RICH SOLAR FAQ

Our dealership and wholesale program is available for anyone looking to sell RICH SOLAR quality products. Check out our Wholesale page or contact us for any dealer or wholesale inquiries.

We respect anyone who is currently or has previously served in the armed forces for their service to our country. As such, we offer every veteran and active military personnel a 10% discount with valid proof of service.

Sign up to receive our email communications in the footer of the website. You will be the first to know about any email exclusive deals and product launches.

Your warranty is activated the moment you make a purchase. To register your product, please visit the Product Registration page and fill out the appropriate information.

You can find the manuals for your specific product on the product page online. Or, you can visit our Learning Center for a list of all the manuals available for our products. If you have any further questions, please contact our tech department, and they’ll be happy to help.

The quickest methods to purchase RICH SOLAR products would be through our website or by calling our customer service representatives.

Some of our products are also available to purchase through third-party distributors. Check your local solar power outlet to see if they have any RICH SOLAR products available or request them so they’re always in stock.

Please review our Warranty page to go over the limited warranty on all RICH SOLAR products.

We’re sorry you couldn’t find the answer to your question on our FAQ page. If you still have a question or can’t find the answer to your question on the website, you can call us at 1-800-831-9889 or visit our contact page and email one of our specialists with your questions.

Solar power gives your RV the ability to run any of your electrical appliances without needing to worry about power sources. Solar panels convert the sun’s energy into direct current electricity (DC), charging your RV’s batteries and storing electricity. A power inverter converts the DC power to alternative current (AC) which runs many of your appliances on the RV.

Solar power gives your RV the ability to run any of your electrical appliances without worrying about power sources. Solar panels convert the sun’s rays into direct current electricity (DC), charging your RV’s batteries and storing electricity. A power inverter converts the DC power to alternative current (AC) that many of your appliances use on the RV. 

Grid-tied systems connect and work directly with your utility grid, offering an alternative energy source in addition to what your utility company provides. You can greatly or completely reduce your electricity bill by utilizing grid-tied systems. In addition, depending on the size of your system, you may receive monetary returns.

Off-grid systems are not connected to the utility grid and are sustained using a battery bank. The battery bank connects to an inverter that converts DC voltage to AC voltage, allowing you to use any AC appliances or electronics. Common off-grid applications include cabins, RVs, boats, and camps. Off-grid systems can also be used in a variety of other applications, including emergency power backup during a power outage.

Any of your appliances can adequately run on solar power. However, you may need other components to transfer the power generated from a solar panel successfully. 

Most common home appliances run on AC power, such as a TV. As such, you will need an inverter to properly transfer the power from AC to DC.

 Off-grid refrigerators like those used in RVs can run on either DC or AC. Depending on the specific type, you may need an inverter.

Water pumps can also run on solar power, but be sure to read the manual to check to see if an inverter is needed.

Depending on the number of appliances, how much power they use, whether you are grid-tied or off-grid, and the size of the battery bank you have installed (including if you have a battery bank), the exact length of time can change drastically. Call our customer service representatives at 1-800-831-9889, or contact us through email at support@richsolar.com so we can help determine your requirements.

Amps is the unit of measure for an electrical current, or the speed/rate of electrons. Volts measure the electrical voltage, or how much power pushes electricity through a conductor. Watts is the amount of power produced by the combination of amps and volts.

Solar kits offer the basics of an off-grid solar system. They contain a solar panel, solar charge controller, and cables. A solar system, also called a solar energy system or a solar power system, refers to all the components that convert sunlight into electricity. It can refer to a solar kit, but it can also include other parts like an inverter, switch, battery charger, and more.

If you have a battery as part of your solar power system, you absolutely need a solar charge controller. A controller regulates the energy that’s generated from the solar panels and transferred into the battery, preventing the battery from overcharging. This prevents the battery from being discharged through the solar panel during the night.

You don’t need an inverter if you’re only charging your battery. However, if you want to use the battery to run different appliances, like a TV or a refrigerator, you need an inverter to convert the DC power to AC power.

A modified sine wave inverter is less expensive but uses up to 30% more power and cannot run at full capacity, which causes many devices to run poorly. A pure sine wave inverter is more expensive, but it provides better power efficiency and minimal interference versus a modified sine wave inverter. RICH SOLAR recommends using a pure sine wave inverter for your solar power needs.

Wherever there is sunlight, solar panels will generate electricity. Cooler conditions, like those during the winter, can help improve solar panel performance. Solar panels can still generate electricity in cloudy conditions, just not as efficiently. The panel won't generate any electricity if there is any snow build-up on it, so make sure to keep the panel clear. This goes for any type of obstruction including shade or dirt.

Solar panels don’t always need a roof penetration for installation. Most times, they can be permanently mounted on the roof using a sealant. Alternatively, they can be installed on the ground.

If you’re buying from RICH SOLAR, all the cables you need for your power pack and/or solar panels are included with your purchase. However, it’s recommended to always have a few backups just in case.

At RICH SOLAR, we have nominal 12V and 24V panels. Whether the panels work with a 12V, 24V, or 48V system depends on the kind of controller you use. All the RICH SOLAR controllers work with the 12V and 24V systems, but only the 60 amp controller will work with a 48V system.

Charging time is affected by weather, shade, angle of the panels, time of day, age and use of the battery, efficiency of the controller, position of the panels, and a variety of other factors. The best way to determine how long your battery charges is by reviewing the manual and spec sheets.

You can recharge your batteries with every RICH SOLAR MEGA Series panels, including lead acid, deep cycle, gel-cell, and heavy-duty batteries.

If you have a solar charge controller installed in your system, there is no danger of a reverse current draining your battery.

Yes, but only if it’s used without the charge controller, which is why it’s important to always use one when you have a battery.

Yes, you can run your 110V appliances with your solar power system using an inverter. The inverter connects your solar panel to your battery, converting the DC energy into AC energy, and allowing you to power your appliances.

Yes our MEGA Series solar panels are weatherproofed, so your solar panel can be left outdoors without any additional protection.

Use a multimeter to accurately read the panel’s voltage. Under full sun, the multimeter should read 20-22V DC.

The solar panels are designed to permanently connect to your battery, so you don’t need to ever disconnect them when driving your RV or charging your battery from other sources.

If your wires are too short and you can’t readjust the distance between the hardware, you will need to buy longer cables. Please only purchase additional cables through the RICH SOLAR store.

Monocrystalline solar panels use a single silicon crystal during production whereas polycrystalline uses multiple fragmented silicon crystals.

Monocrystalline panels are more expensive but are more efficient. They also appear black and use less space. Polycrystalline panels are less expensive but are less efficent. They appear blue and require a little more space.

The size difference doesn’t take away from their energy output. A 100W monocrystalline panel will produce the same amount of energy as a 100W polycrystalline panel, but it will do so using less space than the polycrystalline.

The RICH SOLAR MEGA Series solar panels have a performance warranty of 25 years. After 5 years of use, the panels should output more than 95% of the rated power. After 10 years, that output is 90%, and after 25 years, the output should be 80%.

The RICH SOLAR MEGA Series solar panels are weatherproofed and are well suited for extreme weather conditions. The panels are waterproof and are functional in temperatures ranging from -40°C (-40°F) to 90°C (194°F).

However, the controllers, although operational between -35°C (-31°F) to 55°C (131°F), are not waterproof and should be securely stored in a well-ventilated, dry space.

Solar panels can still charge on cloudy days depending on the conditions. If it’s overcast and cloudy, with no light coming through, then it won’t charge. However, if it’s cloudy and bright, the solar panels will charge, but not at full capacity.

Whether you have an off-grid or grid-tied system, your solar power system will continue to generate power during a blackout so long as the sun is out.

At RICH SOLAR, we recommend cleaning your panels either weekly or bi-weekly so you can continue to achieve high performance and optimal energy generation.

The answer depends on your solar power system setup. Using the RICH SOLAR ALPHA 1 Battery as an example, if you had a kit of solar panels that produce 1200 watts, it would take 1-2 hours to charge the battery. If you only had one 200-watt solar panel, it would take 6-7 hours to charge the battery.

All RICH SOLAR MEGA Series solar panels come with solar connector cables (male and female).

RICH SOLAR flexible solar panels are primarily used to charge solar-compatible batteries, which can be used to power devices and small appliances in off-grid situations like camping, hunting, film productions, and power outages.

Many new motorhomes, campers and travel trailers are built with solar outlets to power the auxiliary battery. You’ll need to ensure that the cabling has an MC4 connector to be compatible with our panels. If it does not, then you will need to purchase an adapter.

In addition, many DIYers or organizations modify 12V batteries, like car batteries, for solar-compatible charging to power vehicles or other types of large equipment. This may require purchasing additional equipment, including a charge controller that regulates voltages to your battery and your devices. Always use caution and take protective measures when performing any DIY project, especially those involving electricity.

If your device has a cable with MC4 connections (a common electrical connector for solar panels), then it can be charged directly; however, we do not recommend this because it could be harmful to your devices and equipment and void warranties. Instead, we highly recommend charging a solar-compatible battery via a compatible charge controller, and then charging or powering your device from that charge controller and battery. This provides you with the flexibility to charge your device from virtually anywhere.

Every RICH SOLAR flexible panel comes with MC4 connector cables (male and female).

An MC4 connector is a popular solar output connection for panels in the 50 to 180-watt range. RICH SOLAR flexible solar panels require your battery, charge controller or other device(s) to have cables with MC4 connectors. You can also use a suitable adapter.

However, MC4 connectors do not include any electronic components that control current or voltage levels. Accordingly, the various components of your particular system may not be compatible simply because they all don't have MC4 connectors. You still need to verify the electrical operating conditions of each component of your system to ensure compatibility.

First, you’ll need to connect your battery’s charging cord to the MC4 connections on the panel. Then set your panel out in the sun. We recommend angling the panel toward the sun. This might require moving the panel a few times throughout the day.

If you are camping or hunting, you can use a camp chair, storage box, or duffle bag to prop up the panel. We also recommend putting your battery behind the panel to keep it shaded or purchase an extra-long cord to keep the battery out of the sun.

While not necessary for basic functionality, the use of a compatible charge controller is highly recommended, especially with systems using more than one solar panel. A compatible charge controller will regulate voltage and current from the solar panel(s) to the battery, and from the battery to your devices. A charge controller that can prevent overcharging, over-discharging, and overloading damage to the battery and your devices is recommended.

No, we do not sell any products outside the contiguous US. 

You will receive an email confirmation with your tracking number once your order has shipped from our warehouse. Make sure to check your junk folder; however, if you still can’t find the email, call us at 1-800-831-9889 or email support@richsolar.com and explain that you’re looking for your order status. You can also view tracking numbers once your order has shipped by logging into your customer account.

Typically, orders take between 1-3 business days to arrive, either through FedEx or USPS. However, weather, traffic, carrier troubles, or other unforeseen circumstances can affect shipping times. Moreover, you can choose priority/express shipping and a preferred carrier during checkout. These changes will also affect shipping times. Call our Customer Service Team at 1-800-831-9889 or email support@richsolar.com for additional information.

Yes, we ship to AFO/PO boxes but be aware that these orders are limited based on the product’s weight, size, and potential hazmat issues. Contact our Customer Service Team at 1-800-831-9889 or by email at support@richsolar.com for additional information.