Home / Solar planning examples
RV Solar Calculator
This modest camping example uses 695 Wh per day. It helps estimate daily energy replacement and battery storage; it does not promise that a particular panel kit will fit your roof or run your RV.
Load this example in the calculator →
Illustrative inputs · 12 V nominal battery · 2 days of autonomy · LiFePO4 assumption. No signup required.
Example daily energy budget
| Appliance | Running W | Hours/day | Quantity | Wh/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 V compressor refrigerator | 45 | 8 | 1 | 360 |
| LED bulb | 5 | 5 | 4 | 100 |
| Ventilation fan | 20 | 8 | 1 | 160 |
| Phone charger | 10 | 3 | 2 | 60 |
| Small water pump | 60 | 0.25 | 1 | 15 |
| Daily energy before system losses | 695 Wh | |||
Separate daily energy from running power
The refrigerator contributes 360 Wh in this example, the lights 100 Wh, the fan 160 Wh, the phones 60 Wh and the pump 15 Wh. A device's running watts multiplied by its equivalent daily operating hours gives watt-hours. Replace these illustrative numbers with measurements. Hot weather, ventilation and door opening can change refrigerator consumption.
Estimate roof solar
At an assumed 4.5 peak sun hours, 695 ÷ 4.5 × 1.3 gives a 201 W energy-only target. At 3 hours it becomes 301 W. The main calculator rounds to its available panel sizes, so its displayed array can be larger. Roof vents, air conditioners, shade and mounting clearances can prevent the suggested panel arrangement from fitting. Compare physical panel dimensions before purchasing.
Battery storage and DC loads
This example starts with a 12 V battery and two days of autonomy. The calculator applies a 90% inverter-efficiency allowance to every load, including DC loads, so it is an approximation for a mixed RV system. Its LiFePO4 target rounds to 150 Ah at 12 V, or 1.8 kWh nominal. Check the actual battery's nominal voltage, usable capacity, charging temperature range and discharge limits.
What is outside this example
Air conditioning, electric heat, microwave cooking, hair dryers and induction cooking are excluded. Add them explicitly if needed; their energy and starting loads can change the system substantially. Alternator and shore-power charging are not credited by this tool. A vehicle installation also needs suitable fusing, cable sizing, mounting, grounding and a compatible charge profile; the result is not a vehicle electrical design.
How equipment suggestions work
Run the calculator with your own inputs to see any available equipment candidates. Candidates are screened by the specifications stated alongside them. They are not a complete compatible kit, and prices are shown by the retailer. We do not claim to have installed or field-tested these example systems.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Related planning tools
Prepared by BestChain Inc. Updated September 22, 2026. About our calculation limits.