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In the summer months, solar radiation is particularly strong and worthwhile for a solar system. But the people are not home at all – they are on vacation. Some are looking for a specific travel destination, while others travel across the country in their mobile home, wherever it takes them.
But even such a mobile home consumes electricity. After all, it contains all the necessary equipment to get by with it for several days. And of course, there are also electricity charges here, which must be paid at parking lots and campsites. The solar powered generator system on the mobile home is a welcome solution to save electricity costs and gain more independence.
Solar modules on the caravan provide more freedom and are environmentally friendly. They are mounted on the roof, and if that’s not enough, there are also additional foldable units to take away.
But are the modules on the roof enough? How much power is required?
It depends on the correct dimensioning of the solar system and the storage tank. Some motorhomes are already equipped with an integrated photovoltaic system. If you retrofit the required power, you have to calculate it yourself. It depends on your power requirements and the travel destination. You can use the solar power calculators to estimate how much power you need each day.
Many modules with 50-200 watts are enough; others need higher power with 1000-2000 W to supply all devices.
It depends on the power requirement
It is impossible to say exactly how many watts a photovoltaic system needs for a mobile home. Because the performance depends solely on how much electricity you use per day. You should therefore calculate your power consumption for a day beforehand, which then provides information about your daily power requirements and the required capacity of the PV system.
To determine the power used by the solar system, you first note all the devices in your caravan, their wattage, and the average usage time. Your daily energy requirement is then based on the following formula:
- Power x time = energy consumption
An example: There is guaranteed to be a refrigerator in your mobile home. This one is on all day and has 32W. You now multiply both factors and get a rough energy consumption of 768Wh.
Then maybe you also have a TV with you. This has 20W, and you watch TV 2 hours a day. The energy consumption here is 40W per day.
Other possible devices: TV, refrigerator, hotplate, oven, lighting, water, charging batteries, heating, internet, fan, air conditioning, coffee machine, etc.
The total energy consumption of your devices is then added up at the end. The sum determines the size of the off grid solar system used.
Which solar modules for the mobile home?
Size
The modules do not always reach the rated output because solar radiation is not always the same. The actual yield depends on the weather and region.
A 100W module achieves an average of 400Wh in the German summer but only 50Wh in the winter. Between 200Wh and 300Wh are reached in the spring and autumn months. So if you plan to drive through Germany in summer, you can reach approx. 800Wh with two 100W modules. You can even achieve 1200Wh with your modules on a trip through Spain.
If this does not match your power requirements, you can opt for modules with more watts or take additional foldable modules with you.
Attachment
Of course, when it comes to dimensions, it also depends on how much space the roof of your motorhome has. Only modules should be purchased that are also especially suitable for mobile homes because these can handle voltage better, have increased water protection, and have a lower no-load voltage.
There are two ways of attaching solar panels to the roof of the motorhome: either using a bracket or glued flat to the roof.
Type of solar panels
For the best possible solar system performance on the mobile home, you should also consider the type of solar system and which solar panels it is equipped with because each type has certain advantages and disadvantages.
- Monocrystalline solar panels are optimal for an RV, as they maintain a high-efficiency level despite their small area.
- On the other hand, polycrystalline solar panels need more surface area for better performance but are cheaper than the alternatives.
- CIS solar panels perform well in shadow or dim lighting conditions but are more expensive and slightly heavier.
The right charge controller
But the solar modules are not the only components whose dimensions must be decided. The charge controller must also match the system. It must be able to endure peak power when all devices are switched on at the same time. The sum of the outputs of all consumer devices is decisive here.
The charge controller ensures that the battery is not overcharged. System and charge controller are sometimes also available as a set.
We recommend 12V modules for 12V devices. If you use 230V devices, you also need a converter.
Which battery?
The battery stores the electricity produced. It should maintain its capacity over many charge cycles. Lithium rv batteries are best suited for this, as they are much more robust than lead batteries.
The capacity of the battery is given in Ah (ampere hour). This is calculated by dividing the daily energy requirement by the voltage (volts).
- Ah = Wh: V
So you have to divide the sum of the watt-hours by the devices by the given voltage, then you get your required battery capacity. With 12 volt batteries and a daily energy requirement of 1500Wh, this is easily around 125Ah. Oversizing is up to 30% advantageous because the calculated Ah only represents the minimum power.
Conclusion: Is a solar system worth it for the mobile home?
There are many factors to consider when installing a solar system on your RV. But with the right information, it’s doable!
A typical solar system pays for itself in just a few years and saves you money for decades. In addition, solar energy is clean and renewable.
The capacity of the RV solar system should be 1.25 times the battery capacity. This is because lead-acid batteries take longer to charge than lithium batteries. For example, if the camper has a 220 Ah lead-acid battery, the solar system should have at least 275 W.
However, it is recommended to install 300W solar panels to be on the safe side. With a 300 W solar system, the camper should have no problem fully charging the lead battery.
With lithium batteries, the capacity of the solar array is not that important because they do not need to be fully charged all the time. Nevertheless, the battery capacity is recommended to install a solar system 1.25 times. This ensures that the lithium battery is always sufficiently charged.
