You've probably seen more than a few of them on the roads now, and in increasing numbers: RVs with an RV solar panel attached to their roofs. And if you have an RV of your own, you're doubtlessly wondering how you can get one of those panel RV solar setups yourself. Well you can. And here's what you need to know so you can do it.

The first thing to realize is that you are probably not going to be able to generate enough power to fill all your electricity needs for a whole day with your new RV solar panel. A single 50 watt RV solar panel will generate approximately 200 watts of power per day (given sunny circumstances, that is), especially when you consider that it is only during the heat of the day, when the sun is highest in the sky, that the RV solar panel will get the bulk of its charge.

Now, 200 watts is certainly nothing to shake a stick at. Far from trying to discourage you from undertaking this admirable task, we just want to advise you go into it with realistic expectations. The purpose of an RV solar panel should be to supplement your available power, not provide all of it.

With that in mind, it's a good idea to first sit down and figure out how much supplemental power you'd (realistically) like your RV solar panel system to generate for you. How much power are you planning to run? What is the wattage on your TV, fan, blender, etc. and how long do you intend to run each of them in one day. If you think you'll be using 800 watts, for example, then you'll need to install 4 panels. If you live in less sunnier climes, you may need more.

The best and most resourceful idea is to get yourself a deep cycle battery (or two or three) so that you can charge up when the sun's out and an inverter so that you can plug right in and utilize the solar power you've collected whenever you need it, even if it's dark or raining out.

Be sure, however, that either your batteries or your RV solar panel have a charging controller that will meter the charging process and shut it down before you overcharge your batteries. Barring that, an additional battery charge meter is invaluable. Without one, you risk prematurely reducing the lifespan of your RV solar panel batteries.

When you install the panel RV solar, tilt it upwards so that you can catch the most sun during its peak hours (11am-3pm) when it's highest in the sky. Do also take care to keep in mind the new height of your RV now that it's got an RV solar panel on top of it. The last thing you want to do is smack that into a low underpass, right?