I'm new to solar setups and need help powering my shed, which is quite far from my house. I want to run a laptop, a 15-amp wood router, and some lights. I plan to use everything for about an hour at a time, so I don't think I need a massive battery bank. I also want to add 10 landscaping lights that use 4 watts each. What equipment should I look into to make this work?
4 Answers
To get started, you need to calculate your wattage. For your 15-amp router running at 110V, that's about 1650 watts. Add in the lights (40 watts) and laptop (around 100 watts), and you're looking at around 2000 watts when summed up. For battery storage, you might need roughly 1950 watt-hours. Don't forget to factor in some inefficiencies when choosing your battery, especially with lithium vs. lead acid. A solid rule of thumb is to size your solar panels based on your usage, aiming for about 5 times the panel wattage for good sunny days.
Exactly! Using it weekly gives you more time to recharge without stressing the setup.
Just how far is 'very far'? Knowing the distance might help in figuring out the wiring and solar panel setup you’ll need.
Honestly, I think a portable power station with at least a 2KW inverter and a 2KWH battery would be best. The router's power draw is significant, and you need to account for the startup surge. For the landscaping lights, why not go for solar-powered versions? They're affordable and super easy to install, plus you don't have to worry about them draining your battery.
If you're not too worried about the budget, consider getting a portable power station. It's easy to set up and would likely meet your needs since it can handle a decent load.
Wow, that's really helpful! So, if I only use it once a week, I assume it's easier to recharge the batteries? Thanks!