Keep your mobile home powered up
Your mobile home should be electrically and structurally sound before solar panel installation, which might require upgrades.
You’ll need cash up front, or you can secure a personal loan to pay for solar panels.
The route you’ll take will depend largely on whether you have a mobile home on a permanent foundation versus an RV.
With the rising costs of utilities, many people opt to go solar. But can you put solar panels on mobile homes? You’ll need to examine a few essential factors before finding the answer. From technical considerations to the financial side, consider all the details to make the right decision for your home.
Solar panels can be installed on mobile homes, but whether your mobile home is a good candidate for solar panels depends on several factors:
Age of your mobile home: If your mobile home was built before 1980, your electrical wiring may not be suitable for solar panels. Homes built before 1976 may require significant structural reinforcements before the roof is strong enough to support the panels.
Condition of your roof: Just like with a traditional home installation, the roof’s condition must be excellent to handle the weight of solar panels. The roof materials need to be durable, and the roof should be new enough to support the life span of a panel, which is 20 to 25 years.
Permanent foundation: It’s more difficult to secure financing for homes without a permanent foundation. You’ll likely need cash up front to install solar panels on a mobile home that’s not affixed.
Permanent versus portable: If you want to add solar to an RV, you can opt for portable solar panels, which are more affordable and easier to install. However, permanent panels are the best option to power your whole home.
If you’re on a permanent foundation or frequently use the RV site, you can install solar panels on the ground instead of on the roof. The biggest downside to solar panels on the ground versus the roof is that ground-mounted systems take up a lot of valuable real estate. On the plus side, you might end up generating more power with a ground-mounted system, and they’re easier to clean and maintain.
Another option is to use portable panels. While permanent solar panels are large and heavy (with each panel weighing around 40 pounds), portable ones come in various sizes, some of which are so small you can fit them into a backpack.
Compared to permanent panels, portable systems aren’t as efficient and don’t produce as much power. While permanent panels can power an entire home's lights, appliances, and HVAC system, portable ones are better for powering smaller items like a laptop, TV, or small appliances.
If you’re looking to supplement your current electrical system with solar, a portable one can be a good investment. Also, if you travel to remote locations in an RV, portable panels can keep your lights on when you’re off-grid.
Mobile homes use as much as 70% more electricity than a traditional home because they’re less insulated. Expect to need about 9 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity each day for every square foot of your home. You can improve your energy consumption by upgrading your windows and doors. Some mobile homes have flat roofs, which require angled mounting brackets for solar panel installation.
For smaller mobile homes like RVs, you’ll want to look for lightweight and flexible panels. These wallet-friendly panels won’t weigh down your roof and are easily installed and removed. However, flexible panels have an efficiency rating of 7% to 15%, whereas traditional panels are 20% to 25% efficient. Note that flexible panels only come in 150 watts, which can work for smaller RVs if you have low energy consumption.
Obtaining financing for solar panels for mobile homes is more difficult than for traditional homes. There are Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans as long as your home meets HUD standards and is on a permanent foundation. There are also chattel loans for homes that are not affixed to a permanent foundation, but you’ll have to speak to a lender to see if they’ll allow you to use funds toward panels. You can also look into personal loans through a bank to finance your project.
Many mobile homeowners end up paying for their solar projects with cash, so keep that in mind if you’re seriously considering going solar. Depending on the climate and the amount of electricity your system could generate, your solar panels can be worth the investment.
You can buy solar panel kits online from $2,000 to $9,000. While it’s tempting to go with a less expensive option, read the fine print and ask questions before rushing into a purchase. Many of these kits require you to purchase additional materials like electrical wiring and necessary tools. Check to see if your area requires a solar panel permit.
Since it’s a DIY kit, you won’t know if installing your panel is safe unless you call in some pros. Getting your mobile home checked for electrical and structural integrity is key to a safe installation.
Many of these kits are also not ideal for roof installations. So, if that’s what you’re looking for, it’s best to contact a solar panel installer near you to explore your options.
This is definitely a job to hand off to a pro. Unless you know how to install solar panels on a roof or the ground and are highly experienced with electrical work, you can end up with serious issues. These include poorly installed electrical systems that are fire hazards, water leaks on your roof, and electrical shock when working with wiring.
If you opt for a DIY job, get a solar panel inspection when it’s all done to have your work double-checked by a pro.
Mobile homes that are 600 to 800 square feet will need six to eight 300-watt solar panels. Larger mobile homes between 1,000 and 1,200 square feet require 10 to 12 300-watt panels. The actual number of panels depends on the climate in your area and your home’s energy consumption.
The amount of power your 300-watt solar panel will generate depends on the weather. Still, assuming you get four to six hours of sunshine a day, the system will allow you to operate your lights, fans, small appliances, and small electronics. You can install multiple 300-watt systems to run your air conditioning, fridge, and stove.
