Many RVers are interested in having a Solar system on their RV. However, many RVers have been put off by the expense of having a Solar system installed, especially, by the high costs associated with having an RV Dealer install a system for them.
Installing a Solar system on an RV doesn't have to cost an "arm and a Leg" today. Solar panel costs have dropped by over 80% since 2010 and over the past few years the cost for Lithium batteries (LiFePO4) have dropped to the point of being competitive with AGM or even Lead Acid batteries (see Forum link below).
Lithium-over-Lead-Acid-batteries
Obviously, the best way to reduce the cost of a system is to do most of the work yourself. However, you can still get a great system installed affordably, even if, you hire someone to do the parts that you are not able to do yourself. Additionally, installing your system over a few camping seasons is also a good way to reduce the costs and keep your wallet happy. In the Forum Post: "How to Install Solar in Phases" (linked below) there are many ideas on where to start and how to save money by designing your "finished" system before you start buying components. Having your whole system planned out in the beginning will help keep you from buying components for the system you have today and needing to replace them before you get your final system installed. A good example is your Inverter, you could buy a 1,500 Watt Inverter that will handle all your needs for the next couple of years, however, if you designed your final system around a 3,000 Watt Inverter/Charger, you are going to wind up with a slightly used 1,500 Watt Inverter for sale on Craigs List for $50.
Installing-a-Solar-System-in-Phases
Another way to reduce costs is by using "residential" Solar panels instead of the more common (in the RV world) 100 - 200 Watt Renogy, Furrion or NewPowa panels. If you shop for residential panels in the 325 to 425 Watt range you will find the price of the solar panels are around $0.55 cents per Watt (440 Watt Canadian Solar Panel for $238 = $0.54 per watt [Feb 10, 2023]). The one caveat with choosing any Solar panel for your RV is to make certain they will fit on your roof (I recommend making cardboard cutouts of your prospective panels [include space for mounting brackets] and test fit them on your roof before ordering the panels). See Forum post: "Using Residential Solar Panels on Your Camper" (link below).
Using-Residental-Solar-Panels-on-Your-Camper
The final components that have really made installing a Solar system more affordable in the past couple of years is Lithium Batteries (LiFePo4). These Lithium batteries store twice as much energy as Lead Acid batteries and they weigh less than 1/2 as much. They also charge up extremely fast and maintain a higher voltage during the discharge cycle. Speaking of discharge cycles, these Lithium batteries will last 10 times as long as a Lead Acid battery with cycle ratings above 4,000, vs.: 200 - 300 for a Lead Acid battery.
Lithium battery prices have really dropped over the past few years; from around $1,000 for a 12 volt, 100 amp hour (ah) battery to $259 (includes shipping) for a 12v, 100ah Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery. These batteries are Lithium Iron Phosphate chemistry and not Lithium Ion chemistry. Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePo4) batteries are safer than the Lithium Ion batteries you are familiar with that can catch on fire and have been the subject of many high profile recalls (Samsung, Chevy Bolt).
There is a really good discussion about the advantages of Lithium batteries and why you might consider purchasing the lower cost batteries that are available today in the Forum Post: "Cheap Batteries Are Coming, Cheap Batteries Are Coming, Cheap Lithium Batteries are Coming" (link below).
Cheap-Batteries-are-Coming-Cheap-Batteries-are-Coming-Cheap-Lithium-Batteries?
Here is a more recent post showing more recent pricing (Feb. 2023):
Cheap-Lithium-Batterues-New-Lowest-Price-as-of-Feb-23
Many people have had good results with these lower priced Lithium batteries. Here is a Forum posting of some of their results:
Cheap-Lithium-Batteries-Do-You-Have-Them-Do-You-Like-Them?
All-in all, if you choose the right components, and you are judicious in your spending, you can build yourself a Very, Very, affordable Solar system that will meet your family's needs for as long as you own your camper.
Installing a Solar system on an RV doesn't have to cost an "arm and a Leg" today. Solar panel costs have dropped by over 80% since 2010 and over the past few years the cost for Lithium batteries (LiFePO4) have dropped to the point of being competitive with AGM or even Lead Acid batteries (see Forum link below).
Lithium-over-Lead-Acid-batteries
Obviously, the best way to reduce the cost of a system is to do most of the work yourself. However, you can still get a great system installed affordably, even if, you hire someone to do the parts that you are not able to do yourself. Additionally, installing your system over a few camping seasons is also a good way to reduce the costs and keep your wallet happy. In the Forum Post: "How to Install Solar in Phases" (linked below) there are many ideas on where to start and how to save money by designing your "finished" system before you start buying components. Having your whole system planned out in the beginning will help keep you from buying components for the system you have today and needing to replace them before you get your final system installed. A good example is your Inverter, you could buy a 1,500 Watt Inverter that will handle all your needs for the next couple of years, however, if you designed your final system around a 3,000 Watt Inverter/Charger, you are going to wind up with a slightly used 1,500 Watt Inverter for sale on Craigs List for $50.
Installing-a-Solar-System-in-Phases
Another way to reduce costs is by using "residential" Solar panels instead of the more common (in the RV world) 100 - 200 Watt Renogy, Furrion or NewPowa panels. If you shop for residential panels in the 325 to 425 Watt range you will find the price of the solar panels are around $0.55 cents per Watt (440 Watt Canadian Solar Panel for $238 = $0.54 per watt [Feb 10, 2023]). The one caveat with choosing any Solar panel for your RV is to make certain they will fit on your roof (I recommend making cardboard cutouts of your prospective panels [include space for mounting brackets] and test fit them on your roof before ordering the panels). See Forum post: "Using Residential Solar Panels on Your Camper" (link below).
Using-Residental-Solar-Panels-on-Your-Camper
The final components that have really made installing a Solar system more affordable in the past couple of years is Lithium Batteries (LiFePo4). These Lithium batteries store twice as much energy as Lead Acid batteries and they weigh less than 1/2 as much. They also charge up extremely fast and maintain a higher voltage during the discharge cycle. Speaking of discharge cycles, these Lithium batteries will last 10 times as long as a Lead Acid battery with cycle ratings above 4,000, vs.: 200 - 300 for a Lead Acid battery.
Lithium battery prices have really dropped over the past few years; from around $1,000 for a 12 volt, 100 amp hour (ah) battery to $259 (includes shipping) for a 12v, 100ah Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery. These batteries are Lithium Iron Phosphate chemistry and not Lithium Ion chemistry. Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePo4) batteries are safer than the Lithium Ion batteries you are familiar with that can catch on fire and have been the subject of many high profile recalls (Samsung, Chevy Bolt).
There is a really good discussion about the advantages of Lithium batteries and why you might consider purchasing the lower cost batteries that are available today in the Forum Post: "Cheap Batteries Are Coming, Cheap Batteries Are Coming, Cheap Lithium Batteries are Coming" (link below).
Cheap-Batteries-are-Coming-Cheap-Batteries-are-Coming-Cheap-Lithium-Batteries?
Here is a more recent post showing more recent pricing (Feb. 2023):
Cheap-Lithium-Batterues-New-Lowest-Price-as-of-Feb-23
Many people have had good results with these lower priced Lithium batteries. Here is a Forum posting of some of their results:
Cheap-Lithium-Batteries-Do-You-Have-Them-Do-You-Like-Them?
All-in all, if you choose the right components, and you are judicious in your spending, you can build yourself a Very, Very, affordable Solar system that will meet your family's needs for as long as you own your camper.
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