1. What is a Solar Energy Home System Calculator?

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

Purpose: It helps homeowners and solar installers determine the appropriate solar panel capacity for residential energy needs.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Required solar power (watts)
• \( L \) — Daily energy requirement (watt-hours)
• \( H \) — Peak sunlight hours per day
• \( PR \) — System performance ratio (0-1)

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

3. Importance of Solar System Sizing

Details: Proper sizing ensures your solar system meets energy needs without over-investing in unnecessary capacity, while accounting for real-world inefficiencies.

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: How do I find my daily energy requirement?
A: Check your electricity bill for kWh usage, convert to watt-hours (multiply by 1000), and divide by 30 for daily average.

Q2: What are typical sunlight hours?
A: Most locations get 4-6 peak sunlight hours; check solar maps for your area's exact value.

Q3: What affects the performance ratio?
A: Factors like panel orientation, shading, temperature, wiring losses, and inverter efficiency (typically 0.7-0.85).

Q4: Should I add a safety margin?
A: Yes, consider adding 10-20% to the calculated power to account for degradation and exceptional usage.

Q5: Does this include battery storage?
A: No, this calculates panel size only. Battery sizing requires additional calculations based on autonomy days.