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Power Used: How Much Power Do I Need?

Getting an RV solar power system installed, you will have to know how much power you need (and how much power you don’t). You can slam every inch of your RV with solar panels, but it is best to utilize the panels efficiently. On the other hand, underestimating the panels you have, can mean running out of power or having to use a generator when you would rather not have to.

If your RV battery isn’t lasting as long as it needs to be, you can always increase its battery capacity output. But be aware of your RV’s size, weight capacity, and most important, how much electricity you may need, for instance towing a boat or SUV.

Determining Your RV Power Usage

To determine how much power you might require, you need to calculate how much energy you will use in a day. There are a few ways to do this.

Method 1

This is a lot of people’s least preferred method. You have to determine how much power you use in a day; adding up the total usage, and using the sum to determine how many solar panels you need.

Calculate Your Watts Used Per Day

The biggest issue with this method is that you’re left to estimate how many watts your appliances use in a day. Most of us don’t time ourselves on how long it takes us to make a cup of coffee, check our email, or charge our phones. These numbers can always vary. Maybe you’re on the internet an hour a day, except when it’s raining, you’ll most likely spend a good part of an afternoon watching movies. Even if you see the wattage stamped on your appliances, you will still have to estimate how many hours you’re using them each day.

Considering these, this probably isn’t the most accurate or reliable method for finding out how much power you use.

Method 2

Probably the best way to figure out how much power you use is to actually go camping. (This is also more fun than an excel spreadsheet.) If you can take multiple camping trips, the better. Simply follow these steps to find out how much power, on average, your family uses in a day:

Step 1: Just go camping, you don’t have solar; so just camp like you normally would, checking email, microwaving food, watching late night movies, etc.

Step 2: Purchase a battery monitor to record your battery usage. lead-acid batteries are required to be above 50% for optimum output. Going below this mark can reduce your battery’s lifespan.

Step 3: Take notes to determine how much power your family typically consumes in a day. Day one could be more outside activities, with less power. But, day two could be movie night or facetime with friends.

Should You Consider Solar Power For Your RV?

If you can’t make it through at least a day without draining your battery, you consider adding to solar to your arsenal. Ideally, with solar, you should be able to go at least 2-3 days before your battery is drained.

Step 1: Just go camping, you don’t have solar; so just camp like you normally would, checking email, microwaving food, watching late night movies, etc.

Step 2: Purchase a battery monitor to record your battery usage. lead-acid batteries are required to be above 50% for optimum output. Going below this mark can reduce your battery’s lifespan.

Step 3: Take notes to determine how much power your family typically consumes in a day. Day one could be more outside activities, with less power.

RV Solar Installation In Mesa

Cliff’s Welding offers a variety of RV accessories. This includes advanced braking systems, rv solar panel installation. Solar power is just one of the ways to make your RV truly your weekend escape vehicle and not be tied down. Call Cliff’s today to get started on your RV solar today at 480-832-0570.