Florida averages 5.5 peak sun hours per day, ranking among the top solar resources in the country. But does that make RV solar a good investment? After designing and installing over 250 systems across the Treasure Coast, Danny Vasquez breaks down the real math: upfront costs, daily energy production, what you can actually run, and how long it takes to pay for itself.
TL;DR
- Florida averages 5.5 peak sun hours daily (top tier nationally)
- A 400W system generates roughly 2,200 watt-hours per day
- Basic systems start at $500, full off-grid at $2,500 to $4,500
- Lithium batteries are essential for serious solar use
- Solar can run everything except AC (without a huge investment)
- Payback period: 60 to 100 nights of free camping
- Call 772-677-1583 for a free power audit and system design
The Treasure Coast Solar Advantage
The Treasure Coast receives an average of 5.5 peak sun hours per day across the year. Peak sun hours aren't the same as daylight hours. They measure the equivalent number of hours where solar radiation averages 1,000 watts per square meter, which is the standard test condition for panel ratings. In practical terms, a 100-watt panel on the Treasure Coast produces approximately 550 watt-hours per day on average. A 400-watt array produces about 2,200 watt-hours. That's enough to run your fridge (about 600 Wh/day), all LED lighting (about 200 Wh/day), water pump (about 100 Wh/day), phone and laptop charging (about 200 Wh/day), and have roughly 1,100 watt-hours of headroom for fans, TV, and other devices. The one caveat: heat reduces panel efficiency by about 0.4% per degree above 77 degrees F. On a 95-degree day, your panels produce roughly 7 to 10% less than their rated output. We account for this temperature derating when designing systems.
System Sizing and Costs
Here's what different system sizes cost and what they power: A 200W starter system ($500 to $900) with a PWM controller handles basic lighting, phone charging, and extends your battery life for weekend trips. A 400W system with lithium battery ($1,500 to $2,500) runs your fridge, lights, water pump, and all basic electronics indefinitely. This is the sweet spot for most Treasure Coast boondockers. A 600 to 800W full off-grid system ($2,500 to $4,500) with a lithium battery bank and inverter can run everything except AC. With a soft-start and careful load management, some owners run AC for short periods from this setup, but it drains batteries fast. Running AC full-time from solar requires 800+ watts of panels, 400+ Ah of lithium, and a 3,000W inverter. Total cost: $4,000 to $6,000. At that point, most people find a generator more practical for AC and use solar for everything else.
The Payback Calculation
If you're currently paying $30 to $50 per night for campground hookups and you switch to boondocking with solar, a $3,000 system pays for itself in 60 to 100 nights of free camping. For a full-timer who boondocks regularly, that's 2 to 4 months. For a weekend warrior who boondocks 20 nights per year, it's 3 to 5 years. But payback isn't the only value. Solar gives you freedom to camp anywhere: state parks without hookups, friend's properties, Walmart parking lots during travel, and dispersed camping areas. On the Treasure Coast, Jonathan Dickinson State Park and Savannas Recreation Area both have sites without hookups that cost $15 to $20 less per night than hookup sites. Call 772-677-1583 for a free power audit. We'll measure your actual usage and tell you exactly what system makes sense for how you use your RV.
Related Resources
Questions about this topic? Call 772-677-1583 and ask for Danny. We're happy to talk it through before scheduling anything.