Installing solar panels sounds simple enough. You just toss ’em on the roof, plug a few things in, and off you go—unlimited solar energy. Not quite. In fact, many things can and will go wrong if you fail to mind your Ps and Qs in the process.
For starters, solar panels aren’t as simple as they appear to be. There’s a lot going on beneath that glossy black surface. There are also vendors out there who are more than happy to sell you a cheap product. Current solar panel costs make these vendors highly attractive to undiscerning consumers.
Proper installation, positioning, maintenance, and care also play a role. Taken together, improper solar panel installation can cause a host of problems. The good news? While this guide won’t solve every solar issue, it’ll help you avoid the most common mistakes—especially when it comes to positioning your panels for maximum efficiency.
Understanding Solar Panel Efficiency
Solar panels, even the best of them, are not really that efficient. According to the Center for Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan, the average solar panel today will convert around 21% of sunlight into energy. Doesn’t sound quite as snazzy as the adverts lead you to believe, does it?
With the conversion percentage being so low, you want to make sure you get every last ounce of performance out of these puppies. If your angle is off, or if the panel isn’t receiving direct sunlight, that low percentage conversion gets even lower.
As you can imagine, the higher the quality of the internal components (primarily the monocrystalline/polycrystalline/thin-film cells and semiconductors), the more efficient and expensive the solar panel is. There are a couple of ways to understand a solar panel’s efficiency.
First, you can check the wattage rating on the panel—the higher, the better. Second, you can check the cell type. There are actually several types of cells.
- Monocrystalline: Average efficiency of 19% (The most common type RVers get.)
- Polycrystalline: Average efficiency of 17%
- Half-Cut MBB Heterojunction: Average efficiency of 21%
- Half-Cut Monocrystalline PERC MBB: Average efficiency of 20%
- Half-Cut Monocrystalline PERC: Average efficiency of 19%
- N-Type: Average efficiency of 22%
- Shingled Monocrystalline PERC: Average efficiency of 20%
- Shingled Monocrystalline: Average efficiency of 19%
Keep those in mind if you’re looking for a new solar panel.
Proper Angle Alignment
Setting your panels up in a flat or horizontal position will drastically reduce their overall efficiency. They have to be installed at an angle that will change from time to time throughout the year. Even though the sun rises in the west and sets in the east, it’s not quite that simple.
You also need to account for the earth’s tilt and movement. For best results, you want your panels to face south (in the northern hemisphere) or north (in the southern hemisphere) because this maximizes exposure to the sun throughout the day.
Now, for the tilt: the angle of your panels should be adjusted based on your latitude. In winter, tilt them 15° more than your latitude (to catch lower sun angles). In summer, tilt them 15° less than your latitude (to catch the higher sun). For example, if your latitude is 35°, in the winter, you’d tilt them to 50°, and in the summer, tilt them to 20°.
If you’re aiming for even more precision, small adjustments (like 2.5°) can be made in the spring and fall, but the general 15° rule should work for most RV setups. Just make sure your hardware allows for easy adjustments, especially if your panels are mounted on the roof.
The Common Mistake: Fixed Positioning
For homeowners, it is a pain in the badonkadonk to get up on the roof and make manual adjustments or refinance the house to afford an automated base. For RVers with roof-mounted panels, it’s worse because you have to be conscious of how you park your RV, not to mention making any tilt adjustments afterward (depending on how your panels are installed).
It’s safer to go with a flexible solar panel setup. Corner brackets allow the panels to tilt and are reasonably affordable. Portable solar panels are another good option, so long as you don’t mind giving up some storage space for them. The only drawback is having to set them up each time.
If your RV’s solar panels are laying flat, you’re losing at least 20% of their efficiency, and possibly more depending on the direction your RV is facing.
Benefits of Tilting Solar Panels
The obvious benefit is the efficiency gain from more direct sunlight. In general, the type of solar panels that will allow you to tilt easily will be flexible or portable, which means they are lightweight and easier to mount. You can also use these types of solar panels in more applications than just throwing them on your roof.
If they are on your roof, the tilt also allows for more airflow across the roof throughout the day, which is a boon for those trying to stay cool in the summer while maximizing solar panel efficiency. The hardware for flexible solar panel designs is cheaper and doesn’t require any drilling.
It’s always a preventative maintenance battle to keep your RV roof in tip-top shape to avoid leaks. Drilling holes to mount solar panels only creates more preventative work for you to cover in the long term.
Now, to be clear, you will be just fine with flat panels. They will work. However, you will definitely lose efficiency, but on a level that’s nowhere near as comparable to a three to four-bedroom home. At the same time, it’s best to get the most out of your system whenever possible.
Again, calculate your latitude based on your zip code (simple enough to do on Google). Add 15° in the summer and subtract the same in the winter. You can also use online solar tilt calculators, which will either tell you your current latitude or suggest the tilt angle for you based on your location.
How To Tilt Your Solar Panels
How you tilt your panels depends on the panels and whether or not they are installed on your roof. Adjustable ground and roof-mounted panels are usually designed to hinge on one edge, and you essentially raise and drop that edge only. With these, it’s even more important to orient your RV correctly.
A simple solar angle guide is small enough to fit in your pocket and easy to clip onto the edge of your solar panel. There are a ton of brands available on Amazon, so take your pick.
Now, pole-based solar panels typically pivot from the center, which makes sense for these types. Again, a solar angle guide will work just fine on one of these. Just clip it to the top of the solar panel, where the angle is elevated, and adjust the solar panel accordingly.
Choosing the Right Equipment
So, what’s it going to be—roof-mounted or portable/flexible solar panels? It may come as a surprise to learn that the most expensive option, roof-mounted, is not necessarily more efficient than portable solar panels. The efficiency of solar panels depends on factors such as proper tilt, positioning, and shading rather than the type of mounting alone.
Portable solar panels are generally easier to adjust for optimal sunlight exposure, which can make them more efficient in practice. They also tend to have a longer lifespan since they aren’t permanently fixed to the RV and are less exposed to harsh weather conditions year-round.
Roof-mounted panels, on the other hand, are often heavier and more challenging to install, sometimes requiring professional help. They can be harder to maintain and less versatile in terms of positioning. If you prefer roof-mounted panels, consider using portable options that can be fixed in place while camping and then removed afterward.
Solar Panel Tilting Kits
Most flexible, portable solar panels are easy enough to tilt when needed. However, for RV roof mounts, a tilt mount bracket base is the simplest and most effective solution.
They’re relatively affordable if you can climb up there and manually title the panels when needed. There are some other neat options out there as well, so don’t be too hasty in your decision-making process.
The above campervan YouTube option is a personal project from IVEVAN, but there are similar alternatives on the market as well.
Maintenance and Care for Tilted Solar Panels
Keep these things clean. Dust on the surface is enough to drastically reduce sunlight intake. Since these things are only sucking in about 20% of the sunlight anyway, you don’t want to lose anymore because of neglect. All you need to do is wipe them down. A more significant cleaning should be done twice per year.
Yes, that Netflix show or that NFL game looks pretty good, but get out there and clean your panels first. Both will still be there when you get back. It doesn’t take long, after all. Stick with a soft cloth (microfiber works well) or a sponge and a mild detergent (sponge and detergent for bi-annual cleaning). There’s no need to bust out some bleach.
It’s best to clean them early in the morning or in the evening so the water doesn’t initiate a drastic temperature change on the surface of a solar panel that’s been exposed to the sun all day. While you’re cleaning, check for anything out of the ordinary—any obstructions and such.
Make sure your hinges are lubricated, and go over all of your wiring connections, checking for exposure and corrosion. Make sure everything is securely attached and nothing is hanging loose or might possibly come loose if it remains unattended.
Conclusion
There you have it—solar panels are most efficient when you take care of them and tilt them the right way, according to the time of year. Everyone has their own preferences, but it’s best to stick with portable, flexible solar options. Sure, you have to drag them out each and every time, but they’re more efficient, last longer, and you won’t need to drill holes in your RV roof.
That is unless you just like drilling holes in stuff. If that’s the case, there are plenty of pretty awesome solar panels and bracket types out there for you to choose from. Ultimately, solar panels will do a lot for your power consumption and savings needs throughout the extent of your RVing.
Some good solar panels will help you stay off the grid for a little longer or boondock a little more excessively if you want. Just remember to treat them right, keep them clean, and know what you’re doing when you bust them out for the very first time.
Thank You For Your Vote!
Sorry You have Already Voted!
