Everything you need to know about SOLAR in RVs!

Hey everyone, welcome back to another video… Today we are at the NRVTA with Todd.
We just got big beard batteries installed on Wil and Jen’s new fifth wheel… Today Todd is going to be talking to us all about batteries, solar, and how it all works !

You guys need solar for your RV please check out.

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[SuperSushidog]

That's a nice, clean professionally designed and built system for sure. Your very kind to help the Wil and Jen with the cost. You're an amazing dude, Matt - and Todd for helping you too!

If you build your system yourself like we did and avoid premium brand components, opting for quality, lesser-known brands, you can have a system twice that size for around $10k. Our home-built system on our 35ft MH has 5, 020 watts of solar, 23.5kwh of LiFePo-4 batteries and total of 6, 000 watts of 120v inverted power for $11, 500 including a $1, 500 EG-4 12k btu, Mini-split heat pump that only uses about 1/3rd the power as my rooftop A/C, which means I can run it 24/7 either cooling or heating as needed. When the sun is shining, we can run both A/Cs, our fridge, microwave, etc. while charging our batteries all at the same time. Of course, in the real world there are cloudy and overcast days, but then, it's not that hot, so we only need to run one A/C. We haven't had to run our generator (other than to exercise it) in over 6 months.

We're retired FTers on a limited budget. It took us 5 years to gather enough resources, so we built our system in stages - 12v first and 48v later. But it paid off in the long run, as we boondocked 10 months last year saving over $6k in RV parks monthly rates alone, giving us a realized ROI under 2 years for a system that will last longer than our 68yr old bodies will. We save about a dollar a day in propane too, as we were able to replace our old, failing propane fridge with a residential fridge that works better and has twice the space inside - powered entirely by the sun.

We usually boondock out west, but now we're visiting family in NC, where boondocking spots are very rare. We found an RV park that's letting us stay in a no-hookup site (made possible by our solar) for only $100/mo. saving us $500/mo. off their FHU rates. Having a big solar system gives you lots of options. It took a lot of learning and a lot of hard work to accomplish it, but we couldn't live this lifestyle any other way. Necessity is truly the mother of invention.

[sherriweber]

I like this guy Todd and I watched you all on Rv Unplugged. This is all great to know about the solar panels and batteries. Thank you Matt and Wil for Todd explaining all this.

[RvTalkTv]

I have been loving the new season of RV Unplugged!!

[LarryStransky-cirb]

Great job all, you broke it down so we could understand. And THANK YOU for disclosing the cost! Very helpful.

[RockerRed]

My life is complete now!
Very nice! Thank you! Thank you! 👍🤘💛🧡💛

[peckerpeter]

When using solar, Super high efficiency appliances are a must. That means mini split for AC a must. Every watt adds up quickly.

[mercywas]

Great Training class and Great Batteries. I went to his Solar Class and I then Installed my dual inverter system with 2 of the 24 volt BBBatteries. The Beasts!

[kevinkoepke]

No views of the solar panels on the roof? Thanks for this. I love solar systems!

[gregglasner]

Great to see you guys collaborate on this video . Thanks for the info

[dfg_]

Great video. Love RV Unplugged and NRVTA videos. Oh and Matt's Rv Reviews too.

[AlexanderHuzar]

When you want to do a vacation in Canada, if you're not booked 6-12 months in advance with a campsite, you'll have an extremely hard time finding anything. Being able to boondock (dry camp) anywhere including a Wal-Mart or Costco parking lot is not only "priceless", but in this day and age a necessity. You need batteries and you need solar (and you need lots of fresh water). Matt - you should maybe do a video showing how someone can have a system where you stick a hose in a lake or river and it sucks in the water, filters it, passes it through a UV light and adds it to your potable/fresh water. Earthroamers have it, the system itself is only like $300-$500, the rest is labour. Can also have a marine-grade black water treatment system (also quite inexpensive) so you can turn black into gray water for more enviromentally-friendly dumping.

[williamalford]

It also means you don’t need as big a generator. You can get a smaller dual fuel generator and connect it to the propane on the trailer.

[walterrafolski]

Nice setup, Ryan with Millers in Motion has a big setup that they showed the installation. Will is a great guy and he and Matt are best friends great to see them collaborate on these videos. Wonder if you were to buy a system and Todd would coach you through the install? When I finally get a rv I’m going to that school!

[MarkWest-btiu]

Can you tie a freestanding (Ecoflow) solar generator into an RV electrical system? Will their internal inverter (3200w unit) eliminate the need for the inverter delivered with the rig? How do you spec the solar panel capacity needed?

[thomastheys]

Thank you so much created information Thomyt

[rhino]

Great video Matt
Please make more like this

[rickbeyer]

Even a small amount of solar can be game changer. We have 400W between roof and suitcase panels and two Lion Energy 650AH batteries . This won't do you much good with an AC or Microwave but you will be comfortable in most weather conditions (especially cool/cold due to propane furnace). Solar is quiet. Quiet is good!

[Thomas-eruw]

If you don't use Victron components and go with some other brands like Renogy or sun gold power. you could probably cut the cost by 40 percent. And have the same amount of power.

[annettelewis]

Matt - Do you think Brinkley will come out with a motor home? Maybe on a Frieghtliner chassis? That would be a major "Yes, I'll buy it!" for me.

[EarlBalentine]

Excellent Video. I have one question: should there be a fan in the front compartment to help circulate the air for all those electronic components? I'm in Phoenix and it was 110 degrees in the shade, I checked my Furrion solar controller and the fan was cycling off and on every 5 seconds. The Furrion manual say the max operating temperature is 103 degrees. I was so afraid that my solar controller was going to burn up I shut it off while sitting in storage. It was a covered storage facility so the panels would not be getting any direct sun light.