How Many Solar Panels to Run an RV Air Conditioner?
As a rough planning figure, running an RV air conditioner on solar usually takes a large array, often 1,200 to 2,400 watts of panels. Even that much solar usually refills only a few hours of cooling a day.
How the batteries and inverter fit in
The panels recharge the batteries, but the air conditioner actually draws from a 600 to 1,000Ah lithium battery bank through a 3,000 watt inverter.
According to Dometic's ratings, its 13,500 BTU Brisk II works out to about 1,700 watts at full load, so 1,200 watts of panels refills about three hours of cooling a day in five peak sun hours.
An RV solar power system this size also needs a charge controller rated for the full array, and most RVers keep shore power or a generator for the hottest days.
By Smart RV Hub Editorial Team · 8 min read · Methodology: published solar and appliance specifications
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Pair it with 600 to 1,000Ah of lithium, since the air conditioner draws from the battery, not the panels directly.
The real number depends on the air conditioner size, how long you run it, and how much sun you get.
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What this guide covers
- Realistic panel, battery, and inverter sizing
- What an RV air conditioner actually draws
- The four factors that change the numbers
- A simple step by step estimate
What Changes How Much Solar an RV Air Conditioner Needs?
Four factors decide how big your system needs to be.
These are estimates based on published specifications, and the draw figures are data from Dometic's Brisk II installation and operating manual, read October 2026. Your own numbers depend on the unit, the run time, and the sun.
| Part | Size | Cooling it supports |
|---|---|---|
| Solar panels | 1,200 watts | Refills about 3 hours a day in 5 peak sun hours |
| Solar panels | 2,400 watts | Refills about 6 hours a day in 5 peak sun hours |
| Lithium bank, used to 80 percent | 600Ah | About 3 hours |
| Lithium bank, used to 80 percent | 1,000Ah | About 5.5 hours |
| Pure sine wave inverter | 3,000 watts | Running draw plus room for the startup surge |
Air conditioner size
A 13,500 BTU unit draws less than a 15,000 BTU unit, and a soft start lowers the startup surge.
Hours of cooling
An hour of cooling is easy, a full hot afternoon is not. Run time drives the battery size you need.
Sun and location
Strong desert sun produces far more than a cloudy forest, changing how many panels keep up.
Battery bank
The battery does the heavy lifting. A large lithium bank stores the energy the AC draws after dark.
Does the Air Conditioner Run Straight From the Panels?
The panels recharge the battery, and the air conditioner pulls from that battery through the inverter. Here is the whole flow on one page.
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How to Size Solar to Run an RV Air Conditioner
Estimate your system in five steps. Work from the load back to the panels.
Find the running watts
Check the rated draw on your air conditioner's label or manual, about 1,700 watts for a 13,500 BTU Dometic Brisk II.
Estimate daily run time
Decide how many hours a day you want to cool, then multiply watts by hours for daily watt hours.
Size the battery bank
Pick a lithium bank that stores those watt hours with margin, usually 600 to 1,000Ah, since the AC draws from the battery.
Size the inverter
Choose a pure sine wave inverter above the running draw with surge headroom, usually 3,000 watts once you add 20 percent to a 1,700 watt unit.
Size the panels
Add enough panels to refill the battery each day, a ballpark of 1,200 to 2,400 watts depending on sun and run time.
Want figures for your own rig? Run your loads through our load by load sizing worksheet before you buy.
A system this size is a serious purchase, so check the current RV solar deals before you commit.
Is Solar Air Conditioning Worth It for How You Travel?
A full solar air conditioning system is a large investment, so be honest about how you travel.
Many RVers pair a moderate solar setup with a generator or shore power for the hottest days, and save the solar for quiet camping off grid.
Heading off grid at one of the host farms, wineries and breweries is exactly where a strong battery and solar setup earns its keep.
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Build the Right System
Related RV solar guides.
Work out panels, batteries, and inverter numbers.
The bank that actually carries the load.
Whether a large solar AC system pays back for your travel style.
Power planning for living off grid in any season.
Prewired bundles for real world power draw.
The wiring, mounting, and inverter steps for a DIY build.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many solar panels does it take to run an RV air conditioner?
Running a typical RV air conditioner off solar takes about 1,200 to 2,400 watts of panels, paired with 600 to 1,000Ah of lithium and a 3,000 watt inverter.
With five peak sun hours, 1,200 watts refills about three hours of cooling a day and 2,400 watts about six, not round the clock use.
Your own number depends on the air conditioner size, the hours you run it, and how much sun you get.
Can you run an RV AC on solar alone?
Yes, but it takes a serious system.
Solar mainly recharges the batteries, while the air conditioner actually draws from the battery bank through the inverter, so the battery and inverter matter as much as the panels. Lithium batteries built for this load.
How much power does an RV air conditioner use?
A 13,500 BTU rooftop air conditioner draws about 1,700 watts at full rated load.
According to Dometic's manual, the Brisk II is rated at 12.4 amps for the compressor and 2.5 amps for the fan at 115 volts, and its 15,000 BTU model at 13.3 and 2 amps, about 1,760 watts.
The same manual lists a locked rotor figure of 68 amps for the 13,500 BTU unit, which is the startup surge a soft start is built to tame.
Over a day of cooling that adds up fast, which is why a large battery bank is the foundation of any solar AC setup.
What size inverter do you need to run an RV AC on solar?
You need a pure sine wave inverter rated above the air conditioner's running draw with headroom for the startup surge.
About 1,700 watts plus the 20 percent headroom our inverter guide uses comes to about 2,040 watts, so the next standard size, 3,000 watts, is the usual pick.
A soft start device on the air conditioner can lower the surge and make the system easier to size.
Is it worth running an RV AC on solar?
It can be, for boondockers who cool a small rig in a hot climate and want quiet, fuel free cooling.
For heavy cooling, many RVers still pair a smaller solar setup with a generator or shore power, since a full solar AC system is a large investment. Weigh the payback first.
Does a soft start help run an RV AC on solar?
Yes.
A soft start device lowers the large surge of current an air conditioner pulls at startup.
That smaller surge means you can use a smaller inverter and eases the peak current on the battery bank, though the bank still has to store the same energy.
Many RVers add a soft start as the first upgrade when planning a solar air conditioning system.
Can a 13,500 BTU RV AC run on solar more easily than a 15,000 BTU unit?
Yes.
A 13,500 BTU air conditioner draws less power than a 15,000 BTU unit, so it needs a smaller battery bank, inverter, and panel array to run on solar.
If you are building a solar AC system from scratch, the smaller unit is easier and cheaper to support.
Pairing either size with a soft start lowers the startup surge further.
How big a battery bank do you need to run an RV AC on solar?
Plan for 600 to 1,000Ah of 12V lithium to run a 13,500 BTU air conditioner on solar.
At about 1,700 watts, a 600Ah bank used to 80 percent covers about three hours of cooling, and 1,000Ah covers about five and a half.
The battery does the heavy lifting because the air conditioner draws from it through the inverter, and the panels refill it during the day. Lithium batteries built for this load.
Smart RV Hub Editorial Team
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