Three-wheeled RV solar air conditioning

Can solar power an RV air conditioner?

For RV owners, installing a solar panel on your RV roof is a great way to reduce your energy costs and increase your ability to live off-the-grid. But can solar power really generate enough wattage to power large appliances like your RV air conditioner? So can you power an RV air conditioner with solar?

Do I need a solar panel for my RV?

At minimum, you have the solar panels themselves and a collection of batteries (often known as a ‘battery bank’) that provides power directly to all of your RV’s 12-volt DC electronics. In order to power any 120-volt AC electronics, like your air conditioner, you’ll need to install an inverter as well.

Do RV electrical panels need a conversion?

The electrical panel on every RV has an AC side and a DC side. Common batteries used in solar installations are able to supply power directly to the DC side of your RV’s electrical panel without the need for any conversion. Getting power to the AC side of your RV’s electrical panel, however, does require a conversion.

How many Watts should an RV inverter run?

So, you’ll most likely want an RV inverter between 3500 and 4000 watts. Of course, this number will be higher if you have a larger air conditioning unit that requires a higher starting wattage. Running wattage, on the other hand, is usually less than starting wattage for all RV appliances, including your A/C unit.