RV Solar Power Calculator
Calculate the solar panel wattage and battery bank size needed for your RV or van build based on daily energy consumption.
Results
What is it?
The RV Solar Power Calculator determines the minimum solar panel wattage and battery bank capacity needed for off-grid van or RV living, accounting for regional sun hours, system efficiency losses, and desired backup days.
How to use
Add up your daily appliance consumption in kWh (fridge, lights, phone charging, laptop, etc.), set the peak sun hours for your typical travel region, estimate system efficiency, and decide how many cloudy days of backup you want.
Example scenario
3 kWh/day, 5 peak sun hours, 80% efficiency: 3,000 / (5 x 0.80) = 750W of solar panels. With 2 days of autonomy at 50% DoD: 3 x 2 / 0.5 = 12 kWh battery bank (1,000 Ah at 12V).
Pro tip
Lithium (LiFePO4) batteries allow 80-100% depth of discharge vs 50% for lead-acid, so you need roughly half the Ah capacity. MPPT charge controllers are 15-30% more efficient than PWM. Roof orientation and shade from trees or buildings dramatically affect real-world solar harvest. Check peak sun hour maps for your specific routes.