I recently had the pleasure of working with Adam at Avalon RV in Benicia, California, to upgrade my solar and lithium battery system. Note that I received no compensation from Avalon RV for this review.
My original system was installed by AM Solar near Eugene, Oregon—more than 500 miles away. It was great to find a quality solar installer within an hour of home. Even better, Adam trained with the owners of AM Solar and was able to tell me about some of their new business ventures after they closed the shop in 2024. They did an excellent job on my original installation, and I wish them all the best.
Here’s my post on the initial installation:
Planning the Project
Adam was a pleasure to work with from the very beginning. We had a brief phone conversation, then worked out the scope of the project, schedule, and estimate by email. The process was simple, clear, and professional.
Before long, I drove my Bay Star to Benicia for the upgrade. Avalon has several projects underway at any given time and runs a very organized schedule. My coach was dropped off on Monday, and everything was completed as promised on Friday.
At first, I thought five days seemed like a long time for the amount of work involved. However, Adam explained their installation process in detail, and it all made sense. I was also a little concerned about leaving my RV outside during the installation, but everything went exactly as he said it would, and I had no issues.
Great Communication
Communication throughout the project was outstanding.
Before beginning the installation, Adam texted me two different solar panel layout options. Although we had originally agreed on placing the new panels along the edge of the roof, he came up with an even better arrangement that preserved easier access to all areas of the roof for future maintenance. I really appreciated that attention to detail.
He also kept me updated on the progress each day, so I always knew how things were going.
The Solar Installation
The finished installation added two new 200-watt solar panels, matching the two existing panels already on the roof.
Avalon paid attention to all the little details. The new panels were mounted at the same height as the originals, positioned to avoid the roof cove, and the wiring was routed neatly and professionally. They also applied fresh lap sealant around all four panels, giving everything a clean, finished appearance.
I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.
Relocating the Batteries
The second part of the project involved relocating my two 85-pound lithium batteries from the middle of the chassis to the storage compartment shown here.
The original location worked fine, but I wanted the batteries to be much easier to access for inspections, maintenance, or future upgrades.
That turned out to be no small task. The batteries are extremely heavy and were originally mounted on a shelf above the chassis rail behind the inverter.
Even so, the relocation went smoothly, and everything was completed on schedule. I picked up the coach on Friday, just as Adam had estimated.
Final Thoughts
Everything about this project went smoothly, from planning and communication to the quality of the workmanship.
If you’re looking for someone to install or upgrade a solar or battery system in Northern California, I would have no hesitation recommending Avalon RV.
Enjoying Benicia
If you’re making the trip to Avalon RV, I also recommend spending a little time exploring Benicia.
During the California Gold Rush, Benicia served briefly as the state capital, and you can still visit the original capitol building.
There are also plenty of great places to eat. We stopped at One House Bakery and enjoyed lunch on their outdoor patio.
Afterward, we walked down to the waterfront and enjoyed a relaxing stroll along the shoreline.
It’s one of those towns that many Californians have never taken the time to visit, and I’m glad we did. Between the history, the waterfront, and the small-town charm, it was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon.
Now I can’t wait to get out, do some dry camping, and put the new solar system to work!
Al & Deb
MobileMosers.com 
As always, thank you for your travel updates, and this time the added a touch of your addition of solar panels. I live in the Bay Area as well so that’s a good thing to keep in mind. Appreciate all you do thank you.👍
Glad to hear you are enjoying the posts. Thanks for the comment! We are lucky to live in such a beautiful area to RV in!
Stellar (solar) job as usual. The additional solar panels will make life a little less “gennie” 🙂 We always enjoy your wanderings and updates. We much rather be there making news with you!
Thanks Phil! Looking forward to another coastal adventure with you and Deb in the new year!