Forum Discussion

Acei's avatar
Acei
Explorer
Jun 14, 2013

How much power does solar panels actually generate?

Lets say the solar panel is rated at 500w, how much power should I expect it to generate on a sunny day vs cloudy day vs rainy day?

As a separate question, is it possible to run a residential fridge 24/7 on a solar panel + batteries? If so, what kind of setup would I need? This will be done on a full-timing 5th wheel unit pulled by a dually, so weight should't be a problem.

111 Replies

  • A 100 watt light bulb will use 100 watts of electricity.
    If you have a 500w solar panel that is what you should get on a sunny day.

    I can run our fridge on battery for several days and we have a very small solar panel just to maintain charge.

About RV Tips & Tricks

Looking for advice before your next adventure? Look no further.25,152 PostsLatest Activity: Aug 01, 2025