Hey everyone! I just joined to ask this question. I have a tiny house made from a 53' reefer van, and I want to install solar panels on the roof, which has dimensions of 53x8 feet. Over the past year and a half, I've been tracking my energy usage and I found that my house consumes about 11,000 kWh annually. In my area, I can expect roughly 5 hours of sunlight a day with fixed panels. This leads me to believe I need a capacity of about 6.03 kWh to meet my needs. My question is: do I need exactly this capacity, or should I consider getting more or even a bit less? I'm looking into potential solar systems, specifically the ECO-WORTHY 4680W kit, and the ExpertPower 15kWH system. Just wondering if I'm on the right track, or if there are things I need to consider that I might have overlooked. Thanks a lot!
3 Answers
Definitely try to minimize your energy use first! Insulation and energy-efficient appliances can save you a lot in the long run. It's also true that many days won't produce optimum conditions, so having a reliable battery solution is important for off-grid setups. Your thinking is solid, but just try to maximize your efficiency while ensuring you have enough solar capacity for the lows!
When sizing your solar system, consider that your energy consumption might fluctuate. It's often recommended to aim for more battery capacity rather than less. If you're looking to go mostly solar and want to avoid drawing from the grid, a higher kW capacity helps ensure your needs are consistently met. I’d recommend checking tools like PV Watts to help confirm your calculations based on local conditions!
Thanks for suggesting PV Watts! I’ll definitely use that to check my needs.
It sounds like you’re off to a good start! But yeah, it’s typically a good idea to oversize your solar capacity a bit, especially to account for cloudy days or times when your panels might not get their max sunlight. Being around 7 kW might serve you better considering those factors. Plus, having a backup generator can be a lifesaver in case you don't get enough sun for several days. It seems you're thinking in the right direction, just keep those variables in mind when you're planning!
Oversizing is a great point! I hadn't considered that before, but it makes total sense. Any recommendations on backup generators?
Great advice! I’m looking into better insulation options now.