Explanation of the parts in electrical systems using RV solar panels

This text is a small guide that will serve to explain the parts of an RV electrical scheme that is rigged to operate on renewable energy .  The goal is that you will be at ease enough with the parts to fit your own RV solar panels.  I will give details on each part.

Battery – the majority are 12 volts. They frequently say 12V, but in realism they are 13.8 volts.  The volt rating the manufacturer write on the battery itself has actually been rounded to a lower level.  This won’t affect you, as the majority of devices made to employ 12 volts are in fact intended for 13.8.  Note that one of the most power hungry devices in an RV is more often than not the microwave oven.  If you’re preparing to get one in your RV, you’ll almost certainly require at least three batteries, as a usual approximation knowing the power requirements you’ll face for the average microwave and battery capacities.

Battery Cables – don’t ever underestimate the importance  of good , broad battery cables.  DC electricity is infamous for requiring big cables.  This is because the resistance inherent in any wire you’ll employ has more loss than would happen for AC power.  Always make sure to obtain good thick cables.  See references to AWG (Wire Gauge charts) to find out how large of wire you’ll require based on your power requirements.  OKAY!  Let’s move on.

Inverter – This device will get the DC power supplied to it from your batteries, which came from the RV solar panels (also in DC form), and change it to AC shape that can be used by the majority of appliances you’d bring in into your RV from your home .  A TV , for instance , unless specially designed  to run on DC power, will need AC (like you’d obtain from an electrical outlet in your home ).

AC Breaker Panel – You’ll desire a panel on the AC side of the inverter that is similar or even the same as the panel in your basement at home that is full of circuit breakers.  These will trip when power usage exceeds the ability of the breakers, just like blowing a fuse, only without the hassle of having to replace the fuse… just reset the tripped breaker.  Note that these can be, but frequently aren’t needed on the side of the inverter fed by the batteries and RV solar panels.  Protection is recommended, but usually a fuse is sufficient here.

Because I’m not one who is into taking advantage of anything but the sun , I wouldn’t normally recommend a generator, but at times they are nice.  I apologize, Mother Earth.

Charge Controller – The power produced   by your RV solar panels will need to be regulated when charging the batteries.  This is since batteries can only take so much charge, and your RV solar panels may cause them to burst , leak or explode   with no charge controller!  Not high-quality !  You can get away with no controller if you can monitor the battery charge levels yourself , but it’s very boring and causes lots of anxiety when you don’t remember and fall asleep.  Don’t underestimate their significance .

That’s about it.  Look for future write-ups about the importance of other parts, and how to install them.  For more info on RV Solar Panels, be sure to visit newenergytips.com.