1. What is a Solar Panels System Calculator?

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

Purpose: It helps homeowners and businesses determine the appropriate solar panel system size for their energy requirements.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

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

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

3. Importance of Solar Power Calculation

Details: Proper solar system sizing ensures reliable energy production, cost-effectiveness, and optimal return on investment.

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 (0.7-0.9 typically) accounts for system losses from temperature, wiring, inverters, and other factors.

Q2: How do I find my daily energy requirement?
A: Check your electricity bills for kWh usage and convert to watt-hours (1 kWh = 1000 Wh), then divide by 30 for daily average.

Q3: What's a typical sunlight hours value?
A: This varies by location. US averages range from 3.5-6.5 peak sun hours daily.

Q4: Does this include battery storage?
A: No, this calculates the solar array size needed. Battery storage would require additional calculations.

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