Putting A Solar Panel On The Travel Trailer

A solar charge controller.

Putting a solar panel on the travel trailer.

Put in the control box. Safety is your number one priority so remove all batteries. Assemble the braces and frames then. Whiel most of these models are newer even older rvs can be outfitted with solar panels pretty easily.

Rv solar panels can also help extend your battery life cut down on generator use and even save money in the long run on propane. This device takes the power the panels have created and sends it to your rv s battery system controlling how much power the batteries get so as to avoid overcharging. Rigid panels typically must be affixed to the roof with screws. Mounting solar panels to a rubber rv roof the most common rv roof type is rubber made out of a material known as epdm or tpo.

The rv solar panels convert the sun s energy to power which is channeled in wires that link the panels together and take the power down to your rv. The sheet of rubber lays over a layer of wood so the best way to mount solar panels to this type of roof is to screw them in with lag bolts. That panel is rated at 100 watts at peak efficiency meaning on a 78 degree cloudless day at solar noon on the equator during the equinox. The procedures step 1.

From the solar controller on the panel inside the storage compartment i ran a positive and negative 10 wire through the trailer floor and connected these wires to the exterior plug see photo. When you are done on the roof it s time to think about where to install the control box. By doing this first we can make sure the route will work as planned before we have mounted any of the other components. If you don t have an rv that comes solar prepped then you can get help from a variety of retailers who will help you outfit your rig with the necessary equipment.

Disconnect the rv batteries and measure the roof. Many rvs come prepped for the addition of solar panels. Solar panels are sold in varying sizes but a 100 watt panel is a commonly found size particularly for rvs. But before the power gets to your coach it has to make a couple of pit stops.

Once you have a placement strategy carefully drill the necessary holes and run the two solar panel cables along the planned route. The first step in installing a solar kit is mounting your rv panels. The red wires are from the solar panels that connect into the solar controller.