Solar How-To – Steps for Installing Solar Panels on an RV

By Sean Burton

Thousands of recreational vehicle owners have joined the movement toward clean, renewable energy. Thanks to modern solar technology, RV owners have more freedom when traveling off-grid without relying on gas generators or commercial campsite hookups.

DIY RV solar panel kits make converting to solar convenient and economical. While installing a system requires careful planning and advanced handyman skills, doing it yourself saves substantial money over professional shop installation fees.

Step-by-Step Roof Installation Guide

1. Disconnect All Power Sources: Turn off all 12V DC loads and disconnect the negative terminal on your house battery bank before handling wiring.
2. Cover the Solar Panels: Keep solar panels covered with cardboard or dark blankets during mounting. Photovoltaic cells generate voltage immediately when exposed to sunlight.
3. Mark the Roof Layout: Position panels on the roof and mark perimeter boundaries. Ensure panel placement doesn't block roof vents, plumbing stacks, or TV antennas.
4. Drill Mounting Holes Carefully: Check interior ceiling spaces for hidden wiring before drilling pilot holes for aluminum solar panel Z-brackets.
5. Seal Roof Penetrations: Apply generous amounts of self-leveling Dicor lap sealant beneath each mounting bracket and over screw heads to prevent roof leaks.
6. Secure Panels to Brackets: Mount the panels to the secured roof brackets using stainless steel hardware, torquing fasteners to manufacturer specifications.
7. Mount the Charge Controller: Install an MPPT solar charge controller inside a well-ventilated interior wall or cabinet near the battery compartment.
8. Run PV Extension Wiring: Route heavy-gauge 10 AWG solar extension cables from the roof array into the coach (via a refrigerator vent stack or cable entry gland) and connect to the solar controller input.
9. Connect Controller to Battery Bank: Wire the charge controller output directly to your deep-cycle battery terminals, ensuring correct positive and negative polarity.
10. Reconnect Main Battery: Reattach your house battery bank negative cable.
11. Uncover the Solar Panels: Remove panel covers. The charge controller display should light up and indicate active charging power.

Properly securing solar arrays is vital – wind resistance at highway speeds can tear loose unanchored panels. Expanding your setup is simple as power needs grow; additional panels can be added in parallel as long as roof space and charge controller amperage limits allow.

See also:

• RV Solar Panels & Charging Systems – Overview of solar kits, controllers, and pure sine wave inverters.
• RV Solar Panels – How to Get Started – Sizing solar arrays, matching wire gauges, and battery integration.
• RV Battery Life Expectancy & Care – Depth of discharge, 6V vs 12V banks, and battery maintenance.
• RV Solar Schematics at The RVers Corner – Detailed 12V solar wiring diagrams, wire size charts, and fuse placement guides.

Article Source: EzineArticles – Sean Burton