DIY Instructions

System Sizing: By Rules of Thumb

If you are unable to go “boondocking” to determine how many amp hours you consume on an average day, then using the following “Rules of Thumb” will give you a fairly good estimate of how much solar you should design for.

1. Use a minimum of 100 watts of solar for basic battery maintenance on Trailers and Fifth Wheels.

2. Use a minimum of 200 watts of solar for basic battery maintenance on MotorHomes.

3. For the more conservative consumers of electricity: Allow 200 to 300 amp hours of Battery Storage Capacity and 200 to 300 watts of solar panels.

4. For the more Liberal consumers of electricity: Allow 400 to 600 amp hours of Battery Storage Capacity and 400 to 600 watts of solar panels.

5. For serious “boondockers” with Mobile Offices and/or have residential refrigerators: Allow 600 to 800 amp hours of Battery Storage Capacity and 800 or more watts of solar panels.

Keep in mind that you can start out with one or two solar panels and add more if needed. Expansion is easy with the appropriate SunRunner System Cores and the use of our Combiner Boxes.