Hey everyone! After some frustrating experiences with my grid operator cutting up my property, I've decided to go for a whole house off-grid solar system. I've done a lot of research, but I'm still unsure about how to size my system effectively in terms of both wattage and battery storage.
From what I've gathered, there are some general rules of thumb, like needing to produce three times my usage (for daily needs, night usage, and to charge batteries), that a 400W panel might generate about 1,200 watt-hours per day if I get around 3 hours of sunlight, and taking into account panel efficiency drops and inverter losses. My average usage is around 1,500 kWh/month, but I've seen peaks of 2,500 kWh in winter, which translates to about 82 kWh/day.
I'm confused because when I calculate my needs, it seems like I'd require an extensive setup with a lot of panels and battery capacity. I'm aiming for an EG4 12000xp or two, plus a hefty number of panels and batteries. Am I on the right track, or have I missed something? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
1 Answer
It's great that you're diving into solar, but just a heads-up—before investing heavily in a solar system, consider making efficiency upgrades to your home first. Things like replacing old appliances or pumping up your insulation can give you a better return on investment than stacking on more solar. If you’re already using heat pumps and have modern appliances, that's good! But I'd recommend auditing for air leaks as those can drain your efficiency. Sometimes those upgrades are less costly than solar and have greater impact in the long run.
That makes sense, I appreciate the advice! I know we have some leaks, but fixing them might mean some expensive remodeling. I might have to weigh the costs and benefits a bit more.