Summer brings a host of amazing opportunities that just
aren’t there during the colder winter months. As soon as the ground begins to
thaw and the temps get above freezing, we’re the first to pack up our bags and
hit the road to begin exciting new journey. Sometimes our journey is right in
our backyard at a local hiking spot or biking trail. Other times, our summer
journeys take us to remote places, those places where we simply don’t want to
be “found.” In this new age of electronics, where people are expected to be
constantly available, it’s nice to take a break and go off-grid. Sure, your
boss won’t be able to find you, but you’ll get a well-deserved mental and
emotional break for the hum of everyday life.
If you own an RV, no doubt you’ll take it on a summer road
trip. Since fuel prices have declined, it’s a less costly alternative to
purchasing airfare for an entire family. Adding to that, you won’t have to pay
for an expensive hotel room, which can run upwards of $300 per night. Many camp
grounds charge around 10% of that for electrical and water hook ups each night.
There are some great RV parks located along the Appalachian Trail, Yellowstone,
and the Grand Canyon. But what do you do if you enjoy taking your RV on trips
but need to park away from an electrical hookup? Many state parks place certain
noise prohibitions, making it difficult or impossible to run a traditional gas
generator. Traditional generators also deplete fuel and emit pollution.
Solar panels are a cost-effective, long-term investment for
an RV, especially if you enjoy docking away from electrical hookups. Renogy
recommends installing smaller solar panels on RV rooftops, 100W or less. The
100W Monocrystalline or Monocrystalline Eclipse Solar Panels are great options,
both weighing less than 17lbs each. Theoretically, you can install as many
solar panels as possible that can fit within the roof space (assuming that they
meet weight restrictions). However, most people only choose to install 4. Since
many RV owners opt for the Eclipse Solar Panels, which are more efficient than
traditional panels, 4 panels may be all that are needed to continuously
maintain battery charge or power a few smaller appliances while off-grid.
So how do you get the solar panels installed on the RV
rooftop? Renogy sells Z-Brackets, lightweight aluminum brackets that are
designed specifically for Renogy off-grid solar panels. The Z-Brackets feature
predrilled holes, making installation simple. Regardless of the simplicity of
the Z-Brackets, Renogy always recommends that you use an RV professional to
perform the installation. If you do not use a professional, you will risk
unnecessary damage to the RV. You can also contact your RV dealer to see if
they offer installation services or are aware of a manufacturer or third party
professional that can safely take care of installation.
Renogy makes purchasing an off-grid RV solar kit simple.
Renogy offers five different RV kits, ranging in size from 100W-400W. Each RV
Kit contains 100W Eclipse Solar Panel(s), all the wiring necessary for the
system, Z-Brackets, a PWM Charge Controller, cable housing, and MC4 Branch
Connectors. You can upgrade to an MPPT Charge Controller or Open Brackets for
an additional charge. Each Kit contains all that is necessary to install a new
system, except the battery (which should already be in the RV).
For more information on Renogy RV Kits, visit: https://www.renogy.com/products/kits/rv-marine/
If you’d like to share your off-grid adventure with our marketing
team, send an email to [email protected].
