What can rv solar panels run? More than you think

A lot of people want to know what kind of items you can run on an RV solar system. That is because solar systems are kind of foreign to the average user, in fact many people have never operated or been somewhere that they had to be responsible for the amount of power that they used. When you are running items on an RV solar system you are very in tune with how much power your batteries can hold and your solar panels can produce. This is a very different situation than being able to get limitless amounts of power from the power grid. However there are some real benefits of unplugging and going off-grid, for example, you can still run many of the items that you would like to wow having better views and fewer telephone poles to look at oh, my pet peeve. When you are trying to calculate the total load of items that you want to run it is important to know how long the item will run for and how many amps or Watts the item uses also it is important to know what voltage it will operate at. For example, an inverter would produce 120 volts for you to operate household loads, but these inverter loads will use more power from the no-load draw and also the inefficiency of power conversion. A 12-volt direct current load will always be more efficient because it does not have any no-load draws. Items like your water pump, fan, LED light, and 12-volt outlet all operate directly off your battery in your RV for the most part. Items like coffee pots microwaves and air conditioners operate at 120 volts. These may or may not be reasonable to power went off-grid on an inverter system.

Common items run in an RV on solar

Video Games

One of the many ways to kill time when the weather is cooperating while you are out RVing is to play video games. Find out…
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Rice Cooker

Rice cookers are quite common devices in an RV kitchen. See how much power is needed.
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Induction Cooktop

Many RVers have switched to induction cooktops because they are easy and more precise than hot plates. See what you need to get started.
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LCD Projector

Projectors are a great way to watch movies when camping. Have a large enough screen for everyone to watch right on the side of your…
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Sewing Machines

Enjoy sewing on the road while you travel, get information on running a sewing machine while off-grid.
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TV

Everyone needs a little TV when camping, even if it is just to watch the latest weather report. Get the skinny on running a television…
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Vacuum Cleaners

Vacuum Cleaners are often needed in RVs. The fight never ends when working to remove sand and dirt when out boondocking. Many users need to…
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Cusinart Bread Maker

Bread Maker

Running an electric bread maker on an off-grid system will use power for an extended period of time. Learn what will bake your bread.
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Here are the components you need to build an RV solar system

Every solar system is built using the same basic components. From batteries to panels each piece has a place and a function in the system. The basic solar charging portion will work to keep the house batteries charges using only the power of the sun. The charged batteries can then be used to operate lights, water pumps, refrigerators and more. Below you will find a group of items that we find in RVs when the owner is boondocking. Each has its own electrical specifications and operational times. These will impact runtime and solar system design.

Solar cable entry plate

A prewired cable entry plate on an RV is a simple way to have your RV solar-ready without the need to run additional wires into…
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Solar extension cables

Solar extension cables are designed to extend the solar circuit some length. These cables allow for additional panels to be installed some distance from the…
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Solar charge controller remote panel

Charge controller remote

A remote for a solar charge controller allows the user to remotely read the output of their solar panels. These are usually installed where they…
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