How Much Does RV Solar Cost?

Expect to pay around $1,500 for a very basic starter system, and up to $18,000 for an elaborate solar/lithium setup that can power your entire RV for days. Those are just equipment costs for a DIY install. Expect to pay more if hiring an installer to design and install a custom system. Why so expensive?

Most systems are heavily customized for the owner and involve much more than installing a few solar panels on the roof. The overall cost of an RV solar power system can vary considerably from one RV to the next.

Let’s make some assumptions on what a hypothetical basic, mid-sized and high-end system looks like, and then develop some ballpark estimates.

Most RVs do not come with solar installed. So let’s also assume (for the sake of this article) that we’re going to retrofit a stock RV for off-the-grid boondocking. Finally, let’s exclude any design and installation costs from our estimates and include only the cost of components.

You should learn enough here to begin working on a realistic budget for your solar install. Be sure to check the links at the end if you need to learn more. Let’s get started.

Besides Solar Panels, What Else Do You Need?

Solar panels alone do not make up an RV solar charging system. The three basic components of the charging system are the Battery (or battery bank) being charged, the Solar Charge Controller, and the Solar Panels.

To learn more about the function of each component read this article.

Solar panels do not power your RV. Solar panels are primarily used to recharge your RV batteries.
Your battery bank is where energy is stored for use throughout the day. Solar panels and generators provide supplemental power when in use, but their primary purpose while off-grid is battery charging.

Prices and specifications for each component can vary significantly depending on the needs of the RV owner. System components also need to be compatible with each other. So you’ll need to consider the cost of the entire system.

Each RV Solar Installation Is Customized

RV manufacturers are starting to include solar packages in new models. Unfortunately, these bare-bones systems barely scratch the surface of what you would need for long-term boondocking. The first thing a professional solar installer will do is remove the factory installed equipment.

Estimating your energy requirements will give you a ballpark number in Amp Hours that you can use to size your battery bank. From that you can get an idea of what your charging requirements will be.

Here’s an article to help you estimate your power requirements and size your battery bank accordingly.

The type and size of your RV will dictate how much solar you can have permanently installed. It’s quite simple really. Vans and small campers will have limited space for solar while larger motorhomes and fifth-wheels will have more to work with. 

Ask yourself: “How much solar can I possibly fit on my roof, and where would each panel go?”
Do this and you will know your limitations and have a plan for expansion.

If the roof-mounted solar is under-sized for your battery bank, you can also add a portable solar panel and/or DC-2-DC alternator charger to your system. 

Powering lights, recharging portable electronics, using laptops, and watching TV will not consume a large amount of power. If you have a residential refrigerator that runs day and night, then you’re energy needs will be much higher.

How Much Power Does a Residential Refrigerator Need?
Residential refrigerators use between 130 to 150 Amp Hours (Ah) of your battery capacity in a 24 hour period.

You’d be surprised to know that household appliances like coffee pots , microwaves and hair dryers are not a big problem for mid-sized off-grid solar/inverter systems. They draw a lot of power, but only for a few minutes per day.

You have a lot of flexibility here to make adjustments based on your comfort level and budget. Here’s an example of a mid-sized system designed by the RV owner (Roger) with lithium batteries and the maximum number of solar panels. The additional solar will allow him to recharge his batteries faster while traveling through northern climates with sub-optimal solar coverage.

What Are Your Specific Power Needs?

Here are some questions to ask yourself to better understand the limitations of your RV and how much solar you need:

• How much space do you have on your roof for solar?
• How much battery capacity do you consume on a daily basis?
• Do you need to power equipment for long periods of time (residential refrigerator or CPAP)?
• How quickly would you like to recharge your batteries each morning?
• How abundant is the sun where you are?
• Do you have alternate methods of recharging your batteries?

Having answers to these questions will help considerably whether planning your own install or working with an installer.

What Other Battery Charging Sources Do You Have?

Having multiple methods for recharging your batteries is a good idea. In fact, solar may not be your primary means for recharging.

In addition to solar panels, you might also

• Use an onboard or portable generator to recharge your batteries
• or use your engine’s alternator to recharge batteries while driving

Are you on-the-go a lot? You may not need as much solar as you think.
Alternator charging may be sufficient to keep your batteries charged up while traveling.

What to read next?

I hope this exercise gave you a better understanding of what an RV solar system might cost. Here are some additional resources to continue learning about RV solar.

• Solar Power for Your RV – Is It Worth It?
• Components of an RV Solar System
• How much battery capacity do you need?
• Read more articles on RV solar