1. What is a Solar System Estimate Calculator?

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

Purpose: It helps homeowners and solar installers determine the appropriate solar system size for specific energy requirements.

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
• \( PR \) — Performance ratio (system efficiency)

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

3. Importance of Solar System Sizing

Details: Proper sizing ensures your solar system meets energy needs without over-investment in unnecessary capacity.

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 and multiply by 1000 to get Wh, then divide by 30 for daily average.

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

Q3: What performance ratio should I use?
A: 0.75 is standard, but use 0.65-0.85 depending on system quality and environmental factors.

Q4: Does this include battery storage?
A: No, this calculates panel requirements. Battery sizing depends on days of autonomy needed.

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