Many homeowners are looking to switch toward a greener source of energy. Solar generators are a flawless alternative to our regular gas or fuel-powered generators. However, a very rising common question among the prospective user is can a solar generator power a house?
The answer is YES! A larger solar generator can back up several electrical appliances in your home during a blackout. I hope this read will help ease some of your concerns about solar generators and also help you decide what kind of solar generator will be best for your house.
Can a Solar Generator Power a House?
Solar panels are becoming very recognized as a cost-effective and impeccable source of eco-friendly energy. Your solar panels can be used to power up many electronic devices in your home, as well as a generator for power backup.
But a question that occurs quite frequently is, can a solar generator power a house? Well yes, it can! As a rule, a large solar generator that supplies power between 1000-10000 watts can be used to power your home. However, this will depend on what kind of appliances you will be using with the solar generators.
If you are using smaller essential appliances like lights, TV, Fans, Laptops, Chargers, and Routers then you can power them using a single large generator. However, if you are looking to use more energy-consuming appliances like heaters, larger refrigerators, and air conditioning units then chances are you will need multiple solar generators.
It all comes down to how much power you are consuming and that will be the deciding factor on what size or type of generator will work best for your home. Well, let us find out.
How much Power is consumed in your home?
To know how much power is consumed in your home, go through your utility bill which will identify how much kilowatt-hours of energy you consume per month and per year. To get a detailed view of energy consumption consult your electricity provider’s website.
However, if you want to identify how much energy is utilized by any single appliance, simply multiply its power by the hours of usage. This will be especially helpful to determine how much energy you will use when a solar generator runs. It can also help to find out what size or power your solar generator should have.
Here I am providing you with a list of common household appliance and their wattage.
- 42 Inch LED TV 70W
- Amazon Echo 3W
- Ceiling Fan 60W
- Computer 100W
- Electric Shaver 15W
- Fridge / Freezer 150W
- Washing Machine 500W
- Game Console 120W
- Hair Straightener 75W
- Home Phone 3W
- Laptop Computer 40W
- LED Light Bulb 7W
- Microwave 1000W
- Phone Charger 4W
- Tube Light 22W
What kind of Generator should you buy?
If you have found out how much power backup you need from the solar generator, then let’s move on to find out what kind of generator you should buy. Depending on the size of your home and the number of appliances that will be used, you can identify which generator will serve your purpose. Let us look at some of your options:
1. Small Solar Generators
These are portable and very handy lightweight generators. You can use these to charge up your cell phones, or laptops or run a small TV. These generally have a power of 10-250watts.
2. Medium Solar Generators
Now if you are looking for power backup for a longer duration, these generators with 250-1000 watts of power are a great choice. They can power up several lights and fans and appliances with lower electric consumption.
These generators can power up a small cabin or a house with lower electric usage. Besides these are also travel-friendly and can be easily carried by a single person.
3. Large Solar Generators
Now if you want something heavy-duty that will power up your entire home for a longer time period, these are your best option. These large solar generators can generate a massive 1000-10000 watt energy. This generator kit can power up a whole house.
It can be a good choice for you if you want to get off the electric grid. These can also help reduce your electric bill significantly.
What other factors you should consider?
I always believe a good research session always helps me find a better product that suits my needs. And when you are buying something as important as a solar generator, I want you to have all the facts and figures. Here are some things you need to consider besides buying the generator:
1. Type of Solar Battery
The right type of solar battery is also important when your house will run on a solar generator. So, when getting batteries for your generator, you can consider getting lithium-ion ones. They are currently the best in the market.
Also, another popular battery is the lead-acid battery which is comparatively cheaper and can serve you for 5-7years.
2. Size of Inverter
The energy generated by your solar panel is transformed by the inverter. So, to run all your appliances properly you need to ensure proper distribution of electrical power. Hence, picking the correct generator is very important.
Also depending on whether your main grid electric power is on or not you have to use on-grid and off-grid inverters.
3. Size of Solar Panel
The size of your solar panel will depend entirely on the capacity of your solar generator and the amount of time you will use it. Suppose you want to operate some basic home appliances with your solar generator. In that case, your generator has to be 6500-7500W.
Now to support this generator you can use 8 solar panels of 250W each. One of these panels can generate about 1000-1200watt electricity with 6 hours of sunlight. Hence, the entire panel structure is enough to support your solar generator. This fixture can charge solar panels during the day and run your generator at night.
4. Charger Controller
To protect your batteries from overcharging, you must get an appropriate charger controller. This device can control the amount of energy transferred from the solar panel to the battery.
This device can balance the battery energy and is one of the fundamental components of your solar generator
Advantages of Using Solar Generators
1. Cost Effective
These generators are reliant on the sun’s thermal energy to generate electricity. So, your electrical bill will not see an increase. And unlike gas-fueled generators, you do not need to pay for the gas.
2. Low maintenance
These generators are quite sturdy and you can leave them outside without worrying about regular maintenance.
3. No sound
We all know how loud and sound-polluting gas generators can be. But the solar generators are very quiet and will smoothly run in the background without you even knowing about it.
4. Environmentally friendly
One of the best parts of these solar generators is their ecological impact. They do not produce any harmful exhaust or toxic chemicals. They are run on renewable energy and are very environmentally friendly.
Read Also: Why Do You Need An Inverter For Solar Panels
Final Words
With the advancement of technology, solar-powered devices have become more accessible to people. And solar generators are one of the latest and most economical choices for electrical power backup.
Today by using the right solar panel setup, you can power up your entire house using a solar generator. And hopefully, this reading will give you an understanding of what you should know and what to look for when buying a solar-powered generator.
Key Takeaways
- Solar-powered generators can power your entire house.
- It is important to determine the size and capacity of the generator needed for your home.
- Solar generators are noise-free, non-toxic, and very cost-effective.
FAQs
1. What can you power with a solar generator?
Answer: Depending on the size of your solar generator, it can produce enough energy to power many of your devices like lights, fans, laptops, chargers, routers, TVs, gaming consoles, and many other household appliances.
2. How many watts of solar power does it take to run a house?
Answer: When you are using a solar generator, the power consumption will depend on how many appliances or devices you will run. Contingent on the size of your house and the number of appliances you may need a solar generator of 7000 watts or above.
3. How much do solar panels cost for a 3000-square-foot house?
Answer: It will cost you about $4 to $10 per square foot to power your house with solar panels. But it is found that solar installers actually quote your solar installation cost based on the amount of energy you will need. The pricing is about $2.50 to $3.20 per watt before taxes. So, your 3000 sq. foot house can cost an average of $14000-$17500.
4. How long will a solar generator last?
Answer: Buying a good quality solar generator can last you for decades. With appropriate maintenance and proper servicing, the best solar generators can last for up to 25 to 30 years.
5. Can a Solar Generator Power a Refrigerator?
Answer: With the advancement of technology, you can run almost any appliance with a solar generator. If you have a larger generator that has a power of at least 3000W, then it can effortlessly power your refrigerator.
