Solar Panels - worth it?
We are looking at a Roadtrek that has solar panels. We have never used them and don't know how they work. For those of you who have them, do you find them useful? Would you buy them again or would you...
Forum Discussion
As far as an RV is concerned, solar panels don't run anything, what they will do is charge the batteries.
"Before we get started we think you need to know that solar power is not the cure all for replacing spent energy. For example some are trying to recharge batteries for a Trolling Motor, Boat, RV, House, Electric Scooter, Backwoods Cabin, etc. and they want it done in very short time, usually in just a few days. Assume you take a discharged 100-amp hour battery and charge it with a 30-watt solar panel under ideal summer time light conditions. After a full week the battery will be just about fully charged. Using this example you can see that it will take at least 100-watts of solar power to recharge a 100-amp hour battery in a few days. Keep in mind that it takes direct sunshine on the surface of the panel to produce the maximum rated power of a solar panel. Conditions such as an overcast sky, shadows, improper mounting angle, equatorial direction or short winter days will reduce the actual solar panel output to below the rated values".
Source: Battery Stuff
"Before we get started we think you need to know that solar power is not the cure all for replacing spent energy. For example some are trying to recharge batteries for a Trolling Motor, Boat, RV, House, Electric Scooter, Backwoods Cabin, etc. and they want it done in very short time, usually in just a few days. Assume you take a discharged 100-amp hour battery and charge it with a 30-watt solar panel under ideal summer time light conditions. After a full week the battery will be just about fully charged. Using this example you can see that it will take at least 100-watts of solar power to recharge a 100-amp hour battery in a few days. Keep in mind that it takes direct sunshine on the surface of the panel to produce the maximum rated power of a solar panel. Conditions such as an overcast sky, shadows, improper mounting angle, equatorial direction or short winter days will reduce the actual solar panel output to below the rated values".
Source: Battery Stuff
