Keep the Power On and Stay Off the Grid with These Top Solar Panels for RVs

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There was a time when portable solar panels were more of a novelty than a practical camping tool, but with the rise of green tech and more demand than ever for emergency and off-grid power, they have become a highly effective way to charge a portable generator. Both have become modern essentials for long road trips in an RV and camping.

But solar panels can be… finicky. They aren’t always designed to endure the rigors of the great outdoors. (And, frankly, some of them simply don’t work as well as they should.) Unlike the large, heavy solar panels you might install on the roof of your home, RVers need panels that are either compact enough to fit on a vehicle, or portable enough to stow inside. A great RV solar panel, whether foldable or fixed on the roof, needs to deliver effective energy production and feature a rugged design that can handle dust and rain. If you’re packing up and hitting the road this summer, we recommend pairing your solar generator with a set of the best RV solar panels.

The Best RV Solar Panels

• Best Overall: Renogy 200W 12-Volt Solar RV Kit

• Best Value: Eco-Worthy 100W Solar Panel

• Best Mounted: Go Power! Overlander 190W Solar Kit for RVs

• Best Lightweight: Renogy Flexible Monocrystalline RV Solar Panel

• Best Premium Portable: Bluetti PV350 Solar Panel

What to Consider in a Set of RV Solar Panels

Materials

Solar panel materials are most frequently made from using silicon crystal, which captures solar energy. These panels come in one of two types: Monocrystalline silicon panels are made with a single panel of crystal, while polycrystalline panels are constructed from multiple crystal fragments. Monocrystalline panels are more efficient because it’s easier for electricity to move through an unbroken crystal. Given that, all of our recommendations are monocrystalline panels.

They can also largely be divided by whether they have a rigid or flexible structure. Rigid panels are a great option for flat-topped RVs, but if your rig has a curved or uneven rooftop, you may want the surface-hugging malleability of a flexible option. Both types are available with similar levels of weather resistance, though rigid panels often take a slight edge when it comes to efficiency of energy production.

Panel Placement–Portable or Mounted?

Before you buy your panels, consider where and how you plan to set them up. You want them to face the sun as directly as possible, for as long as possible. How you position your panels will vary quite a bit, depending on whether you use mounted or portable panels.

With an RV, you have the option to mount your panels directly on your vehicle. A rigid, mountable panel will be more durable than a portable set, water- and windproof to brave the elements, but they require some elbow grease to install. You may also find yourself unable to park in an ideal spot to catch the sun, limiting your capture capacity for the day.

They tend to sit face-up on the roof and aren’t adjustable, so you’ll have a narrow window for maximum efficiency. On the other hand, your rooftop panels will capture energy while you drive, so they’ll draw power for a larger portion of the day.

Portable solar panels are more flexible, literally and figuratively. They fold up for compact storage, and are designed to be easy to set up and tear down. They often have integrated kickstands and handles to help you optimize your placement, no matter where you’ve posted up for the night.

That said, you need to be careful to put them away when the weather turns gray: They are scratch-resistant and can handle a light shower, but they’re typically not meant to stay outside around the clock. And unlike rooftop panels, which are bolted in place, you may not feel safe leaving your portable, easily stolen panels out while away from your campsite, meaning you can only generate power while you’re there.

Wattage and Efficiency

A solar panel's wattage specification indicates the amount of power it can produce in one hour. Most RVs and campers can get enough juice to power their appliance and a few electronic devices for a full day from a 100-500W solar panel setup. A slim 100-watt panel will provide enough juice to power a small fridge, a toaster and a coffee maker.

We imagine, though, that most RVers have more gear than that: If you have an electric stove or a large fridge, we recommend using panels that can bring in at least 400 watts. If you have electronics that need regular charging, like your smartphone or laptop, you’ll need to collect extra power for that as well.

Whatever your daily power consumption is, aim for having a system that will produce at least 2-3 times that if you expect to use electricity around the clock for multiple days on end. Every person’s exact power needs will vary. If you aren’t sure what you need, we recommend starting small and upgrading when and if you need to. You can always buy multiple panels, rather than upgrading to a more efficient model.

One thing to keep in mind: Wattage and other specs provided by manufacturers, including those cited in this guide, describe how the panel will work in optimal conditions—a bright, sunny day without a cloud in the sky. More often than not, you will pull less energy than advertised. To get a better sense of what you can actually expect on an average day, check the efficiency rate, which estimates the panel’s capacity to convert sun gathered into usable electricity. The best solar panels operate at 23 percent or higher.

Weight

If you go with foldable panels, make sure you can pick them up and pack them up comfortably, because you will be moving them around a lot. Generally speaking, the higher the wattage rating, the heavier the panels: So, while it might seem convenient to rely on a single 400-watt unit, you may be better off setting up two or more panels than setting up and adjusting something that weighs as much as 40 pounds.

How We Selected The Best RV Solar Panels

We picked the best RV solar panels based on years of experience testing and recommending solar gear, including generators and panels. We also researched panel specs and performance, including data and recommendations from specialty outlets like Treehugger and SolarReviews.

In making our selections, we considered many scenarios for RV owners and power setups to present a range of options that work for as many people as possible. Having spent tens of thousands of miles on the road, I've stumbled on more than a few myself. Lastly, we checked consumer reviews for all of these picks to make sure we didn’t accidentally select a panel that looked perfect on paper, but was actually a lemon. These are the best RV solar panels to keep you powered up on the road.

Renogy 200 Watts 12 Volts Monocrystalline RV Solar Panel Kit with Adventurer 30A LCD PWM Charge Controller and Mounting Brackets for RV, Boats, Trailer, Camper, Marine, Off-Grid Solar Power System

ECO-WORTHY 100 Watt Solar Panel 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panel High Efficiency Module RV Marine Boat Caravan Off Grid

Overlander 190W Solar Kit for RVs

This is the largest single 12-volt panel on the market, drawing up to 190W of power to keep any battery charged on long trips, camping, or on the road. All of the mounting hardware and cables needed to connect to your battery are included, making installation easy.

It’s made with an anodized aluminum frame to hold up against weather and durable tempered-glass panels. The panel is on the heavier side at 26 pounds, but packs a lot of power with a wattage of 190.

If you need more power, the company sells an expansion kit that doubles the output. It’s designed for seamless connectivity between your existing solar power system and the panels you want to add for more power.

Customers report easy installation and that the panel maintains power in their RVs even in less-than-ideal conditions like partly cloudy skies and rain.

Flexible Monocrystalline RV Solar Panel

This RV solar panel is great for uneven surfaces like Airstreams and vans, or propped up facing the sun at your campsite. It weighs only four pounds and can withstand high winds, rain, and snow.

It mounts using silicon adhesives for permanent installation, so there’s no need to worry about drilling holes. It can flex up to 248 degrees without any micro-cracks forming, which is handy for hitting the right angle after midday.

Customers like the slim profile of these panels and say the output is great for such lightweight panels. These are best suited for small camper set-ups or as expansions to larger RV solar energy systems, as just one or two of these isn’t enough for a large RV with a lot of appliances.

BLUETTI Solar Panel PV350, 350 Watt for Portable Power Station, Solar Generator AC200P/AC200MAX/AC300/EP500/EP500Pro, Foldable Solar Charger for RV, Camping, Power Outage

Goal Zero Nomad 100 Watt Monocrystalline Portable Solar Panel

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus 400W, 2042Wh LiFePO4 Battery 3000W Output, Portable Power Station with 2X200W Solar Panel, Fast Charging in 2H, Expandable for Outdoor RV Camping and Home Emergency

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