RV Solar Panel Calculator 12V: How Much Power
Estimate your RV energy needs with our solar panel calculator 12v. Find the right setup for weekend trips, boondocking, or full-time travel.
Reference: Basic RV (2,000-3,000 Wh) • Moderate Use (3,000-5,000 Wh) • Heavy Use (5,000+ Wh) Solar panels convert sunlight into DC electricity, which charges your battery bank through a charge controller. An inverter converts stored DC power to AC power for household appliances. The system operates independently of shore power or generators.
Use this solar calculator to size your campervan or RV camper solar setup. If your device doesn't specify watts, use the watt calculator to convert amps and volts. List each device - every electrical component - its usage in watts, maximum number of hours used each day & if it's an AC or DC model.
Running AC on solar requires a substantial system. A 15K BTU unit needs 1,500W+ and would require 2,400W+ of panels plus 800Ah+ of LiFePO4 batteries for meaningful runtime. Many RVers use solar for everything except AC, running generators only for cooling. What happens during cloudy weather or winter?
The RV solar calculator provides the minimum size solar components needed based on the information entered. How do I know all the electrical devices I'll use? Getting a complete list of electrical appliances, devices and components you'll use in your RV is the most critical part of sizing the electrical system.
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