Whether you use your RV for family road trips or you’ve moved over to full-time RV living, having a solar energy system gives you more freedom and flexibility. It also can save you money while being a more eco-friendly energy option. Many RVers have found that using solar is the right choice for them.
There are plenty of options for solar kits on the market, so it can be hard to determine which will be right for your needs. In this guide, we’ll take you through the best RV solar kits for 2020 by price point to get you started on your solar journey.
One of the first things you’ll need to consider is whether you want to use polycrystalline or monocrystalline panels. All solar panels are made of silicon cells. Monocrystalline solar panels are typically more efficient, being made of single-crystal silicon, which allows for better energy flow. More blue in appearance, polycrystalline panels are made up of fragments of silicon melted together. This keeps their price lower but does not maximize efficiency the way monocrystalline does.
Polycrystalline panels can still perform well, but monocrystalline panels really show the difference in their efficiency when it comes to performing in low-light environments. Our list features both polycrystalline and monocrystalline options so you can choose what the best RV solar kit is for your power needs and your budget.
If you’re looking for affordable solar kits for your RV, here are the best options we’ve found for less than $150.
This 35 watt, 12-volt kit is a low-cost starter set that may be better suited for people who are just starting to explore solar energy on a part-time basis. This lightweight panel won’t put your vehicle over any weight limits, and it comes with everything you need to install it. However, with this less powerful system, even partial sun can reduce your ability to draw power.
This 35-watt panel won’t have enough juice to run your appliances on the road, but it will charge devices on the go and might top up your battery in a pinch. If you’re trying to reduce your number of stops or do some occasional dry-docking, it might be the right choice for you.This is the best RV solar kit for those who want to start exploring solar options without investing a ton of money.
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At 100 watts and 12 volts, this kit will be able to top up most RV batteries. This system is shorter than the average 100-watt panel without compromising output.
Easy to install with MC4 connectors and predrilled holes, the panel is also very efficient because of the multi-layered sheet laminations that enhance its monocrystalline cell performance.
This allows the panel to produce some power, even when it’s overcast due to its use of monocrystalline silicon. That makes this one of the best RV solar kits available under $150.
This efficient and affordable system may be enough power to keep you going on the road in relative comfort, no matter how small your roof space is.
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If you’ve got a little more money to put towards your solar kit, these are the best choices we’ve found during our research.
This is another 100-watt kit, but it comes with a few extra bells and whistles. The included LCD display solar charge controller helps you control the system remotely and has a battery temperature sensor built-in. The polycrystalline panels also provide up to a beefy 33 amp-hours of charge in a day.
Windy Nation also provides the option of buying this kit along with an AGM Deep Cycle 12 Volt BattaMax Battery to store power between charges. For those who are serious about taking their RV off the grid, this is a good option, but it comes at a steeper price. It might be worth it to those who want a fully integrated system and more freedom to have power available whenever they need it.
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This two-panel, 200-watt kit comes with a 25-year warranty, plus 20A PWM Solar Charge Controller, two 10ft MC4 Connector cable, two sets of Mounting Z Brackets, and two MC4 Y Branch Connectors. If you have the roof space for two panels and want some extra juice, this system may be right for you.
As long as you have fairly consistent sunlight, this system could be enough for an off the grid set up, running some low-draw appliances. Though for more consistency, you still might want to invest in a battery to keep power available even when the sun isn’t.
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These are the best of the best solar kits for your RV. After reviewing dozens of different options, we’ve determined that they’re the highest quality.
With four 100 watt polycrystalline panels, this versatile kit has the ability to charge nearly any battery. The included MPPT Solar Charge Controller allows you to monitor and fully adjust the panel’s settings remotely. Easy installation and a 25-year warranty round out this package.
With enough juice for most RVers’s daily needs, this easy to use system can also be purchased at the 500-watt level, if you really want to go all out. This 400 watt system is the best RV solar kit we found using polycrystalline panels.
Having so much power generation at your disposal means you won’t have to compromise when it comes to charging up and using energy-efficient appliances on the go.
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Designed for full-time off-the-grid living, this system might be the best choice for those looking to invest in a fully-solar option for their RV home. With four, extra-efficient monocrystalline panels, it has an output of up to 2000Wh per day. Its 30A PWM charge controller is specially designed for use with RVs and can be wall-mounted.
It has enough power to charge up your RV batteries and power your everyday electronics with reasonable sun exposure. This system is quite large compared to others, but it packs a punch, is simple to install and operate and offers high-quality panels. To make the most of such a high wattage kit, pair it with a storage system for uninterrupted power even after a few rainy days in a row.
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No matter what your needs, you can find a solar kit at whatever level will be right for you. Whether you want a backup power source for road trips or you want to be totally off-the-grid for full-time RV living, there’s a variety of options at every price point.
As you research solar options for your RV, be sure to take into account how self-sufficient you want to be, how much time you spend in your RV, how much power you typically use in a day, and how much sunlight your region averages. Remember that many solar kits are add-on friendly, so you can gradually build and customize the best solar RV kit for you with more panels or batteries for power storages as you go.