FAQ
Yes. For more information contact sales@richsolar.com for domestic or international inquires.
Yes, we currently offer active military personnel a discount. You will need to verify military status with our customer service department and place your order by calling 1-800-831-9889.
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You can do this online, visit Product Registration in our support area to fill out your information.
Visit Downloads online in the support area or visit the product detail page for the product you are interested in. https://richsolar.com/pages/downloads
You can purchase all of the RICH SOLAR products 24/7 from www.richsolar.com.
Framed/Rigid Panels 20w-210w (mono and poly) is 25 Year Transferable Power Output Warranty and 5 Year Material and Workmanship Warranty. Lightweight Flexible Panel 50w and 100w is 1 Year Material Warranty. CIGS Flexible Panel 80w and 160w is 5 Year Material Warranty.
Solar power allows you to take your RV off the grid while still using your refrigerator, lights and other appliances for extended periods. Solar panels convert the sun’s energy into direct current (DC) electricity, and this charges your RV’s batteries, storing the electricity. A power inverter converts this DC power to AC (alternating current) in order to run many of your RV appliances.
DC (direct current) power is drawn directly from the battery and will run several types of RV appliances, like lights and water pumps. AC power (alternating current), is what is used in your home. An inverter in your RV converts your DC battery power into AC for AC-powered devices such as TVs, hair dryers or coffee makers.
On-Grid Systems tie directly to your utility grid, offering an alternative source of energy in addition to what your utility company provides. By utilizing on-grid solar systems, you can greatly or completely reduce your electricity bill. In addition, depending on the size of your on-grid system, you may receive monetary returns.
Off-grid systems do not tie to the utility grid and are sustained using a battery bank. The battery bank can be hooked up to an inverter, which converts DC voltage to AC voltage allowing you to use any AC appliances or electronics. Common off-grid applications include cabins, Off-Grid vehicles, boats, and dry camping. Off-grid systems can also be used in a variety of other applications, including emergency power backup during a power outage
Yes. Many RV refrigerators can run on DC or AC power. You can also use solar to power your water pump. Most TVs run on AC power, requiring an inverter.
That depends on the number of appliances, how much power they consume, and what size of battery bank you have installed. Contact our customer service by phone at 1-800-831-9889 or by email at support@richsolar.com to help determine your requirements.
Think of your power system as a gas station. Amps are like gallons of gas that fill your RV’s battery, and volts are like the pressure at the gas pump. You need a certain voltage ‘pressure’ to fill your batteries (the gas tank). – Watts are simply the amps multiplied by the volts.
Our solar kits provide the basics you need for charging your RV battery — they contain a solar panel, solar charge controller, and cables. A solar system includes more components (such as an inverter, transfer switch, battery charger, and fuse block) so you can run AC appliances and electronics, charge your battery, and connect both shore and solar power to your RV’s breaker panel.
The solar charge controller is required to prevents your solar panels from overcharging your RV batteries.
No, you only require an inverter if you want to convert DC battery power to AC household power in order to run devices like TVs, tool chargers, and microwaves.
All AC devices can run with pure sine wave power. Modified sine wave power replicates AC power, but not perfectly. While modified sine wave inverters are much less expensive, many devices run poorly when it is used — for example, portable tool chargers, high-end TVs and stereos, CPAP machines, and microwaves.
Will the sun be shining? Solar will work any time there is sunlight is shining on the panel. If there is a snow buildup on the panel, the system will not work.
Not necessarily. In many applications, we can permanently mount the panels on the roof of your RV using a sealant. As an alternative, our portable solar kits can be set up on the ground.
While all the cables that are needed for you to use your power pack and/or solar panel are included you may find it more convenient to have additional accessory cables, click here to visit our accessory page.
We have nominal 12V and 24V panels. These panels actually produce 20+V and 30+V, respectively. Whether it will work with a 12V, 24V, and 48V will depend on the controller that you use. All the controllers we offer will work with 12/24V systems. The MidNite Classic controllers will work with 48V systems.
You can recharge all types of 12 volt rechargeable batteries including lead-acid automotive batteries, deep cycle (traction type) batteries, gel-cell batteries, and heavy duty (stationary type) batteries. When using the Solar Module to run appliances on a regular basis, we recommend the use of deep cycle marine batteries which are designed to withstand frequent charge and discharge cycles.
Once the solar charge controller is installed there is no danger of reverse current, so you may leave your panel installed overnight.
Yes, but only if used without the charge controller. That is why it is important to use a solar charge controller. Do not connect the panel directly to the battery with wattages of 15Watts or higher. Always use in conjunction with an appropriately sized solar charge controller.
Yes. You can run your 110 volt appliances with the use of an inverter, which would attach to your battery to change the battery’s 12 volt (DC) energy into 110 volt (AC) or 220 volt (AC). Inverter is not included.
Yes. The Solar Module has been weatherproofed and can be mounted outdoors without any additional protection.
Use a multimeter (not included) to accurately read the panel’s voltage. Under full sun the multimeter should read 20-22 V DC.
No, solar panels are designed to be permanently connected to the battery. There is no need to disconnect them while driving a RV for example, or when charging the batteries by other means such as AC chargers, or a vehicle’s generator or alternator.
Additional connection cables should only be purchased through the RICH SOLAR Website (www.richsolar.com).
There is a difference in the manufacturing technique, and as a result monocrystalline cells are more efficient. The monocrystalline cells can produce more power in a smaller space. Also, monocrystalline panels have a darker blue color, almost appearing black, and are usually higher in price due to the increased efficiency. Polycrystalline panels on the other hand are less efficient and require more space. However, the difference is size and efficiency do not impact power. A 100 Watt monocrystalline panel and a 100 Watt polycrystalline panel will both output 100 Watts, neglecting power loss in the system, but a monocrystalline panel will output 100 watts with a smaller surface area.
RICH SOLAR Framed Solar Panels have a performance warranty of 25 years. After 5 years they should output more than 95% of the rated power, after 10 years it is 90% and 25 years it is 80%.
The module temperature for our RICH SOLAR solar panels ranges from -40°C to 90°C. Whereas our charge controllers have an operating temperature of -35°C to 55°C. The majority of our solar panel are water proof and do fare well in extreme conditions however, our charge controllers are not water proof. We recommend storing and securing the charge controller in a well ventilated dry space.
This will also depend on the conditions. If it is cloudy and overcast, likely not. If it is cloudy and bright still, then it probably will charge but it won’t be very much.
For an off-grid system, the solar panels with continue to generate power as long as the sun is still out.
We recommend cleaning the solar panels on a weekly or bi-weekly basis in order to keep their performance high.
There are many elements in this calculation. The size of the battery capacity and availability of sun are the two most important considerations.
Flexible Solar Panels
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.
This will depend on your panel wattage, your battery watt-hour (Wh) capacity (a measurement of storage capacity) and the weather. A 150 Wh battery will charge faster than a 500 Wh battery because the 500 Wh battery has more storage capacity, therefore requiring more time to fully charge. In addition, a 100-watt panel will charge a battery faster than a 50-watt panel exposed to the same amount of sunlight.
Charging time will be affected by weather, shade, time-of-day, age and use of battery, efficiency of the charge controller, placement of the solar panels, and other operational factors. Be sure to look on your solar-compatible battery for an estimate of charging times as well as panel-wattage compatibility, and always check the charging characteristics of the battery to ensure it’s compatible with the wattage of the panel.
For higher battery capacity (greater than 150 Wh) we recommend using a 100-watt panel. Before doing this, however, please ensure that the battery you are charging is compatible with this wattage and use a compatible charge controller.
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 product in Australia. It is not original products made by RICH SOLAR when you buy the products named RICH SOLAR in Australia.
You will receive an email confirmation with your tracking number once your order has shipped from our warehouse. If you didn't receive this email, check your spam or junk email folder or contact us by phone at 1-800-831-9889 or by email at support@richsolar.com. You can also view tracking numbers once your order has shipped by logging into your customer account.
You have the option of shipping using United Parcel Service (UPS) or United States Postal Service (USPS). Shipping is guaranteed and tracking information is provided using UPS. Delivery data is an estimate and not guaranteed with USPS. 2-Day and 3-Day Shipping: If shipping by air, place your order by 1:00pm PST Monday - Friday Ground Shipping: All ground orders placed by 2:00pm PST Monday - Friday will ship from our warehouse within 24 hours.
Yes, we use USPS to deliver to any AFO/P.O. Box. Be aware that these orders are limited based on products weight, size, and hazmat. Delivery dates are an estimate and not guaranteed with USPS. Contact our Customer Service Team at 1-800-831-9889 or by email at support@richsolar.com for additional information.
