I'm planning to set up a small hunting cabin on my in-laws' property and considering using solar power since the electric company might not provide service there. I intend to use the cabin a couple of weekends each month, with around 8 outlets for a mini-fridge, a microwave, an electric griddle, a lamp, an air conditioner, and some phone chargers. I'm looking for advice on how much power I'd need for this setup and any tips on making it more energy efficient. Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
3 Answers
For a small solar system like yours, it might be best to rethink using the griddle and microwave. They consume quite a bit of electricity. If you can skip those, you'll be able to make do with a smaller setup. A propane griddle could be a great alternative for cooking without using much electricity!
Switching to an induction cooktop could save on power too, and it's safer indoors than a griddle!
Given your needs, you might want to consider a 3000-watt inverter. Here's a quick breakdown of what you'd typically need:
- Griddle (~1600W) or a small microwave (around 1200W)
- 5k BTU air conditioner (~450W)
- Mini fridge (90W)
- Two phone chargers (40W)
- Five light bulbs (65W)
Totaling around 2245W assuming you don't run both griddle and microwave at once. You'd likely need two 280-300 Ah LiFePO4 batteries for reliability. This way, you can still function even if one battery fails unexpectedly.
If you're worried about using gas appliances in a small space, just be cautious about ventilation. But going propane might be a smarter choice for energy efficiency!