Apr
4
This text is a small guide that will serve to explain the parts of an RV electrical system that is rigged to function on renewable energy . The objective is that you will be comfortable enough with the parts to install your own RV solar panels. I will give details on each part.
Battery – most are 12 volts. They frequently say 12V, but in realism they are 13.8 volts. The voltage embossed on the surface has been rounded down. This won’t have an effect on you, as most things made to use 12 volts are actually designed for 13.8. Note that one of the most electricity hungry devices in an RV is more often than not the microwave oven. If you’re planning on getting one in your RV, you’ll almost certainly require at least 3 batteries, as a usual approximation knowing the power requirements you’ll face for the standard microwave and battery capacities.
Battery Cables – don’t ever undervalue the significance of high-quality , thick battery cables. DC electricity is notorious for requiring large cables. This is because the resistance intrinsic in some cable you’ll employ has additional loss than would occur for AC power. Always make sure to obtain good thick cables. See references to AWG (Wire Gauge charts) to find out how large of wire you’ll need based on your power requirements. OKAY! Let’s move on.
Inverter – The electricity that came from the RV solar panels will get fed into this device, where it will get converted from DC to AC electricity, which is what most applicances will use . A television , for example , unless specially designed to run on DC power, will require AC (like you’d obtain from an electrical outlet in your home ).
AC Breaker Panel – You’ll desire a panel on the AC side of the inverter that is similar or even identical to the panel in your cellar at home that is full of circuit breakers. These will trip when power usage exceeds the capacity of the breakers, just like blowing a fuse, only without the hassle of having to put back the fuse… just reset the tripped breaker. Note that these can be, but frequently aren’t wanted on the side of the inverter fed by the batteries and RV solar panels. Protection is recommended, but more often than not a fuse is sufficient here.
Generator – I usually don’t like to recommend these, since I’m a gentleman who likes to play it au natural, and who relies totally on my RV solar panels, but from time to time a backup generator is pleasant if you’re out in the open and just plain don’t want to wait for the sun. I apologize, Mother Earth.
Charge Controller – The power created by your RV solar panels will be required to be regulated when charging the batteries. The reason is that a batteries is only able to fit into it a certain amount of charge, and your RV solar panels may make them rupture , seep or explode without a charge controller! Not good ! You can get away without one if you can monitor the battery charge levels physically, but it’s very tedious and causes lots of anxiety when you forget and fall asleep. Don’t underestimate their importance .
That’s about it. Look for future write-ups about the significance of other parts, and how to install them. For more info on RV Solar Panels, be sure to visit newenergytips.com.
