1. What is a Solar Calculator Online Estimate?

Definition: This calculator estimates the solar power system size needed based on your energy requirements, sunlight hours, and system performance.

Purpose: It helps homeowners and solar installers determine the appropriate solar panel capacity for a given energy need.

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 wattage.

3. Importance of Solar Power Calculation

Details: Accurate solar power estimation ensures your system meets energy needs, avoids oversizing (which increases costs), and helps with proper system design.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your daily energy needs in Wh, average 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 accounts for system losses (typically 0.7-0.8) including temperature effects, wiring losses, and inverter efficiency.

Q2: How do I find my daily energy requirement?
A: Sum the watt-hours of all devices you'll power, or check your electricity bill for daily kWh usage (multiply by 1000 to get Wh).

Q3: What are typical sunlight hours?
A: This varies by location (3-6 hours in most areas). Check solar maps for your region's average peak sun hours.

Q4: Does this include battery storage?
A: No, this calculates the solar array size needed. Battery sizing requires additional calculations for days of autonomy.

Q5: Should I add a safety margin?
A: Yes, consider adding 10-20% to the calculated power to account for panel degradation over time.