Which BLUETTI Solar Power Generator is Best For RV?

The Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) did a study that shows that there are 11.2 million RV-owning households in the U.S in 2021. However, the report shows 16.9 million households express a strong interest in purchasing an RV within the next five years.

This rapidly growing market correlates with that of the solar market. From 2010 to 2020, the U.S. solar market grew at an average annual rate of 42%, per SEIA.

More and more people who own RVs are becoming interested in powering their recreational vehicles with solar power.

And for good reason, previously less accessible (off-grid) locations are now becoming a viable option for an RV equipped with solar and a battery storage system.

In this article, we will talk about the ever-more-popular use of solar power generators and why they may actually be the best option for your RV.

Can You Power an RV With a Solar Power Generator?

Yes, absolutely!

Solar power generators come in various shapes and sizes, of which the size (or capacity) is the most important factor you should be paying attention to.

Generally, solar-powered generators are rated in size by watt-hours (Wh). This indicates their capacity.

The less Wh, the "smaller" the solar generator.

Small solar generators are unlikely to have much impact on your RV. They just don't have the capacity to meet most RV energy demands.

So, can you power an RV with a solar generator? This all depends on what your RV energy demands are and what size solar generator we are talking about.

We will go into detail on this a little later.

How Many Solar Panels Do I Need For An RV?

All solar-powered generators come with attachable solar panels, which you can connect in series to create one giant, powerful solar panel.

For example, here at BLUETTI, our largest single solar panel is rated at 350 watts, with a high conversion efficiency of up to 23.4%.

Perhaps in a campervan with less energy demand, a 350-watt panel might do. But in an RV, you are going to need more power.

But just how much power are we going to need?

According to Climatebiz, an RV will use between 4–15kWh a day.

That translates to 4000 Wh-15,000 Wh a day or 120kWh - 450kWh a month.

Below, we will show you a formula that will help you determine the number of solar panels/power you will need based on your RV's energy consumption.

First things first, determine your RV's energy consumption. The easiest way to do this will be to write down each of your RV's appliances, their power rating, and how long you use them each day.

Check our example below:

As you can see from our example above, our RV uses a total of 4,848 Wh per day or 145 kWh per month.

Next, you need to establish how many peak sun hours your area receives.

You can find this information on the Global Solar Atlas.

Simply type in the location of your RV and find out the GHI or Global Horizontal Irradiation your area receives each day.

Once you have this number, multiply it by 30 to get your area's monthly peak sun hours.

For our example, we are using Texas.

4.9 X 30 = 147 peak sun hours each month.

Now let's follow the formula:

145 divided by 147 = 0.98

0.98 X 1000 = 980 watts.

For our example RV, we are going to need at least 980 watts of solar panels to make up for our energy demands.

But what about at night? How do we get electricity when there is no sun for our solar panels?

What Size Solar Generator Do I Need For An RV?

This is where battery storage comes into play. Once again, we are going to need to revert to the table we recently created.

Our RV uses a total of 4,848 Wh per day.

Seeing as solar will power our RV for half the day, we need to ensure that our solar generator has enough capacity to power our appliances for at least half a day.

So, 4,848 divided by 2 = 2,424 Wh.

Our solar-powered generator will need a bare minimum of about 2,424 Wh to have any chance of powering our RV's appliances.

Generally, most people want some autonomy, so they add more capacity to ensure that their battery storage system can power their RV for an extended period of time (should there be a long period of overcast weather).

Our Recommendations

With all this being said, the best solar-powered generator for an RV would definitely be one of BLUETTI's two-star products. Here's what's on the show:

BLUETTI AC200L Solar Generator

Our BLUETTI AC200L Solar Generator will ensure you get 2,048 Wh of capacity, expandable up to 7,577.6 Wh for the RV.

If you are looking to gain some autonomy for your RV, then you will need to increase the amount of battery storage onboard.

The best thing about our AC200L is that it is able to expand its storage capacity by adding up to two B300K batteries, giving you plenty of power for extended trips or emergencies.

And if this is still not enough power, you can rely on its NEMA TT-30 port for RVs, 2,400W output (surge 4,800W), and Power Lifting Mode of 3,600W, ensuring that even heavy-duty appliances can run seamlessly during outages or off-grid adventures.

Apex 300 Versatile Power Station

For RV owners who want reliable off-grid power, the BLUETTI Apex 300 with B300K expansion is built to deliver. It starts with a base capacity of 2,764.8 Wh and can be expanded up to 58 kWh with additional battery packs.

The unit provides 3,840W of continuous output with a Power Lifting Mode of 7,680W. With dual 120V and 240V support, you can run your air conditioner, cooktop, refrigerator, and other RV essentials with ease.

The Apex300 is more than a generator. It is a complete energy system. You can connect multiple units to reach 11.52 kW of output and extend runtime for days of comfort and convenience.

It offers 0ms UPS switching, 2.4kW-30kW solar input, and EnerBalance AI battery management. This means clean energy, efficient charging, and smart power distribution.

Final Thoughts

Now you know how much power your RV needs for easy living. The more appliances you add for your convenience, the more power needs will grow. We've recommended two best solutions to power your RV. Both BLUETTI AC200L and Apex 300 can cater to your power needs and can be extended as needed. Select the right BLUETTI solar generator for your RV depending on your specific power requirements.

FAQs

1. Can I run all my RV appliances on backup power?

No, most backup systems can't handle every appliance at once. You need to prioritize essentials like the fridge, lights, and chargers.

2. How do I know what size backup power system my RV needs?

Check the total daily energy use of your appliances. Then choose a system that covers that demand with some extra capacity.

3. Is solar a good option for RV power backup?

Yes, solar is popular for RVs as it's renewable and quiet. It also reduces dependence on fuel during long trips.