RV Solar Panel Kits
Solar panels for RVs (Recreational Vehicles) make it possible for you to either recharge batteries, or to power electric devices, while
you are on the road or traveling off the beaten track in an RV.
The amount of power supplied will depend on the size of the
solar panels you get, and on their intended usage.
Following is a brief discussion of different types of devices and of the different sizes of solar panels. This should
give you an idea of what might suitable for your needs.
Trickle Charging RV Batteries
Even when batteries are not in use, they slowly discharge over time.
To keep the batteries of your RV at peak performance during periods where you are not using it,
a small solar-powered trickle charger will do just fine.
In most cases, you can hook the panels up
to the batteries temporarily or permanently, as appropriate. In some cars the panels can be connected
straight to the battery, through the cigarette lighter socket of the car.
Examples of Solar Trickle Chargers:
- The Sunsei SE-135
- This is a small portable solar charger designed to maintain 12 volt batteries. It is ideally suited to maintain batteries at their full capacity.
- The Sunsei 400 - This device is suitable for maintaining charge on batteries for vans, RVs, or boats. It is for any vehicle that carries more powerful electronics (such as small appliances, bilge pumps, etc.) and thus creates a heavier drain on the battery. (The Sunsei 400 slowly charges larger 12V deep-cycle batteries, protecting them through long storage periods.)
- The Solio Charger - The Solio Classic Charger is a another small charger. A special feature of this solar charger is that it has its own rechargeable batteries built in. This means you do not have to have an electrical device connected to it, in order to use the sunlight. You can charge the Soloi's internal batteries, and use them charge your device later. The Solio Charger is technically a "hybrid charger," as you can either charge it using solar energy
(sunrays) or you can charge it directly from a wall socket. The Solio Clasic can be used to trickle
charge batteries, but it can also be used to recharge cell phones, MP3s, iPods, Digital cameras and many
more small devices.
- Brunton Solarport 4.4 - This is another solar charger that can be used as a trickle charger, though it is more suited to recharging small electrical devices such as cell phones, iPods, MP3 players, AA or AAA batteries, used to charge during daylight hours.
Larger Capacity Solar Panels
You might be looking for solar powered chargers capable of recharging a dead and fully-drained battery,
or of charging multiple batteries. You want to operate several electrical appliances on solar energy,
In this case, you need a more powerful device than the above mentioned chargers.
Some of these chargers are still portable, consisting of foldable solar panels. Others are more
rigid and can be mounted on the roof of an RV or even a small cabin.
- The Sunsei SE-1200 - This is a much more powerful solar panel. A single Sunsei SE-1200 can generate enough power to fully
recharge 12v batteries or run a 12v lighting system. What’s more, several Sunsei SE 1200 Chargers can be connected to each other,
to increase the power output. Because of this increased power output, you will need a charge controller which will protect
your batteries from overcharging and prevent a reverse current from the battery to the solar panel.
- Sunsei Solar Charger SE-4000 or SE-8000 - The Sunsei 4000 and 8000 provide 4 amperes, and 8 amperes, respectively. (See this glossary for more information on what an ampere is). The Sunsei SE-8000 is also sold in sets of two or three, to provide 16 or 24 amps. This would be almost as good as replacing a small generator. The most usual set up would involve a hybrid system (which gives the the possibility to switch from solar power to generator when needed). This would be ideal if, at times,
you have to run equipment with a heavy power drain. Whereas Brunton and Coleman also have larger chargers, they are of the more portable and foldable type, and are not as powerful as the Sunsei line. This does not mean that there won't be more powerful ones out in short order.
Aside from being a clean energy source, solar power does not generate any noise, and is therefore a
quiet alternative to a relatively noisy generator.
Solar Power Store
You can also visit our Solar Power Store to find a wide variety of solar panels, solar battery chargers, and other solar-powered equipment.
