7 Best Books On RV Solar Power Systems to Support Self-Reliance

Adding solar to your RV is the ultimate step toward true freedom, but the internet will drown you in conflicting advice and complicated wiring diagrams. A good book cuts through the noise, providing a structured, reliable path from confusion to competence. Think of it as your first and most important tool, one that ensures the thousands you spend on panels and batteries actually works when you’re miles from the nearest town.

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Why a Good Solar Book is Your First Tool

You can find a YouTube video for every part of a solar installation. The problem is, you’ll find ten, and they’ll all tell you something slightly different. This is where a well-written book becomes indispensable. It provides a single, cohesive system of knowledge, walking you from core concepts to final connections without the distracting, and often incorrect, noise of online forums.

A book forces you to understand the why behind the what. Instead of just copying a diagram, you learn why a certain wire gauge is necessary to prevent voltage drop or why an MPPT controller is more efficient than a PWM in specific conditions. This foundational knowledge is what separates a successful DIYer from someone stranded with a dead system. When something goes wrong in the middle of nowhere—and it will—you won’t have internet to search for a solution. You’ll only have what you know, and a book is the best way to build that knowledge base.

"Mobile Solar Power Made Easy!" for Beginners

If you’re just starting out, Will Prowse’s "Mobile Solar Power Made Easy!" is the place to begin. This book’s greatest strength is its simplicity. Prowse avoids overly technical jargon and uses clear, straightforward language to explain the four main components of any system: panels, charge controller, battery, and inverter. It’s designed for the person who wants a reliable system without needing an engineering degree.

This is the perfect guide for setting up a small to medium-sized system capable of charging laptops, phones, and running basic 12V appliances. It excels at getting you to a functional, safe installation quickly. However, its simplicity is also its limitation. If you plan on building a massive, all-electric rig with multiple high-draw appliances like an induction cooktop and air conditioning, you’ll eventually need a more advanced resource to design for that complexity. Think of this as your Solar 101 textbook.

"A GEEK’S GUIDE" for Detailed System Design

Once you’ve grasped the basics, "A Geek’s Guide to RV WIRING" by Bill Franke is the deep dive you need for serious system design. This is not a casual read; it’s a technical manual. It’s the book you turn to when you need to perform precise calculations for wire loss, understand the intricate settings on a high-end charge controller, or decide between series and parallel panel configurations for your specific roof layout and shading potential.

This guide is for the RVer who wants to understand their system at a granular level. It’s less about step-by-step installation and more about the engineering principles that make a system efficient, safe, and robust. For example, while a beginner’s book might say "use a thick wire," this guide will show you the exact formula to calculate the perfect wire gauge based on amperage, distance, and acceptable voltage drop. This is the reference you’ll keep on your shelf for years, pulling it out whenever you upgrade or troubleshoot.

Moeller’s "RV Electrical Systems" Foundation

A common mistake is treating a solar installation as a separate project. It’s not. It’s an addition to your RV’s existing, and often confusing, electrical system. This is why Mike Moeller’s "RV Electrical Systems: A Basic Guide to Troubleshooting, Repair and Improvement" is so crucial. It doesn’t focus on solar, but on the entire 12V DC and 120V AC framework that your solar setup must integrate with.

Before you connect a single solar wire, you need to understand your RV’s converter, distribution panel, and transfer switch. Tying in a powerful inverter and battery bank without this knowledge is a recipe for disaster. Moeller’s book demystifies the factory wiring, helping you understand how shore power, generator power, and your new solar power will all play together. Reading this first ensures your solar project enhances your RV’s electrical system instead of conflicting with it.

"DIY Solar Power" for the Hands-On RVer

Theory is one thing, but execution is another. "DIY Solar Power: The Ultimate Guide" is for the RVer who learns by doing. While other books focus heavily on the "why," this one excels at the "how." It’s packed with practical, project-based advice that gets you from a pile of components to a working system.

This is the book that will show you the right way to crimp a lug terminal so it doesn’t fail from road vibration, or the best methods for sealing roof penetrations to guarantee a leak-proof installation. It bridges the gap between a wiring diagram and the physical work of mounting panels and running cables. If you’re someone who feels more comfortable with a tool in your hand than a calculator, this guide’s hands-on approach will give you the confidence to tackle the installation yourself.

"Harnessing the Sun" for Mobile Applications

RVs are not houses. They vibrate down rough roads, experience partial shading from trees, and endure extreme temperature swings. "Harnessing the Sun: A Practical Guide to Solar Energy for RVs, Vans, and Boats" is written specifically with these mobile challenges in mind. It provides a crucial perspective on building a system that is not just powerful, but durable.

The author, Gaylord Maxwell, emphasizes the unique considerations for mobile power. This includes:

• Choosing flexible vs. rigid panels for curved roofs.
• The importance of proper strain relief on wiring.
• Strategies for maximizing solar gain when you can’t always park in the perfect spot.

This book helps you think beyond the simple math of watts and amp-hours and consider the real-world dynamics of life on the move. It’s an excellent resource for ensuring the system you build today is still working reliably thousands of miles down the road.

"RV Boondocking Basics" for Practical Use

Installing a solar power system is only half the equation. The other half is learning how to live with it. "RV Boondocking Basics: A Complete Guide to Living and Thriving Off-Grid" connects your new hardware to the day-to-day reality of boondocking. A powerful solar setup is useless if you don’t know how to manage your energy consumption.

This book teaches you the art of the energy audit. You’ll learn how to measure the draw of each appliance and build a realistic power budget. It answers practical questions like: How many cloudy days can my battery bank sustain? When is the best time to run high-draw appliances? How do I orient my rig at a campsite to maximize sun exposure throughout the day? This guide turns your technical installation into a practical lifestyle, enabling you to stay off-grid longer and with more confidence.

"DIY Lithium Batteries" for Advanced Setups

For the ultimate in performance, some RVers choose to build their own LiFePO4 battery banks from raw cells. This is the final frontier of DIY solar, and Will Prowse’s "DIY Lithium Batteries: How to Build Your Own Battery Packs" is the definitive guide. It covers the entire process, from sourcing cells and testing their capacity to selecting a Battery Management System (BMS) and assembling a safe, powerful battery.

Let’s be perfectly clear: this is not a project for beginners. Working with raw lithium cells carries significant risks if done improperly. A mistake can lead to fire or catastrophic equipment failure. This book is for the meticulous, detail-oriented person who has already mastered the rest of their solar system and is comfortable with low-voltage electronics.

Prowse’s guide is exhaustive, providing the detailed knowledge required to tackle this project safely. It explains the critical role of the BMS in protecting the cells from over-charging, over-discharging, and temperature extremes. If you are committed to achieving the highest energy density and performance, and you have the patience and skill to do it right, this book is the only resource you should trust.

Ultimately, the best book is the one that matches your current skill level and future ambitions. Whether you’re starting with a simple weekend setup or designing a complex off-grid machine, investing in knowledge first is the surest path to self-reliance. A few hours of reading will save you hundreds of dollars and countless hours of frustration on the road.