Many RVers are still new to the concept and functionality of solar power. And with any new trend or idea, naturally there are skeptics; they tend to believe that systems are not functional or practical or that the systems are simply too complex to deal with. But with a quick education, most road warriors agree that solar is one of the "brightest" ideas in the RV world in a while.

The process of creating solar energy is relatively simple. Solar panels function by converting light from the sun into usable energy; the process by which they do this is known as the "photovoltaic process". Basically, a solar panel is made up of a collection of solar cells that are spread apart to collect as much light as possible. The cells are small disks made of a semiconductor material such as silicone. As light hits the cells, the semiconductor absorbs part of the light. The absorbed light particles (known as photons) then agitate electrons on the semiconductor's surface. As the electrons are excited they create an electrical reaction in the form of a DC charge. These charges flow through a wire connected to each cell in the panel and into a circuit. The end result is a bank of usable DC current that can either be used immediately or stored in a battery to be used at a later time.



Common Questions and Concerns

When talking with someone about solar power for the first time, First question is almost always "How does weather affect the performance of a solar energy system?" Weather and atmospheric conditions do affect the production of solar power. For example, on an overcast day with thin cloud coverage, a panel may only produce 30% of its normal rated output, and during times when the sky is covered with thick, dark storm clouds, a panel may only generate 10% of its capacity. Even the height of the sun in the sky affects a solar panel's power production. Fortunately, using a battery or battery bank to store energy produced during sunny hours ensures that power will be available any time it's needed.

Another concern is the durability of the panels themselves. It is often thought that solar panels tend to wear and break down rather rapidly, and who wants to shell out hard-earned cash for a system only to have it malfunction in a few years? All solar panels do degrade over time. However, when it comes to durability, not all solar panels are created equally. Certain panels, such as the SunForce solar line carried by Camping World, utilize crystalline silicone solar cells that last much longer than traditional panels. In fact, most crystalline panels come standard with a warranty of 20 years or more. That means that in most cases, your solar panels will still be generating power long after you've traded your RV.

RVers also typically wonder just how much power solar energy systems can be expected to produce. That depends on the system. Panels all produce generally the same amount of voltage; however, the amperage and wattage outputs vary from panel to panel. When purchasing panels, first calculate exactly how much power is needed to operate the accessories you plan to use on solar power. From there it is easy to seek out a panel (or panels) that can accommodate the load demand.



Getting Started with Solar

Setting up an RV solar panel system requires four basic components. All systems require a solar panel, a charge controller, a battery and an inverter. The system begins with the solar panel(s); depending on the amount of power that is to be expected of the system, multiple panels may need to be wired together to generate enough energy. When it comes to choosing the right panel(s), the semiconductor material should always be the most important factor. As mentioned earlier, crystalline silicone panels typically have a much longer life span than other materials; crystalline panels have also been proven to produce power much more efficiently.

Depending on what type of solar panel system is being used, a charge controller may or may not be required. The charge controller is basically a regulator, similar to a voltage regulator found in cars. The controller constantly monitors the state of the batteries connected to the panels; it ensures that when a current is needed to charge the battery, the proper voltage is supplied. The controller also makes sure that excessive amounts of voltage are not supplied to the battery. Since most "12 volt" panels can actually produce up to 20 volts at a given time (depending on the surrounding weather conditions), the controller's regulation is paramount in making sure that batteries are not damaged in recharging. For small maintenance or trickle charge panels, such as the SunForce 5-watt Battery Maintainer, a charge controller is generally not necessary. But for larger applications, a controller is a must. Controllers are rated in terms of how much total amperage they can process/regulate from an array of panels. For example, a 30-amp charge controller can safely regulate power from a 30-amp solar panel or from three 10-amp panels connected in parallel.

Since the energy created by a solar panel system isn't always needed immediately, the power must be stored for use when needed. Deep cycle batteries, like those found on most RVs, are the top choice for storing the solar energy because they are specifically designed to be discharged and recharged over and over again. Depending on the amount of power needed to operate all of the RV's appliances and accessories for a given time, an RV may need only one battery or a bank of batteries to store enough power. The batteries are rated in terms of amp hours. This rating basically translates into how much power (in amps) can be used for a given time (in hours). So a battery rated at 150 amp hours could produce 10 amps for fifteen hours or 50 amps for three hours, depending on the load you put on it.

Since most common appliances and accessories don't typically run on DC power, there is one more requirement in an efficient solar energy system: an inverter. An inverter is a device that converts 12-volt DC power into standard AC electricity. The inverter switches the direct current (DC) back and forth to produce an alternating current (AC). The raw AC power is then processed until it is capable of being exported in a usable 120-volt form. Inverters, depending on the type, export the AC power in one of two basic formats: true sine wave power or modified sine wave power. Modified sine wave inverters, like the Xantrex line of inverters carried by Camping World, are typically much less expensive and can be used to power most household appliances. True sine wave inverters, such as the ProSine series, are required for sensitive electronics. Laptop computers, laser printers and other electronic equipment are all sensitive to even the slightest fluctuations in power and can be damaged if outputs aren't completely steady. Because of this, true sine wave inverters are required in these instances. All inverters are rated according to the amount of wattage that they are able to supply.

Hooking the components up is a relatively simple process. If multiple panels are being used, the panels should be hooked together in parallel, connecting positive terminal to positive terminal and negative terminal to negative terminal. The parallel connection allows for a constant voltage and an increased amperage, whereas a series connection (positive terminal to negative terminal) would create an increased voltage and a constant amperage (i.e. three 12-volt, 10-amp panels connected in series would yield 36 volts at 10 amps, but in parallel would yield 12 volts at 30 amps).

With the Plug'n'Play connections that most new panels utilize, connecting panels in either configuration is a breeze. The panel, or bank of panels, would then be connected to the charge controller. The controller would, in turn, connect to the battery or battery bank, with a properly-sized 12-volt inline fuse at the battery to protect against any short circuit that might occur. The battery bank would then connect to the inverter. In many RVs the battery and inverter are already present and connected, making setup that much easier. Electrical appliances and accessories can be directly plugged into the inverter, or the inverted power can be routed through the RV's electrical power center to provide inverted AC power to outlets in the RV.



A Final Note

Though solar is proven to be the cleanest, most reliable and (in the long run) cheapest option for sustainable dry camping, not everybody is comfortable with adding solar to their list of mobile power sources. Nonetheless, as fuel prices remain high and climb higher, one thing is certain: solar power is definitely here to stay in the RVing world. If you have questions about how solar power can be put to work on your RV, visit any Camping World SuperCenter nationwide or call Camping World's Tech Service at 888-622-6264. Knowledgeable technicians can answer your questions, and if you decide not to install and connect your solar panel system yourself, any SuperCenter can do the installation for you.