1. What is a Solar Panel Calculator?

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

Purpose: It helps homeowners and solar installers determine the appropriate solar panel size for specific energy requirements.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Required solar panel 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 panel size needed.

3. Importance of Solar Panel Sizing

Details: Proper 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 sunlight hours (default 5), and performance ratio (default 0.75). All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a performance ratio?
A: It accounts for system losses (typically 0.7-0.8) due to factors like temperature, wiring, and inverter efficiency.

Q2: How do I find my daily energy requirement?
A: Check your electricity bill for kWh usage and convert to watt-hours (1 kWh = 1000 Wh), then divide by days in billing period.

Q3: What are typical sunlight hours?
A: Varies by location (3-6 hours in most areas). Check solar maps for your region.

Q4: Should I add a safety margin?
A: Yes, consider adding 10-20% to account for panel degradation over time and unexpected usage increases.

Q5: Does this include battery storage?
A: No, this calculates panel size only. Battery requirements depend on your backup needs.