You can
calculate the solar panels required by using
the formulars below or by our easy to use
Calculator
.
There
are three things to consider in order to
choose a Solar panel or create a Solar system.
You need to know how much
energy your battery can store and then select
a Solar panel that can replenish your ‘stock’
of energy in the battery in line with your
pattern of use.
1: How much
energy can your battery store?
Battery capacity is measured
in Amp Hours (eg 17AH). You need to convert
this to Watt Hours by multiplying the AH
figure by the battery voltage (eg 12V).
For a 17AH, 12V battery
the Watt Hours figure is 17 x 12 = 204WH
This means the battery could
supply 204W for 1 hour, or 102W for 2 hours
i.e. the more energy you take, the faster
the battery discharges.
2:
How much energy will your appliance(s) use
over a period of time?
The power consumption of
appliances is given in Watts (eg 21"
fluorescent light, 13W). To calculate the
energy you will use over time, just multiply
the power consumption by the hours of use.
The 13W light fitting, on
for 2 hours, will take 13 x 2 = 26WH from
the battery.
Repeat this for all the
appliances you wish to use, then add the
results to establish total consumption.
3: How much
energy can a Solar panel generate over a
period of time?
The power generation rating
of a Solar panel is also given in Watts
(eg STP010, 10W). To calculate the energy
it can supply to the battery, multiply Watts
by the hours exposed to sunshine, then multiply
the result by 0.85 (this factor allows for
natural system losses).
For the Solar 10W panel
in 4 hours* of sunshine, 10 x 4 x 0.85 =
34WH. This is the amount of energy the Solar
panel can supply to the battery.
Or
do things the easy way by using our solar
panel calculator.
Some
Examples of how you can utilize a Solar
Power.
For
specifications of each of our solar panels
please refer to our
Solar
Panel Specification Table
