Solar power gives your RV the ability to run any of your electrical appliances without needing to worry about power sources. Solar panels convert the sun’s energy into direct current electricity (DC), charging your RV’s batteries and storing electricity. A power inverter converts the DC power to alternative current (AC) which runs many of your appliances on the RV.

Solar power gives your RV the ability to run any of your electrical appliances without worrying about power sources. Solar panels convert the sun’s rays into direct current electricity (DC), charging your RV’s batteries and storing electricity. A power inverter converts the DC power to alternative current (AC) that many of your appliances use on the RV.

Grid-tied systems connect and work directly with your utility grid, offering an alternative energy source in addition to what your utility company provides. You can greatly or completely reduce your electricity bill by utilizing grid-tied systems. In addition, depending on the size of your system, you may receive monetary returns.

Off-grid systems are not connected to the utility grid and are sustained using a battery bank. The battery bank connects to an inverter that converts DC voltage to AC voltage, allowing you to use any AC appliances or electronics. Common off-grid applications include cabins, RVs, boats, and camps. Off-grid systems can also be used in a variety of other applications, including emergency power backup during a power outage.

Any of your appliances can adequately run on solar power. However, you may need other components to transfer the power generated from a solar panel successfully. 

Most common home appliances run on AC power, such as a TV. As such, you will need an inverter to properly transfer the power from AC to DC.

 Off-grid refrigerators like those used in RVs can run on either DC or AC. Depending on the specific type, you may need an inverter.

Water pumps can also run on solar power, but be sure to read the manual to check to see if an inverter is needed.

Depending on the number of appliances, how much power they use, whether you are grid-tied or off-grid, and the size of the battery bank you have installed (including if you have a battery bank), the exact length of time can change drastically. Call our customer service representatives at 1-800-831-9889, or contact us through email at support@richsolar.com so we can help determine your requirements.

Amps is the unit of measure for an electrical current, or the speed/rate of electrons. Volts measure the electrical voltage, or how much power pushes electricity through a conductor. Watts is the amount of power produced by the combination of amps and volts.

Solar kits offer the basics of an off-grid solar system. They contain a solar panel, solar charge controller, and cables. A solar system, also called a solar energy system or a solar power system, refers to all the components that convert sunlight into electricity. It can refer to a solar kit, but it can also include other parts like an inverter, switch, battery charger, and more.

If you have a battery as part of your solar power system, you absolutely need a solar charge controller. A controller regulates the energy that’s generated from the solar panels and transferred into the battery, preventing the battery from overcharging. This prevents the battery from being discharged through the solar panel during the night.

You don’t need an inverter if you’re only charging your battery. However, if you want to use the battery to run different appliances, like a TV or a refrigerator, you need an inverter to convert the DC power to AC power.