Shifting to the camper van life? Embarking on a month-long road trip? Going on a cross-country adventure? Part of making sure you encounter fewer hassles on your journey is having a reliable power source. Aside from fuel, having a power supply backup not only mitigates the inevitable but also, saves you energy and money. Enter, solar generator for RV.
A solar generator for RV is an innovative power source system that takes advantage of the free and renewable energy coming from the sun. This way, you are saving energy during the day (where most activities happen) and then use up your main power source (batteries or fuel) at night.
With our environment slowly deteriorating because of technology and its effects like excess carbon emissions, advocates are encouraging people to use renewable energy sources instead. Opting for a solar generator, either as backup or as your main energy source, allows you to take a part in environmental preservation.
Another advantage of using a power solar generator is portability. The camper van life leaves you with carrying only the bare essentials due to limited space in your vehicle. And also, it limits you from using your electronic gadgets since it may be hard to look for places to charge them. With a portable solar generator, you can now enjoy unlimited charges during the day.
When scouting for a solar power generator for RV, you have to check its power capacity versus the equipment you have that needs it to work. Usually, you have to look for the surge power and continuous power ratings and compare it with your equipment’s specifications.
Meanwhile, you should also consider charging and running times. This is for you to plan on its usage accordingly.
We researched for the best solar generator for RV and came up with our most recommended list. Check them here.
Best Solar Generator for RVs – (Comparison)
| Name | Key Feature | |
| BLUETTI AC200P Portable Power Station with Solar Panel – (Editor’s Choice) | Rated 2,000-watts continuous power and 4,800-watts surge power | Check Price |
| EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station DELTA | With a total of 13 ports for multi-device charging | Check Price |
| Jackery Solar Generator 1000 | Comes with 2 100-watt solar panels | Check Price |
BLUETTI AC200P Portable Power Station with Solar Panel – Editor’s Choice
This solar generator for RV is a complete system that includes solar panels and a power station. You can also add more panels to shorten its charging time. Because of its power output and being a whole system, it can be used for off-grid living, as well as the best solar generator for camping.
The included 3 pieces of 200-watt solar panels are said to be made of monocrystalline solar cells that are 5 percent more efficient than the traditional ones. They are also foldable for easy storage and can stand at an angle to catch the most sunlight in any direction.
The 3 solar panels in series allow for 5 to 6 hours of charging time but can be shortened to 3 to 4 hours by adding 2 more panels. Just a note though that you cannot charge the power station using a single solar panel; it has to be 3 120-watt or 200-watt solar panels connected in series.
Meanwhile, the solar panels are critical to a solar generator for RV’s performance. More so, it has to be durable, easy to clean, and scratch-proof to withstand off-grid living conditions. And that is exactly what the solar panels included in the BLUETTI AC200P Portable Power Station are.
As a backup solar generator, it can provide continuous power for up to 4 hours. Also, it can give out 2,000 watts of continuous load power and surge power of 4,800 watts.
What I love most about this solar generator for RV is its power station. It can be powered by the included solar panels, but in case of gloomy weather, you can still use it by recharging it from your car battery (must be rated 12-volt or 24-volt for about 10 hours). Meanwhile, you can also charge it directly from an AC outlet for about 2.5 hours.
The BLUETTI AC200P Portable Power Station has enough power to juice up the bigger appliances in your RV like the refrigerator and TV. The solar panels are foldable so you do not need to leave them out in your RV permanently (which you should avoid doing to prolong its lifetime).
Pros
- Complete solar generator system – power station, solar panels, charging cables, and AC adapter included
- Rated 2,000-watts continuous power and 4,800-watts surge power
- 3-way charging for the power station – via the solar panels, direct to AC outlet, and from your 12-volt or 24-volt car battery
Cons
- Expensive
Conclusion
The BLUETTI AC200P Portable Power Station is a great choice for off-grid living with its power capacity, charging flexibility, and being a complete portable power station with a solar panel system itself.
EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station DELTA
This solar generator for RV utilizes multiple charging sources for flexibility. You can plug it in an AC outlet source, in your car charger, and of course, in a 10-65-volt, 400-watt DC input solar panel (not included, though). You can also connect several solar panels in parallel or series to achieve the specifications.
This portable battery generator can charge up to 13 devices at a time. It has ports for AC (6), fast-charge (2), USB-A (2), USB-C (2), and a car charging port. This allows it to support multiple appliances and devices, making it a reliable solar generator for RV and even a backup power source for homes.
Meanwhile, the EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station DELTA also boasts of its fast-charging capability courtesy of the X-stream technology. This allows this portable solar power generator to be beefed up completely 10 times faster than other solar generator for RVs in its class when plugged in an AC source. That is approximately getting 80 percent charge in an hour.
The EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station DELTA can provide 1,260 watts, with 1,800-watts continuous AC power and 3,300-watt surge power. For safety, it features overload protection and auto-shutoff when the battery temperature reaches a critically high level.
This solar generator for RV can power up your camper van’s appliances for several hours depending on their power ratings. It can also make equipment that is high-demanding in terms of power like power tools, heating, and cooling equipment. This makes it a great power source backup for power outages or off-grid areas.
Pros
- Multiple charging sources – solar panel, AC source, car charger
- Equipped with X-stream technology for lightning-fast charging
- Rated 1,260 watt-hours; 1,800-watt continuous AC power and 3,300 surge power
- With overload and overheating protection
- Comes with an LCD panel to display important information like battery status, temperature, etc.
- With a total of 13 ports for different devices to be charged
Cons
- Does not include solar panels
Conclusion
The EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station DELTA is a versatile power station that is great for RVs and even for home use. This solar generator for RV’s best feature for me is the x-stream technology for fast charging.
Jackery Solar Generator 1000
Get clean and unlimited power from a solar generator for RV. This portable solar power station produces lower power output than the other products on this list, but, it is still enough to power your essential equipment and devices during trips. This makes it a good choice for a solar powered generator for camping.
This solar generator for RV has a 1,002-watt capacity, providing enough running power for bigger appliances (full-sized refrigerator) down to your electronic gadgets (to charge smartphones or tablets). It also has 7 output ports; 3 ports for 110-volt, 1,000-watt AC power, a port for quick charging, 2 USB-C ports, and a 5-volt, 2.4-ampere port.
The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 is a good choice for a solar generator for camping and is ready to use since it already includes 2 SolarSaga 100-watt solar panels. The panels of this solar generator for RV are made of ETFE material that has efficient and higher light transmittance, which at the same time, increases its life cycle.
This solar portable power’s battery management system is integrated with 6-layers of protection to prolong its life and provide consistent and reliable performance.
Pros
- Rated 1,002 watt-hours
- Comes with 2 100-watt solar panels
- Has 7 output ports – 110-volt, 1,000-watt AC (3), quick charging (1), USB-C port (2), and 5-volt, 2.4-ampere (1)
- 6-layer battery protection
Cons
- The power station can be charged only with solar panels
Conclusion
The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 is a great travel companion during summer camps and trips.
Final Verdict
The best solar powered generator should be able to provide you with enough power for your needs whether you are going on a camping trip or decide to lead a camper van life. Though your power needs are subjective, getting a higher-power-rated solar generator for RV allows room for flexibility for its applications and increases its reliability.
The best portable solar generator on this list, for us, is the BLUETTI AC200P Portable Power Station with Solar Panel.
The BLUETTI AC200P Portable Power Station with Solar Panel is a complete system that is powerful enough to support off-grid living like the camper van life. Our choice for the best solar generator also makes a reliable power backup for homes because of its power capacity, which is at 2,000 watts.