1. What is Price per Watt?

Definition: This calculator determines the cost per watt of power, commonly used to compare the cost efficiency of electrical devices, solar panels, or power systems.

Purpose: It helps consumers and businesses evaluate the cost-effectiveness of power-related purchases by standardizing the cost measurement.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• Price_per_watt — Cost per unit of power ($/watt)
• Price — Total cost of the item ($)
• Power — Power rating of the device (watts)

Explanation: The total price is divided by the power rating to determine how much each watt of power costs.

3. Importance of Price per Watt Calculation

Details: This metric allows for direct comparison between different products regardless of their size or power rating, helping identify the most cost-effective options.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the total price in dollars and the power rating in watts. Both values must be greater than 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a good price per watt for solar panels?
A: As of 2023, residential solar panels typically range from $2.50 to $3.50 per watt before incentives.

Q2: Should I always choose the lowest price per watt?
A: Not necessarily. Consider other factors like efficiency, warranty, and brand reputation along with price.

Q3: How does this differ from cost per kilowatt-hour?
A: Price per watt is an upfront cost metric, while cost per kWh measures ongoing energy production costs.

Q4: Can I use this for batteries?
A: Yes, but for batteries you might also want to consider watt-hours (capacity) in addition to power rating.

Q5: Why display 6 decimal places?
A: Some applications (like microelectronics) deal with very small price-per-watt values where precision matters.