The average refrigerator takes about three or four average solar panels to run. The average refrigerator found in the United States uses approximately 57 kWh per month while the average freezer uses 58 kWh. Adding those together brings a combined total of 115 kWh.
3000W Wind Solar Hybrid Off Grid System
The average refrigerator takes about three or four average solar panels to run. The average refrigerator found in the United States uses approximately 57 kWh per month while the average freezer uses 58 kWh. Adding those together brings a combined total of 115 kWh.
A 100 watt panel receiving at least 8 hours of sunlight per day will produce almost 1 kilowatt-hours per day or 30 kWh per month. Divide that usage of the refrigerator (115kWh) by 30 kWh per month and you get 3.8 solar panels. This means you'll need four panels to keep this refrigerator running.
Tip: How do solar panels work
First let's talk about the basics of how solar energy is generated. Photovoltaic solar panels are made up of many solar cells made of silicon. When sunlight hits the panels, they create an electric current. Panels have both a positive and a negative layer, which creates an electric field.
The current collected by solar panels then feeds into a charge controller, which controls how much current goes to a battery. Charge controllers prevent batteries from being overcharged. They also have the ability to shut down a system if the energy stored dips below 50%. Batteries store and produce DC power. In order to use AC appliances, such as microwaves, laptops, and phone chargers, an inverter is used to change the power from DC into AC power.
In a home, solar panels are connected to a grid inverter, which is then connected to the existing electrical network in your house. In an RV, van, or boat, you can choose from a range of different inverters based on your specific energy needs.
For the cases of this example, let's say we have some 300 watt solar panels, and you're looking to provide power for your home. You don't have access to the grid and installing off-grid solar on your home is your best option for meeting your energy needs.
Let's assume that each panel gets around 8 hours of sunlight per day on your rooftop. A 300 watt panel receiving 8 hours of sunlight per day will produce almost 2.5 kilowatt-hours per day. If we multiply this by 365 days per year, we get a solar output of about 900 kilowatt-hours annually. In short, each panel will provide 900 kilowatt-hours each year.
However, you can't expect to get your solar panels' full output for every hour the sun shines during the day. In practice, the average output tends to be more in line with 4 hours of full production each day. This average means that your 300-watt solar panel is going to give you 1.2 kilowatt-hours of electricity per day.
Keep in mind that this is the total energy production over the course of the entire day. Power generation isn't consistent throughout the day. There will be a peak around noon with a noticeable drop-off as night approaches.
If your solar power system doesn't have sufficient battery storage, you'll be wasting any power you make at the peak. You need to make sure you have enough batteries to buffer this output.
Most data suggests that a typical American home (2,000 square feet home) consumes approximately 11,000 kilowatt-hours annually. So, when we divide our total consumption by the expected output of one solar panel, we see that roughly thirteen solar panels of this size would be enough to power a home of that size. If you have a smaller home or are powering an RV, your energy needs will be much lower, and you'll need fewer panels.
Central air conditioners take up a lot of energy and use about 3,5000 watts, or 3.5 kWh, for every hour that they are in operation. That means each solar panel will be able to power your A/C for about 8.5 hours. However, if you run your A/C for 6 hours per day, that means you would need more than 21 100 watt solar panels to cover 180 hours per month of use. If you have a smaller solar installation, you'll want to limit your AC use or forgo it altogether.
Oushang Photovoltaic has a variety of different sized solar panels and solar kits available for purchase. Taking the time to do some math on the capacity of your solar panels and the needs of your household appliances and devices will ensure you have an effective solar installation that meets all your solar needs. Contact us now!