The surprising cost of RV solar

[Isaac-1]

I am currently in the process of re-doing / increasing the amount of Solar panels on the roof of my motorhome, I currently have 4 100 watt panels installed 10 years ago by the previous owner shortly before I bought the coach, I am now adding a pair of 305 watt panels, and a single 100 watt that will be setup to charge the chassis battery.

Note, I have been doing various small solar installs for over 20 years, starting with a 55 watt panel (that costs $350 even as a factory second) on my sailboat in 2004.


Now take the 100 watt panel I just bought for this project as an illustration it was only $49 on Amazon, so twice as many watts as the 50 watt panel back in 2004 for 1/7th the price. What hasn't change, in fact what has went up, is all the costs associated with the installation, sure the panel was just under $50, however then there is also $29 for mounting brackets, $16 for VHB tape, $11 for self leveling lap sealant, $18 for 20 ft MC-4 cables, $50 for MPPT charge controller, etc. So all total I have more into mounting and wiring the panel than the panel itself, and the MPPT Solar Charge controller costs as much as the panel itself. Sure the PWM Solar charge controller back in 2004 costs around $50 too, but of course it was only 6A, PWM not MPPT, but in terms of percentage of overall project it was much less. At the end of the though this $49 panel will end of costing me close to $200 once all is done even with DIY free labor. (Of I forgot to count the prep cost $10 can of Acetone, etc.)

[Stircrazy1]

Originally Posted by Isaac-1

I am currently in the process of re-doing / increasing the amount of Solar panels on the roof of my motorhome, I currently have 4 100 watt panels installed 10 years ago by the previous owner shortly before I bought the coach, I am now adding a pair of 305 watt panels, and a single 100 watt that will be setup to charge the chassis battery.

Note, I have been doing various small solar installs for over 20 years, starting with a 55 watt panel (that costs $350 even as a factory second) on my sailboat in 2004.


Now take the 100 watt panel I just bought for this project as an illustration it was only $49 on Amazon, so twice as many watts as the 50 watt panel back in 2004 for 1/7th the price. What hasn't change, in fact what has went up, is all the costs associated with the installation, sure the panel was just under $50, however then there is also $29 for mounting brackets, $16 for VHB tape, $11 for self leveling lap sealant, $18 for 20 ft MC-4 cables, $50 for MPPT charge controller, etc. So all total I have more into mounting and wiring the panel than the panel itself, and the MPPT Solar Charge controller costs as much as the panel itself. Sure the PWM Solar charge controller back in 2004 costs around $50 too, but of course it was only 6A, PWM not MPPT, but in terms of percentage of overall project it was much less. At the end of the though this $49 panel will end of costing me close to $200 once all is done even with DIY free labor. (Of I forgot to count the prep cost $10 can of Acetone, etc.)

yup, and if you look at bigger panels that are more popular in the industry right now the panel is even cheeper. so a 400 watt panel may be a lot cheepr than a 300 watt panel. thats why I say to put a larger controler than you think you'll need in and add panels, the panels are the cheep part. and you figure for 200 bucks your getting 700 watts so you saved a tone of money over buying a 1000 buck genny.

[David 70]

I just finished installing lithium batteries and solar to my 2005 Winnebago.
I used two 100ah batteries, two 375-watt panels, $150 each, for a total of right around $1400.

[hamm2018]

We are considering adding some more panels to our setup. We will get the company who did the original install to do the upgrade. Talking to them we were told they figure it is $750/panel for the upgrade.

Four 200-watt panels will be around $3000 for everything needed. The company that does the insult for us is Solar Energy System in Nappanee, Ind., right down the road from Newmar Repair Facility.

[SafariBen]

Your amazon panel was basically free, you just paid for shipping. If you can locate local surplus or used panels, they should run $.20-30/w, and be better quality than 99% of amazon.

[David 70]

Originally Posted by hamm2018

We are considering adding some more panels to our setup. We will get the company who did the original insult to do the upgrade. Talking to them we were told they figure it is $750/panel for the upgrade.

Four 200-watt panels will be around $3000 for everything needed. The company that does the insult for us is Solar Energy System in Nappanee, Ind., right down the road from Newmar Repair Facility.

I think you probably meant install instead of insult, but I would consider insult the better word. I installed 750 watts of solar, two 100sh batteries and all the related components for $1400. I done my own labor so that saved me I would guess $1400. My panels were commercial ones also. Of course, these companies need to make a profit, but it appears to be a bit excessive. If you are unable to do these things yourself then you are at their mercy.

[Isaac-1]

Originally Posted by SafariBen

Your amazon panel was basically free, you just paid for shipping. If you can locate local surplus or used panels, they should run $.20-30/w, and be better quality than 99% of amazon.

Normally I would agree with you, I bought my 305 watt panels cheap on facebook marketplace, they came off a storm damaged house that was damaged in hurricane Laura in 2020 (I bought them for $70 each in 2021, which I think is a good deal for then 3 year brand name LG Neon panels) but in this case the 100 watt panel needed to be a certain shape to fit in an available space, and is relatively long and skinny for a 100 watt panel (22x38 inches), vs the more common shape that is around 24x35.



Also there are no local solar suppliers or installers that I am aware of, the closest one that comes up on google search is 100 miles away.

[hamm2018]

Originally Posted by David 70

I think you probably meant install instead of insult, but I would consider insult the better word. I installed 750 watts of solar, two 100sh batteries and all the related components for $1400. I done my own labor so that saved me I would guess $1400. My panels were commercial ones also. Of course, these companies need to make a profit, but it appears to be a bit excessive. If you are unable to do these things yourself then you are at their mercy.

Yep, I meant install. "All related components for $1400", does that include inverters, solar controller, wiring, etc...?
What brand are the components?

[B-Man]

Originally Posted by hamm2018

We are considering adding some more panels to our setup. We will get the company who did the original install to do the upgrade. Talking to them we were told they figure it is $750/panel for the upgrade.

Four 200-watt panels will be around $3000 for everything needed. The company that does the insult for us is Solar Energy System in Nappanee, Ind., right down the road from Newmar Repair Facility.

Get a line item cost quote, with brand names, for what they include in the "upgrade". Share it here.

[ppine]

Actually, the price of lithium batteries and good quality solar panels and controllers continues to fall. What costs a lot is labor, so it is best to do your own.

[Isaac-1]

My point is a lot of the costs today is in the nickle and dime stuff, not the panels, things like the wiring, mounts, sealant, etc. ie using a $30 mount on a $50 panel. Solar mountings can even cost much more than the actual panels depending on the type.

[David 70]

Originally Posted by hamm2018

Yep, I meant install. "All related components for $1400", does that include inverters, solar controller, wiring, etc...?
What brand are the components?

It does not include an inverter. The coach has a small inverter for just the entertainment center. I do not intend to install any other inverter. It included two LiTime 100ah batteries, a 100/50 Victron MPPT controller and two 375-watt Longi solar, model: LR6-72HV-345m commercial panels. 38.1 volt, 9.05 amps, 46.7 volts, 46.7 open circuit volts, 9.58A short circuit current. The person I bought them from sells to solar farms. It also includes all the wiring, fuse holders, & circuit breaker. I have one more circuit breaker coming because the one between the controller and the batteries is too small. Because of the current being under 30 amps I used all 10-gauge wire. The wire runs are about 30' the longest before the controller. The wires to the batteries are under 2'. This setup runs just the 12-volt dual compressor fridge. I am using two 6-volt GC2 golf cart batteries for the rest of the coach. Those batteries are less than a year old, so I decide to leave it like this for now and see how it all works out. I've been running the fridge for 4 days now and it has been working fine.

[Stircrazy1]

Originally Posted by David 70

I just finished installing lithium batteries and solar to my 2005 Winnebago.
I used two 100ah batteries, two 375-watt panels, $150 each, for a total of right around $1400.

that still seems expensive to me. I guess you would have to list the brand names and model of everything you used. I did my 325 watt panel on the camper 5 years ago when they were more expensive, got the panel for 200.00 the controller for 200 and the two GC2 6V batteries and the wire and mounts for about 250. all in I was 650 CDN or 470US. a second panel would have taken that to 626US and 100AH liFePO4 batteries now days would add 70 bucks to the total again in US.

I am looking at up grading the 5th wheel now, 230.00 for a 400watt panel so that's 690.00. 1100-1300 bucks for a inverter/charger depending which one I go with, I'll move the old one into the camper. 30 bucks for more mounts and the wiring is already there. 329 for a new charge controler. so total that is 1250CDN (900.00 US) with out the inverter or 2300-2500 CDN with the inverter. (1656.25 to 1827.00 US) now batteries will be different as I built my own batteries, I put togeather three 304AH batteries for it

[SJ-Chris]

Originally Posted by Isaac-1

My point is a lot of the costs today is in the nickle and dime stuff, not the panels, things like the wiring, mounts, sealant, etc. ie using a $30 mount on a $50 panel. Solar mountings can even cost much more than the actual panels depending on the type.

I am a big believer in using USED solar panels on my RVs and that even further illustrates your point. On one of my RVs, I have two 250w panels that I bought for $35 each. On one of my other RVs, I had three 100w panels that I bought for $25 each.


At those prices, the solar panels seem like they are almost free (...in fact, I've even seen FREE used solar panels available in my market).


Side note: If you are worried that Used panels might not produce quite as much as brand new panels, just put up an extra one (if you have space) and call it a day


Yes, all the other components when installing solar add up (wiring, fuses, solar charge controller). And if you aren't a DIY'er, the true expense will be in the labor that an installer charges.


Happy Camping!
Chris