Forum Discussion

SJ-Chris's avatar
SJ-Chris
Explorer II
Aug 30, 2022

Recent cost to install solar by an RV tech/shop???

Hi All,

I'm curious to know how much people are paying THESE DAYS to have solar installed professionally on their RVs or trailers. I'm not talking about Do It Yourself....I'm talking about taking it to your local RV repair shop (or mobile technician) and having them install solar.

If you respond, please include the following:

- When was the work done?
- What state was the work done in?
- What type/year RV, trailer, etc?
- What type of roof do you have? (fiberglass? EPDM? TPO?)
- What type of panels (if you know) and the voltage?
- How many panels and total Wattage?
- Were your panels mounted in parallel or in series?
- What type of solar charge controller?
- Did they also add an Inverter?
- Might as well include the size (AH) and type of your battery bank too

You can give the total price and/or a total breakdown on cost if you want.

If you want to include pictures, here is a convenient website to use for converting your jpg photos to a postable link in these forums:
http://photoposting.is-great.net

Warning: Solar is addictive!

Happy Camping!
Chris
  • Kylelem62's avatar
    Kylelem62
    Explorer
    May 28, 2024

    It's a bit late but I figured I'd share what I charge to install a system. This is in Utah, my company is Utah Off Grid Solar.

    These prices are for almost all RVs/Trailers/Fifth wheels. I use rigid panels except when there are fiberglass roofs, I use flexible panels. All of these systems use victron smartsolar charge controllers and include installation.

    • 100w system - $500
    • 200w system - $750
    • 400w system - $1350

    Almost always I mount panels in series where possible.

    I also do inverters starting at $1400 for a 3kw renogy inverter. I do 230Ah lithium batteries for $850 installed, and 200aH self-heating lithium batteries for $1000.

  • StirCrazy's avatar
    StirCrazy
    Moderator
    Sep 04, 2022
    SJ-Chris wrote:
    StirCrazy wrote:
    SJ-Chris wrote:
    I'm curious to know hoHi All,

    - When was the work done? 2016
    - What state was the work done in? BC, Canada
    - What type/year RV, trailer, etc? 2016 cougar 330rbk
    - What type of roof do you have? epdm
    - What type of panels (if you know) and the voltage? go power 12v
    - How many panels and total Wattage? 3 panels 480 watts
    - Were your panels mounted in parallel or in series? parallel
    - What type of solar charge controller? pwm
    - Did they also add an Inverter? yes
    - size (AH) and type of your battery bank 440AH from four 6V batteries

    You can give the total price and/or a total breakdown on cost if you want.

    I am not sure on the actual price I paided as it was worked into the deal but I can say now it was to much it was around 5000 list price for the system (panels, inverter, new charger, solar controler and instalation) I proabaly paid a little under that. it was my first venture into solar and to be honest I don't think I would pay some one to install it again. I do plan on upgrading to a MPPT controler and changing the 180 watt 12v panels out to 350 watt 24V panels, but I'll do that myself.



    Happy Camping!
    Chris


    Thanks for the info! Sounds like a nice system that provides you with some good, quiet, free power.

    I recently did an experiment with PWM vs MPPT and I noticed a 20-25% increase in amps going to the batteries. That would likely be an easy swap for you if you needed 20-25% more AHs. And if you needed just a little more you could add another 12v panel in parallel (if you have roof space). That might be the easiest and least expensive way for you to increase your solar output. Good luck!

    -Chris


    yup MPPT is the way to go, even better with 24V split cell panels. I get about 21amps max of vharging with the system in my 5th wheel(480 watts 12V panels paralell and pwm controler. in my camper I built and installed the system myself it is a MPPT on a 24V split cell 325watt panel and I get 22 amps of charging out of it. so I am thinking of replacing the three panels on the 5th with the 325 watt panels and puting a MPPT controler in it. but Im not in a hurry for that, want to get my LiFePo4 cells ordered befor I convert that one. the camper set up was 600.00 not including the batteries so that gives you a idea if your strictly going by output vs cost. the 5th wheel did get a inverter and transfer switch, but I have no 120V in the camper yet (wife wants a microwave so looks like I am doing some wiring. :)
  • PButler96's avatar
    PButler96
    Explorer
    Sep 01, 2022
    $165.00 per hour is what most RV dealers charge for service around here. Add to that I've had dealers service departments booger up adjusting an interior door, and seen them toss wheel bearings in the gravel while checking brakes. At one, one of the techs is a guy I fired a few years ago after two days for claiming to be a carpenter. Turns out he could not read a tape measure.

    Most dealers hire whoever applies and knows the difference between a nail and a screw, not necessarily how to use them.
  • 3_tons's avatar
    3_tons
    Explorer III
    Sep 01, 2022
    Housted wrote:
    My system....installed by me.
    1000 watts solar 5 panels in parallel
    80 amp MPPT contrller
    3000 watt inverter
    LI specific converter
    400 AH lithium battery
    4 gage wire and 10 gage solar wire
    Home made combiner box

    Total cost from Amazon about $3500

    Housted


    Wow, that looks like quite a deal!! :)

    3 tons
  • Housted's avatar
    Housted
    Explorer III
    Aug 31, 2022
    My system....installed by me.
    1000 watts solar 5 panels in parallel
    80 amp MPPT contrller
    3000 watt inverter
    LI specific converter
    400 AH lithium battery
    4 gage wire and 10 gage solar wire
    Home made combiner box

    Total cost from Amazon about $3500

    Housted
  • 3_tons's avatar
    3_tons
    Explorer III
    Aug 31, 2022
    Cptnvideo wrote:
    Some of the above comments show why I did not divulge the price I paid.
    3 tons, normally I agree with your comments but I disagree with your comments on this thread. I have the ability and knowledge to self install a solar system. But my CHOICE was to have my system professionally installed.
    Companies can say whatever they want in their advertising. And advice from internet strangers is worth exactly what you pay for it. I shopped around and "interviewed" solar installation companies. The company (a partnership) I chose knew that I knew the cost of materials. They also knew I wanted quality materials from companies that stood behind their products. The company I chose installs solar every day and knows which products are best - for value and reliability


    I’d say that my own preference doesn’t necessarily work for everyone, not knowing the OP’s skill set or actual objective, just offering a different point of view…Trust that where needed, I’m no stranger to outsourcing for expertise, but either way, take no offense - my general philosophy is, “sometimes being a success is knowing when to quit” Unfortunately, I’ve had to learn this the hard way - lol

    3 tons
  • SJ-Chris's avatar
    SJ-Chris
    Explorer II
    Aug 31, 2022
    StirCrazy wrote:
    SJ-Chris wrote:
    I'm curious to know hoHi All,

    - When was the work done? 2016
    - What state was the work done in? BC, Canada
    - What type/year RV, trailer, etc? 2016 cougar 330rbk
    - What type of roof do you have? epdm
    - What type of panels (if you know) and the voltage? go power 12v
    - How many panels and total Wattage? 3 panels 480 watts
    - Were your panels mounted in parallel or in series? parallel
    - What type of solar charge controller? pwm
    - Did they also add an Inverter? yes
    - size (AH) and type of your battery bank 440AH from four 6V batteries

    You can give the total price and/or a total breakdown on cost if you want.

    I am not sure on the actual price I paided as it was worked into the deal but I can say now it was to much it was around 5000 list price for the system (panels, inverter, new charger, solar controler and instalation) I proabaly paid a little under that. it was my first venture into solar and to be honest I don't think I would pay some one to install it again. I do plan on upgrading to a MPPT controler and changing the 180 watt 12v panels out to 350 watt 24V panels, but I'll do that myself.



    Happy Camping!
    Chris


    Thanks for the info! Sounds like a nice system that provides you with some good, quiet, free power.

    I recently did an experiment with PWM vs MPPT and I noticed a 20-25% increase in amps going to the batteries. That would likely be an easy swap for you if you needed 20-25% more AHs. And if you needed just a little more you could add another 12v panel in parallel (if you have roof space). That might be the easiest and least expensive way for you to increase your solar output. Good luck!

    -Chris
  • Cptnvideo's avatar
    Cptnvideo
    Nomad
    Aug 31, 2022
    Some of the above comments show why I did not divulge the price I paid.
    3 tons, normally I agree with your comments but I disagree with your comments on this thread. I have the ability and knowledge to self install a solar system. But my CHOICE was to have my system professionally installed.
    Companies can say whatever they want in their advertising. And advice from internet strangers is worth exactly what you pay for it. I shopped around and "interviewed" solar installation companies. The company (a partnership) I chose knew that I knew the cost of materials. They also knew I wanted quality materials from companies that stood behind their products. The company I chose installs solar every day and knows which products are best - for value and reliability
  • 3_tons's avatar
    3_tons
    Explorer III
    Aug 31, 2022
    SJ-Chris wrote:
    3 tons wrote:
    If your slightly handy, better to do your own due-diligence and research and do a self-install…Lots of various equipment choices out there, and various ways to optimize a panel configuration, wiring, MPPT, PWM, etc - so lots to wrap your mind around - or just take their word that your getting the best…JMO

    3 tons


    I've done self installs before. I'm really just curious to hear what the market cost is for the work to be done in an RV shop.


    So a time and wage schedule?? :h

    3 tons

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