Here’s some information for RVers regarding new solar regulations coming soon in the RV industry.
As reported by Go Power! | Dometic, starting September 1, 2026, RVs that ship with solar already installed must include a listed solar charge controller.
The RV Industry Association (RVIA) is adopting the 2026 edition of NFPA 1192 (Standard on Recreational Vehicles), along with the 2025 ANSI/RVIA DC Standard for DC Voltage Systems in RVs, with an effective date of June 1, 2026, and mandatory enforcement beginning September 1.
What Section 2-7 of the 2025 ANSI/RVIA DC Voltage Systems Standard requires
The new regulation sets four requirements for solar installations on RVs. As of June 1, solar charge controllers must:
- Be listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL), such as UL;
- Be rated for input voltage no less than the maximum array open-circuit voltage, corrected for the lowest expected ambient temperature using the module’s published temperature coefficients;
- Be rated for input power no less than 125% of the maximum array power; and
- Be installed according to the manufacturer’s listing and installation instructions
What this means
Solar power is becoming a standard expectation across motorhomes, travel trailers and fifth wheels. What hasn’t kept pace is the safety certification of the components being specified.
Section 2-7 closes that gap. The RVIA’s listing requirement isn’t new; electrical components in RVs, like inverters, converters and other power equipment, have long carried similar requirements. This addition means solar charge controllers are now included in that framework.
For OEM purchasing and engineering teams, the practical implication is straightforward: If a solar charge controller doesn’t carry a UL listing (or equivalent NRTL certification), that vehicle will not pass an RVIA inspection after September 1.
Controllers that meet the standard
Go Power! | Dometic PWM solar charge controllers, including the GP-SB-PWM-30-BT, carry a UL 1741 listing (and CSA C22.2) which is the standard for power conversion equipment in land vehicles. These controllers are designed to operate within the voltage and power sizing requirements specified in Section 2-7, and they are installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s documentation that satisfies the listing compliance requirements.
“This standard shows a real commitment to deliver safer, higher-quality power systems,” said Drew Vergonet, sales account manager, RV, for Go Power! | Dometic.
“We have been preparing for this. We have certified charge controllers and are continuing our investment in UL-listed and CSA-approved product lines. Go Power! is well stocked and ready to help with this transition for any manufacturer using unlisted controllers.”
What RV manufacturers must do before September 1
The RVIA conducts more than 2,000 unannounced annual inspections of member manufacturing facilities. Non-compliant components will fail those inspections.
The June-to-September window is a transition period. The RVIA indicates it will conduct in-field training on the new requirements during this time, but enforcement is mandatory by September 1.
Manufacturers should:
- Audit their current solar controller specifications against the Section 2-7 requirements,
- Verify UL or equivalent NRTL listing status for every controller model in use, and
- Confirm that installation documentation aligns with the controller’s listing instructions.
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Solar prep can include something as basic as a dock on the roof, wiring straight to the battery, and a service loop somewhere convenient. Are you saying that OEMs have to now include a solar controller AND it has to be certified?
The regulation states that IF an RV is equipped with a solar controller, it must be UL certified and not just the much lesser CE-FE-RoHS certification. It does not mandate solar ready or solar equipped RV’s.
Up to recent, some RV manufacturers wired in the absolute cheapest controller they could find, regardless if it could carry the maximum output of the panel up on the roof. Owners wanting to expand their factory solar package would discover the controller they bought with their rig not only lacked scalability but was severely undersized for the original factory panel(s). Obviously, an untested controller with substandard circuitry could easily become a fire hazard.
About time! Our 2017 has a Furrion solar port. It goes straight to the battery without even a fuse. Well, at least that makes it useable as a 12VDC outlet (once I built an adapter to a more industry standard connection).
Our little 2022 is the same deal only with a more standardized SAE jack. That one I can use with either my 12v air compressor or my macerator pump.
Thank you for the informative discussion, Dave. Have a great day and safe travels!
I’m sure they will follow this as well as they follow the rest of the RVIA requirements. We had a Coachmen Concord that came with a CO only detector. It should have had a CO/LP. We contacted Coachmen and their basic response was oopsie. No offer to replace with the REQUIRED by code unit. There were other wiring issues that we corrected as we found them.