Solar Panels for Mobile Homes

Are you considering installing solar panels for your mobile home? Feeling lost in the maze of information surrounding it? Well, have no fear, in this post, we will cover the basics of having a solar panels for mobile homes and if it’s right for you.

So, what are solar panels and how do they work?

Ok, so basically these are panels made up of photovoltaic cells, which take sunshine and turn it into electricity, there are generally two types of panels available, polycrystalline panels and monocrystalline panels, the latter being better in low cloud situations. To enable your solar panels to give you electricity the power is stored into batteries by use of a box called a charge controller, this takes the DC electricity (direct current) and stores it into batteries which can then be connected to an inverter which takes the DC energy and turns it into AC (alternating current) energy for you to power things such as televisions, air conditioning, computers, fridges etc.

What are the benefits of installing solar panels for mobile homes?

Well arguably the biggest benefit is the savings you will have for electricity bills! Once the initial cost is paid the panels will in effect pay for themselves very quickly, sometimes in as much as just six months! And then you basically have free electric until either batteries or panels etc, need replacing.

Also with solar panels this means that no matter where you are located as long as you have sunshine (or light cloud if using the monocrystalline panels) you have power, so no need to be hooked up to utility or generators. Solar panels for mobile homes are underutilized!

So you can be watching TV or playing games in the middle of the desert miles from the nearest hook-up!

How many panels do I need?

Well this is the $64,000 question, as this all depends on what your usage is: if you are a low user, then you need less panels, and less batteries, if you are a high user then you need more panels and more batteries. So to help you work this out we have a link to a handy evaluator so you can work out what your system would need to be and how much it would be. We’ve also written a blog where you can learn more about how many solar panels you might need and more considerations for this, which might help you make a decision.

How easy is it to add panels to your mobile home?

As with everything, it can be as easy or difficult as you make it. We always suggest you use a professional service to install your panels, BUT, if price is a factor then a DIY installation is also possible. There are multiple options for panels from flexible to fixed, and multiple battery options from Lead acid (as in car batteries) to lithium batteries which provide better power and can be discharged (used) more than normal Lead acid ones. You can also run different voltage systems from 12 volt to 48 volt, but to keep this simple we won’t delve into that now. Most standard systems are either 12 or 24-volt systems with the use of an inverter to give mains power for anything that you would normally plug in, like a fridge, washer/dryer etc. You can fix the panels to the roof of the mobile home or you can build a frame next to it to fit the panels onto. The choice is yours and will depend on what your local rules are, flexible panels can be fixed directly to the roof and are then not easily noticed, fixed panels can also be fitted to the roof or fitted to a frame so would be a more permanent type of fixture.

So in conclusion adding solar panels to your mobile home is a great idea for not only saving you money in the long term, but also being more environmentally friendly for the planet. It also makes you more independent! If you want to learn more about solar panels and mobile homes from the mobile home experts, check out their blog on this topic!