1. What is a Solar Panel for Home Electricity Calculator?

Definition: This calculator estimates the required solar panel power output based on your home's energy needs, sunlight availability, and system performance.

Purpose: It helps homeowners determine the appropriate solar panel size for their electricity requirements.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — 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 needed panel power.

3. Importance of Solar Panel Sizing

Details: Proper sizing ensures your solar system meets your energy needs while maximizing return on investment and system efficiency.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your daily energy requirement 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 monthly kWh usage, divide by 30, then multiply by 1000 to get watt-hours.

Q2: What's a typical performance ratio?
A: Most home systems have a PR between 0.7-0.8, accounting for losses from temperature, wiring, inverters, etc.

Q3: How do I determine sunlight hours for my location?
A: Use solar maps or local meteorological data for average peak sun hours in your area.

Q4: Does this include battery storage?
A: No, this calculates the panel size needed. Battery requirements depend on your usage pattern and backup needs.

Q5: Should I add a safety margin?
A: Yes, consider adding 10-20% to account for panel degradation over time and unexpected increases in usage.