The amount of power required from a solar panel varies from house to house. These power devices have batteries and panels of different sizes, determining the power they can absorb and store. Principally, the big the size of the panel and the capacity of the battery, the higher the amount of power.
The power consumption depends on the total number of electric devices and their running time. For instance, if you have a refrigerator running most of the time, your power consumption might be higher than a household with only a television powered at night only. This article will discuss a 100w solar panel to help you decide if it is right for you.
How to calculate power requirement
The first thing to help you determine the power needed from the solar panel is calculating your daily or monthly consumption. You can get your power consumption by checking your previous electricity bills or checking the reports from the whole house monitoring system. These monitors are connected to the main breaker panels.
Even better, some of them have wireless support to send the data directly to your phone or pc. However, if you are dealing with a lower budget, you can look for a monitor system with an LCD to display the power consumption reports.
On the other hand, if this is the first time you are installing a power source in your house, you might not have any prior data to make inferences from. Moreover, it might be expensive to install a power monitor system. Solution? When in such tight situations, you can opt to calculate the power consumption all by yourself manually. Don’t freak out! We will give you an example to guide you through!
Follow the below steps to calculate your power consumption.
Step 1: Estimate the total time per day the appliances run
The first thing is to record the total time you run all the electric appliances per day. If you are a perfectionist, it would be best to record the usage for the whole week. For instance, you can note down the total time you used a microwave, computer, or fan for the entire week. Then, you should find the average of their sum. This is what I mean.
Assume;
You used a refrigerator for 3 hours, 2 hours, 0.5 hours, 1 hour, and 4 hours for five days consecutively.
Fan for 4 hours for five days
Watched television for 1 hour, 2hours, 0.5hours, 2.5 hours, 4 hours for five days;
To get the average time;
Find the total sum of the hours;
Refrigerator
3+2+0.5+6+4= 15.5
Average time= 15.5/5= 3.1
Fan
4 X 5=20
Average time
20/5= 4
Television
1+2+0.5+2.5+4 = 10
Average time per day
10/5= 2
Nonetheless, it will not harm much if you make a rough estimate. For instance, if you switch on the television only when you are back for approximately four hours in the evening, you can assume it to be the standard figure for all other days.
Step 2: Calculate the wattage of the product
Next, you need to calculate the wattage of the devices
The appliances have a wattage stamp on the back or their nameplate in most cases. However, the easiest option would be to look at the manual if you still have it.
Also, you should note in some cases; manufacturers may stamp only the voltage consumed and the current in amperes. Consequently, you must calculate the power using this formula;
Power (in watts) = voltage (v) X current (amps)
For example, if the electric kettle consumes 120 volts at a current of 1.5 amperes;
Power= 120 X 1.5= 180 volts.
After identifying or calculating the wattage, next, you should calculate the energy consumed and convert it to kilowatts;
Power consumed= wattage X hours used per day
For instance; assume
The refrigerator has a power rating of 200w, running for 3.1 hours
200w X 3.1H= 620 W
A 50w ceiling fan running for 4 hours per day
50W X 4= 200W
A 70W LCD TV running for 2 hours per day
70W X 2= 140W
Three 20W fluorescent lights running for 8 hours
3X 20W X 8= 480W
The total amount of power consumed= 620W + 200W + 140W + 480W= 1440 watts
We convert it to kilowatts 1440/1000= 1.440Kw.
Step 3: How much energy can a solar panel generate over time?
The power generated by the solar panel is rated in watts. In our case, we have a 100w solar panel. To calculate the total power generated by the panel, multiply the power rating of the solar panel by the hours exposed to the sunshine. Then multiply by 0.85, which is considered the efficiency factor for solar panels.
e.g.
100w X 4 hours X 0.85= 340 Watts.
Thus, you will require 1440/340= 4.2 panels ~= 5 panels.
Nonetheless, you should note that the power produced by a solar system fluctuates depending on several factors. For instance, some areas experience short periods of sunshine which might mean a lower amount of energy per day. Also, you should ensure that you position the device strategically to absorb the sunlight efficiently.
The solar system should match the needed energy or, even better, exceed it. Thus in our case, you will need more than one panel to meet the required power.
How much does a 100-watt solar panel cost?
The pricing of solar panels varies according to their efficiency and brand. Generally speaking, a typical 100w solar pane may cost approximately $100 to over $ 300. hence, if you need four units, it may cost you approximately $ 400 to $1200.
FAQ
Can you connect multiple 100-watt panels?
Yes, you can connect multiple solar panels to increase their total output. You should ensure that the output matches or exceeds the power consumption.
Can you power a home with a 100-watt solar panel?
A: yes, you can. However, most people don’t prefer using a 100-watt panel because a single unit will not be sufficient. Thus, you will need more than two units, which might be financially inconvenient, and the storage space might be an issue.
What is the size of a 100-watt solar panel?
A: a typical 100-watt panel measures raround47 X 21.3 X 4 inches. us, the total required area is approximately 1001.1 square inches
Final words
Solar panels have a specific amount of power they can generate in a given amount; houses have different power consumption rates that depend on the total number of appliances and their running time. Consequently, it would help if you calculated the total power needed to get a reliable solar panel. Fortunately, you can connect several solar panels to increase their output which will help meet the house requirements.
We have discussed a step-by-step calculation of household power consumption and the total number of units required. If your device does not have a power rating, you can multiply the voltage with the current to get the power. Lately, don’t forget that the solar system should exceed or match the total power consumption if you are not ready to stay in darkness.
Eng. Matthew Joseph Nandirio is the Founder of walkingsolar.
After graduating from the University of Houston in 2002, matt started working as a Solar Electrical Engineer for several multi-national solar energy companies.
He has a wide range of experiences including solar system requirement analysis, planning, maintaining, debugging and even solar device development through research.
He now shares his 20 years of expertise through his articles on the walkingsolar website.
Further, he is also the author of two books on Solar Technology, “Solar Power for Villages” and “DIY Solar System for Dummies”.
