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How Much Power Do I Need form My Solar Panel
People often ask the question, how much does it cost to make my house solely solar dependant? The answer is, it's not that simple. It really depends on what you intend to charge with your solar panels; how much power do you need?
Naturally, it's the same type of thing when you are looking at sizing an individual solar panel, or sizing a solar system for a specific purpose (as opposed to for whole home purposes). This educational will focus on sizing a single panel for different purposes. To learn how to size a domestic solar system, please check out our Residential Solar Power Supply Educational.
First of all, it is important to understand that appliance operate on either direct current or alternating current (AC/DC), and they typically have their own specifications for the power source they require. Most appliances are designed to take a charge from a 120 V, 50-60 Hz AC power source, because that is how the power grid distributes power to your home (this differs based on location). Many appliances require or have built in adapters to convert the AC power into DC power, to be used by the appliances. Your computers, printers, battery chargers, etc., for instance.
That being said, it is also important to understand that solar panels provide energy in the form of DC. When you are planning your solar system for something that requires AC, you understand that you will have to use an inverter to convert the DC gathered by the panel to an AC supply. Again, that information is covered in our Residential Solar Power Supply Educational. You may also be wondering how Watts come in to play.
So let's start by looking at an iPhone charger...