RVs are a great way of going on a fun road trip with your family and friends. They are way more comfortable and packed with essential stuff and electronic gadgets than a normal four-door car or even an SUV. That is why people prefer taking their RVs on road trips instead of cars.
However, as much fun and adventure-friendly, these RVs are, all the gadgets and other electronic appliances inside of them require a continuous and steady flow of power to run. A single deep cycle battery or sometimes even multiple deep cycle batteries are used to do this job of providing steady current to the RV's amenities. Although the deep cycle battery does not fall short in juicing up these, there is a catch. These batteries should have enough current stored in them to power other appliances. And if you are going on a long road trip, there is no way that even a fully charged battery will back you up for the whole trip.
Typically, battery chargers are used to charge batteries in the middle of trips. But, this is not at all a cheap option, and sometimes electrical power outlets are not available nearby. Luckily for us, there is a much cheaper and viable option available to charge deep cycle batteries than conventional chargers during trips. And that golden alternative is a solar panel kit for an RV.
You can easily charge a solar panel during the daytime on your trips and can use it to charge your deep cycle battery. In this way, you will not have to rely on any external source to run the necessities inside of your RV and will be completely independent.
RV owners, however, ask this a lot; what solar should I get for my RV? I have been asked this question like a million times. That is the reason why I have decided to write a whole article about RV solar kits instead of answering this question to every RV owner separately.
Below, I have reviewed the absolute 5 best RV solar kits. You can read through all of these reviews and learn everything that is there to know these batteries to find the one which can work best in your case.
In this section, I have listed all the stuff about RV kits that you should know before purchasing one.
Depending on what RV you will plant your kit in, buy a solar panel that is not too huge or nor too small for your RV. Some people totally skip this factor and then face inconvenience later.
Always check whether the solar panel you are buying will be able to supply enough power for your RV or not. Because if you buy a solar panel that was manufactured to power a smaller RV than yours. Then there is no way you are going to get your work done in your RV by that solar panel.
Below are some pivotal factors that decide which solar kit you should get.
Solar panels are really durable and last for a pretty long time if you do their regular maintenance. Ideally, you can expect a solar panel to last for as long as 30 years.
However, most people are not able to maintain their solar panels for this long. So usually, I have seen solar panels provide energy for about a decade or so. In terms of longevity, there is not much to complain about when it comes to solar panels.
Monocrystalline solar panels usually perform better in places where there is not enough sunlight.
Though polycrystalline solar panels are much cheaper compared to monocrystalline solar panels, however, they require more light rays to generate solar energy.
Amorphous solar panels are cheaper than both of the other two technologies that I have listed above. However, this technology is the least efficient of the bunch.
These are all the advantages that you can avail of by using solar panels in your RV.
You can power-read through these reviews to quickly find the RV solar kit that best suits your needs.
WindyNation's 100 watts RV solar kit should be your go-to solar kit for your RV if you are seeking to make a purchase from the budget league. It costs almost half the price of its competitors. While this 100-watt solar kit costs a lot less than its peers, it does not lag behind at all in terms of performance. You can mount it on your RV and run your necessities onwards like a breeze.
This solar kit also supports expansion. You can hook up more solar panels with it as your needs increase.
All in all, WindyNation's 100 watt RV solar kit screams of 'versatility.'
If we talk about the overall design of the solar kit, it is pretty mundane. There are a regular 100-watt solar panel and some hardware to install and mount the solar kit. A bright LCD display is included in the kit too to monitor all the necessary information like the current, voltage, etc.
WindyNation's RV solar kit has a lot of great features. But, the one that stands out to me the most is its reasonable price tag.
I mean, if we look at it, all the other RV solar kits that compete with this one are all double the price of WindyNation's RV solar kit. It's fascinating how WindyNation could have taken advantage of the market and also priced its solar kit for more bucks. But, they stuck with a budget approach and placed a great quality product at a low price.
Conclusively, I would place WindyNation's 100 watts RV solar kit between one of the very best RV solar kits, and that is exactly why it has made this list.
If you want an expandable and capable RV solar kit, then this solar kit will certainly not disappoint you. Plus, it is great, too, if you do not want to spend a fortune on a solar kit for your RV. However, there is a catch. Although this solar kit is pretty versatile, it can be hard to install, especially for people who are new to the whole solar kit thing.
So if you are also a newbie and want to install your solar kit by yourself, then you have the room to look away from this option.
Suppose you go on long trips with family and friends and require a lot of energy in a short period of time. Then the Renogy 100 watt RV solar kit might get the job done for you. It is widely known for its insane charging capabilities among the RV community. The Renogy brand is renowned for its durability and performance as well, so you can expect a pretty great package deal when getting this solar kit for your RV.
There is a separate solar panel piece, controller, and hardware for installation with the Renogy RV solar kit. The design of the controller is pretty simple and does not bring anything special to the table.
The thing that I love the most about Renogy RV solar kit is that it comes with every hardware that is required to install it. I know this might sound like the single most 'basic' accessory that should come in the box, but that is not the case. Many solar kit companies do not ship the basic hardware that is required for installation in the box. You then have to get the extra hardware from somewhere else in order to make the Install.
Luckily, this is not the situation with Renogy RV solar kit, every necessary hardware is in the box, and you do not have to buy anything extra. This might not sound like a big deal but, in reality, makes the installation process a lot smoother and less hectic.
No doubt, Renogy has kept its reputation so good by maintaining its quality that I can recommend their products all day with my eyes shut. And Renogy RV solar kit is no different than the other products of Renogy. Its build is top-notch with no flaws. Plus, it has the fastest charging time, unarguably. The thing can basically charge a regular battery in under 6 hours. That is impressive.
Anyone can easily install this solar kit in their RV by using all the readily available installation hardware and instructions.
There is absolutely no reason not to get this RV solar unless you want a cheaper option. In that case, the RV solar kit that I reviewed before this one is your best bet.
Unlike the solar kits that I reviewed earlier, ECO-worthy 25 watt solar kit is not a power-packed performance beast. In fact, it is made for low-performance usage. So if you are not looking for a heavy-duty solar kit for your RV, then this is the one for you.
You can run all the small electrical appliances in your RV using an ECO-worthy 25-watt solar kit. It can ideally charge batteries of up to 15 amps, so do not expect more. Plus, installing this solar kit is a breeze due to its pre-drilled mounting holes.
There is a standard 25-watt solar panel with a controller to manage every little detail. You can also get a kit with 5 watt and 10-watt solar panels. However, I would not recommend buying them. Also in the box is the hardware to install and mount the solar kit.
Although this RV solar kit does not have any special tricks up its sleeves, however, it does not mean that there is nothing you can praise about this kit.
For instance, the attribute that I love the most about it is how simply and easily you can install this thing. Do not get me wrong, but there are a ton of RV solar kits out there that are impossible to install for a newbie. Gladly, that is not the case with ECO-worthy 25 watt RV solar kit. With the help of its pre-drilled mounting holes and hardware in the box, basically, anyone can install it without consulting an expert.
Many people might not appreciate this quirk that much, but I think it should be praised because even many RV solar kits from reputable brands fail to be user-friendly when it comes to installation.
Overall, ECO-worthy 25 watt RV solar kit is a pretty decent option if your needs require less amount of energy. Instead of buying a heavy-duty solar kit for charging a 15 Ah battery, you can install this lightweight and easy-going solar kit.
It will not only get your work done and, at the same time, will not add much weight to the vehicle.
However, before installing an ECO-worthy solar kit, you should know that you will require some additional parts like a voltage regulator, etc. to run it stability.
GO-POWER! GP-PSK-130 RV solar kit is for people who prefer portability over anything. You can easily turn this solar kit around and then mount it in a breeze when needed.
RV owners who do not like their solar kit to be installed even when it's not underused would love to have a solar kit with capabilities like that of GP-PSK-130's. Not only is this thing portable but also extremely durable as well. In fact, it is so durable that the company has provided a warranty with the solar kit for the first 25 years of its purchase. 25 years of warranty is insane. You can basically buy and forget this thing. Maybe you will change your RV over the course of decades but will not have to change your RV solar kit.
So if you like to hit the road with the least attachments, then you are going to adore this RV solar kit absolutely.
A charge controller is included in the box along with a solar panel. There is one fantastic quirk about the solar panel - it can be folded.
Other hardware like battery clamps, wires, etc. can also be found in the box, which is extremely useful for installing and mounting the solar kit.
As I mentioned earlier in the 'purpose' segment, this RV solar kit is unarguably the best in the solar kits world in terms of portability. You can swiftly carry it around in your RV unhinged, and when needed, can easily mount it.
No other RV solar kit offers this level of portability coupled with such top-notch quality. Even the battery clamps and wires of GO-POWER! GP-PSK-130 RV solar kits are designed in a way that makes it easier to install the solar kit on the go.
If I had to recommend an RV solar kit for portable usage, I would recommend GO-POWER! GP-PSK-130 RV with the blink of an eye. It is that good in that department. However, portability is not the only thing that this RV solar kit excels. If we talk about the durability that this solar kit puts at the table, it is amazing. It can last you decades, and even if something malfunctions, you can get it replaced under warranty within the first 25 years of purchase.
After analyzing the overall capabilities of this solar kit, I have no hesitation in calling it the best 'on the go' solar solutions for RVs by a stretch. But, in case you are constrained on a budget, then you can turn your head to other options because this solar kit does not come cheap.
HQST 100 watts solar suitcase is perfect for people who do not want to care about carrying the mounting gear around with them. This solar panel can be folded back to its original position whenever needed. On top of that, it can stand on its own on the ground without the need for any mounting gear. Just use the stand that it comes with to make it standstill.
Moreover, the price of the HQST 100 watt solar suitcase is pretty low, too, so every RV owner can purchase it.
The design of the solar panel of HQST 100 watt solar suitcase is quite interesting. It wraps around like a table when not in use and can be unfolded when needed. Due to the aluminum stand, the solar panel can stand on its own so that you can place it under exposed sunlight for maximum output.
I think the selling point of the HQST 100 watt solar suitcase is definitely its price. The thing sells at less than half the price of its competitors.
Every RV owner can easily get their hands on this solar kit and can start powering up their amnesties with free solar energy.
This solar kit basically shuts all those people who can't stop mouthing about how expensive solar energy is to produce. With this solar kit, you can start contributing to green living on a budget.
This solar suitcase is pretty great considering the price that it sells. It has incredible portability capabilities. However, one should know that it might get the job done, but it is not up to the mark with Renogy, WindyNation, etc. They have proper controllers that let you dive into more detail. On the other hand, there are some compromises made with the HQST 100 watt to bring down its price.
But I am not in any way saying that it is not a great cheap alternative to expensive RV solar kits, and you can still buy and use one swiftly.
I have answered some frequently asked questions about RV solar kits below.
Now that you have read my take on five of the best RV solar lights available right now. You should have a clear picture in your mind of what you should get to fulfill your needs.
However, if you are still confused and clueless about deciding on a solar kit for your RV, then you should pick the one that I personally think is the best of the bunch.
And my favorite solar kit is the Renogy 100 Watt RV solar kit by a stretch. It is incredible from every aspect. You can easily charge your batteries at a quick rate without ever worrying about its longevity thanks to its durable body. Plus, it is pretty easy to install, too, so you will not have to bust your brain off trying to mount it. In the future, if you require more solar panels, then you hook them up as well.
The brand value of Renogy is not in question as we all know that it is fantastic, so you are definitely getting more than what you pay for.
I hope you now have all your queries answered regarding solar kits and are ready to make a purchase.
