1. What is a Solar Panel Estimator 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 a given energy requirement.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Required solar panel power (watts)
• \( Load \) — Daily energy requirement (watt-hours)
• \( H \) — Average daily sunlight hours (hours)
• \( PR \) — System performance ratio (0-1)

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

3. Importance of Solar Panel Estimation

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 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: It accounts for system losses (typically 0.75-0.85) due to temperature, wiring, inverters, and other factors.

Q2: How do I find my daily energy requirement?
A: Check your electricity bill for daily kWh usage (multiply by 1000 for Wh) or sum the wattage of all devices × hours used.

Q3: What's a typical sunlight hours value?
A: Varies by location (3-7 hours). Check solar insolation maps for your area.

Q4: Should I round up the calculated power?
A: Yes, round up to the nearest standard panel size (e.g., 250W, 300W, etc.).

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