Start With Daily Watt-Hours, Not Panel Wattage
Add up the watt-hours every 12V device draws per day — a compressor fridge (600–900 Wh), CPAP (30–60 Wh), lighting (100–200 Wh), water pump and fans (100–150 Wh), plus anything run through the inverter.
Owner guide
RV Solar Panel Sizing & Installation Guide
Most solar installs fail the owner not because the panels are bad, but because the system was sized to the roof instead of the actual daily power draw. Here’s how to size it correctly before you buy anything.
Active corridor: Montana · Wyoming · Idaho · Washington — case-by-case beyond.
Field notes
Most solar installs fail the owner not because the panels are bad, but because the system was sized to the roof instead of the actual daily power draw. Here’s how to size it correctly before you buy anything. Add up the watt-hours every 12V device draws per day — a compressor fridge (600–900 Wh), CPAP (30–60 Wh), lighting (100–200 Wh), water pump and fans (100–150 Wh), plus anything run through the inverter. A boondocking-focused rig commonly lands between 1,500 and 3,000 Wh/day.
Battery Bank Comes Second
Panels charge the bank; the bank is what actually gets you through the night and cloudy stretches. Size usable capacity to 1.5–2 days of draw with no sun at all.
What Installation Actually Involves
Roof mounting and sealing (a bad panel seal is a future roof leak, not a solar problem), wire routing sized for the run length to avoid voltage drop, a charge controller matched to panel voltage and battery chemistry.
Related
MPPT vs. PWM ControllersOff-Grid Power Budget PlanningVictron Energy Power SystemsBack to Field Guide
Related: All guides · Book a Service · Pricing
Pricing teaser
Trip fee $75 within 30 miles, then $1.50/mi. Labor ~$150/hr (1-hour minimum, billed in 30-minute increments). Diagnostic $175 applied toward repair if you proceed.
Active corridor: Montana · Wyoming · Idaho · Washington — case-by-case beyond. Credentials (text): Victron Professional Certified Installer · weBoost Authorized Installer · Peplink Certified Associate · Dometic Professional Certified.