1. What is a Solar Panel Estimate Calculator?

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

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:

• \( P \) — Solar panel power (watts)
• \( Load \) — Energy required (watt-hours)
• \( H \) — Sunlight hours (hours)
• \( PR \) — Performance ratio (typically 0.75 for residential systems)

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

3. Importance of Solar Panel Sizing

Details: Proper solar panel sizing ensures your system meets energy needs while optimizing cost and space requirements.

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 the performance ratio?
A: The performance ratio accounts for system losses from temperature, wiring, inverters, and other factors (typically 0.75-0.85).

Q2: How do I find my energy requirement?
A: Check your electricity bills for daily kWh usage (multiply by 1000 for Wh) or sum the wattage of all devices you'll power.

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.

Q4: Should I add a safety margin?
A: Yes, consider adding 10-20% to the calculated power for cloudy days and future expansion.

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