Hey everyone! I just bought an RV and I'm looking to outfit it with a solid solar setup since I plan to use it off-grid. It's going to be shipped to Hawaii to sit on my new piece of land, and I know absolutely nothing about solar systems. I'm considering a 4000 watt setup, but I'm not sure if that's too much. I want the RV to be comfortable but it doesn't need to be super fancy. Also, I'm okay with buying used gear and looking for someone local around Colorado Springs who can help with the installation. Any advice or assistance would be awesome. Thanks! ?
2 Answers
First things first, figure out what appliances you want to run and add up their usage. This will help you size your solar system correctly. From there, you can determine how much solar power you’ll actually need to ensure everything runs smoothly.
To get started, you need to know if your RV is wired for 30A or 50A service, as well as how often you plan on using things like air conditioning or heat pumps. Those will really impact your power needs. Also, consider the size of your RV and its roof space for solar panels. If you're looking for local help, I recommend reaching out to Explorist.life in Steamboat Springs – they specialize in installs and do great work. My suggestion for the setup would be a 24V system with a Victron Multiplus ii 3kva inverter. You'll also need multiple smart solar MPs based on your panel configuration and around 600Ah of Lifepo4 batteries. Depending on how much you do yourself, budget around $8-10K for the whole thing.
Thanks for the info! That's super helpful to get me started. ?