Turn off all electrical equipment in the RV. Disconnect the batteries and the outside electrical power cord and make sure the generator is shut off to avoid the potential of electrical shock while installing the equipment.
Cover the front surfaces of the solar panels with cardboard so they won't generate electricity and carry them to the RV roof.
Select rooftop mounting locations for the panels where they won't interfere with vents, antennas and other rooftop equipment. The panels also should be installed where it is easy to run the cables into the RV. For less wind resistance, place the shorter ends of the panels toward the front of the RV.
Drill holes in the roof and attach the four mounting screws for each panel. Seal the screws with caulk so they won't leak water into the RV.
Find the best location inside the RV for the regulator and display panel. In many RVs, a good location is above the refrigerator, which usually is an unused and unobstructed space.
Feed wires from the solar panels to the regulator and feed cables to a battery compartment. If the space above the refrigerator is used for the regulator, the panel wires can be routed through the refrigerator vent and the cables to the battery can be routed along the back of the refrigerator compartment to the bottom of the RV.
Mount the regulator and then connect the panel wires to the regulator and the regulator cables to one of the batteries. Make sure the polarity is correct for all connections. The regulator usually has a black negative wire and a red positive wire that will be attached to the battery.
Remove the cardboard covering from the solar panels to begin charging the batteries when sunlight hits the panels.
