomes is flexible panels. These models are ideal for installing on the curved surface on the front of many RVs. Many are made with thin-film technology, which has shorter lifespans and poor efficiencies in the 6-11% range. However, the EcoFlow 100W Flexible Solar Panel uses monocrystalline technology, boasting a 23% conversion efficiency, making it the superior choice for curved surfaces to maximize energy output and lifespan.
Best Motorhomes with Built-In Solar Panels
Photovoltaics are becoming so popular that many motorhomes now come with built-in panels. Here are some of the more popular models with built-in panels and some information on the quality of those systems.
The Jay Flight and Jay Feather RVs with the Overlander 1 solar package feature a 200W photovoltaic panel and 30A digital PWM Solar Controller. However, a single 200W panel may not be sufficient for your energy needs, and it has a less-efficient PWM solar controller.
These models would seriously benefit from an upgrade to one of the EcoFlow Solar Generators, which can be had with a 400W panel. Furthermore, all EcoFlow solar generators use the much more efficient MPPT charge controller.
The Eagle products, North Point, Pinnacle, Seismic, and Seismic Luxury Series, come with four 200W panels, two 100Ah lithium batteries, a 60A MPPT controller, and an inverter.
While they use the more efficient MPPT controller and multiple panels, their 200W panels are not the most efficient. They also appear to use lithium-ion rather than LiFePO4 batteries, which don’t last as long and may pose safety issues with thermal runaway.
The Travato by Winnebago 59G and 59GL offer their Pure3 Advanced Energy system that provides a decent amount of power at over 9,000 watt-hours. However, their 215-watt photovoltaics are not efficient, but they offer additional solar input plugs.
You could easily upgrade it with an EcoFlow 400W Rigid Solar Panel and stay off-grid longer. The other drawback is that they also use older lithium-ion batteries, which do not perform as well as much safer LiFePO4 models.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are! You can generate power to run your RV appliances and avoid paying electrical hookup fees at campgrounds. You can also go to more remote places for extended periods without having to buy and pack expensive fossil fuels with you to run noisy, smelly generators.
The best size panels depend entirely on your motorhome and your energy needs. However, opt for higher-rated power models like the 400W rigid panels installed on your roof. You can also purchase 100W flexible models on curved surfaces to maximize output.
Motorhome panels will last as long as they would if installed on your home roof. If you purchase high-quality monocrystalline models, you should get 25 to 30 years before noticing a significant decline in their output.
Final Thoughts
Switching to solar power for your motorhome is a wise investment that pays off in long-term savings, environmental benefits, and energy independence. Whether you install a custom setup or choose an RV with built-in panels, using high-quality monocrystalline photovoltaics and LiFePO4 batteries will maximize efficiency, safety, and durability.
If you are ready to upgrade your RV’s power system, explore top-rated EcoFlow Solar Generators with monocrystalline panels, LiFePO4 batteries, MPPT charge controllers, and built-in inverters for easy installation, maximum output, and a long lifespan. Then, you can make the most of your off-grid adventures!