Our RV solar calculator will help you estimate how much solar power you need based on your RV’s electrical appliances and your typical power usage. You can also adjust the parameters such as battery capacity, panel efficiency, and sun hours to see how they affect your solar needs.

With our RV solar calculator, you can plan your RV solar system with confidence and enjoy the freedom of off-grid living. Try it now for free!

How to Use the RV Solar Calculator

This rv solar system calculator is designed to help you calculate the total daily energy consumption of your RV in kWh.

We have collected and listed most of the ac appliances used in a caravan and their power ratings.

Select the wattage and daily hours of use of the appliances in your RV, or select ‘None’ if you don’t have any.

If you don’t see a specific appliance and its wattage in the list, you can fill in the input field yourself.

The calculator will then work out the total amount of power you use each day.

Below this, it will suggest the number of watts of solar panels that are necessary on the basis of your total power requirements.

Appliances used in a RV

Just like living in your own home, living in a RV and Camper involves the use of many ac power appliances such as fridge, TV, Microwave, coffee makers, laptops, air conditioners and Dryers.

The RV is powered by batteries and can be charged using AC chargers, solar kits, DC to DC battery chargers and alternators.

Electricity consumption is measured in watt hours and kilowatt hours, where kilowatt-hours are thousand watt-hours. 

The sum of all power used is the total number of watt-hours, and you can find it in your electricity bills.

RV Solar Power System Terminology

RV solar panel system consists of battery bank, charge controller, inverter,solar panels and other components.

Charge Controller is used to manage and transfer energy generated from PV to the battery bank and ensure it’s not overcharged.

Solar charge controller, also known as solar generator, is rated in amps and volts.  

Solar battery is a type of deep-cycle battery used in RVs to store solar energy. The most commonly used battery type lately are lead acid and lithium batteries.

Solar battery is rated by Voltage and amp hours (Ah), 50 Ah, 100 Ah, 200 Ah are the most common size.

Inverter is used for converting the DC power in to AC power in order to power the electrical devices.

The solar panels will be installed on the roof of your RV. Single 100 to 300 watt panels are the most common.

number of solar panels wil based on how much power you need.

How do I calculate how much solar I need for my RV?

Before the RV solar setup, you must have ideal of how much power use in the RV and what percentage of your electricity you want to be solar.

you will list and calculate all the appliance used in the RV and their total watt hours.

other factors to consider are solar charge controller size, charge controller efficiency, inverter efficiency,battery bank size and rv roof size.

the best way to calculate is use our online calculator.

How much solar power do you need to run AC in an RV?

The size of a caravan air conditioning (AC) unit depends on the size of the caravan and is usually between 500 W and 1500 W.

For example, to run a 1500W air conditioner (cooling or heating) for 3 hours, it would require 4500 watt hours of electricity, and to drive it, it would require 5000W of solar panels working at full power for one hour.

How Does RV Solar Power Work?What number should I use for Sun Hours ?

The number of hours per day your RV is exposed to sunlight determines the solar panels’ efficiency. We recommend using the “region selection” to located where you live and with it sun hours parameter in our RV solar calculator to calculate how much solar power your system requires.

What is the best RV Solar Calculator?

There are a few solar calculators available online. One of the best is our RV solar calculator which can help you work out how much power your system will require to run appliances in your RV.

How can I use a solar calculator to save money on my RV?

The solar calculator will give you a clear idea of how much energy your RV will need in total to maintain a home-like experience, and if you are switching to a solar system, number of panels you will need and whether they will be able to provide enough power. 

This will help you make better decisions and save money by avoiding waste.

Our RV solar calculator will help you estimate how much solar power you need based on your RV’s electrical appliances and your typical power usage. You can also adjust the parameters such as battery capacity, panel efficiency, and sun hours to see how they affect your solar needs.

With our RV solar calculator, you can plan your RV solar system with confidence and enjoy the freedom of off-grid living. Try it now for free!