1. What is a Solar Power System Calculator?

Definition: This calculator estimates the required solar power capacity based on your energy needs, available sunlight, and system performance.

Purpose: It helps homeowners and installers determine the appropriate size for a solar power system installation.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Required solar power (watts)
• \( Load \) — Daily energy requirement (watt-hours)
• \( H \) — Peak sunlight hours per day
• \( PR \) — Performance ratio (system efficiency)

Explanation: The energy requirement is divided by the product of sunlight hours and performance ratio to determine the needed solar panel capacity.

3. Importance of Proper Solar Sizing

Details: Correct sizing ensures your solar system meets energy needs without overspending on unnecessary capacity.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your daily energy needs in watt-hours, average peak sunlight hours (default 5), and performance ratio (default 0.75). All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the performance ratio?
A: The performance ratio (0-1) accounts for system losses from temperature, wiring, inverters, etc. 0.75 is typical.

Q2: How do I find my daily energy requirement?
A: Check your electricity bills for kWh usage and multiply by 1000 to get Wh, then divide by days in the billing period.

Q3: What are typical sunlight hours?
A: This varies by location. 5 hours is average, but check solar maps for your area's specific peak sun hours.

Q4: Should I include a safety margin?
A: Yes, consider adding 10-20% to the calculated power to account for panel degradation over time.

Q5: Does this include battery storage?
A: No, this calculates the solar array size. Battery storage calculations are separate based on nighttime needs.