What size solar inverter should I get?

To size a solar inverter for an off-grid system, consider the combined power consumption that will be pulled from the batteries at the same time. In this case, a 3kW inverter would be sufficient.

Should your inverter size match your solar panel size?

Match your inverter to your lifestyle, not just your roof. If you’re running a fridge, home office, and PS5 all day, size accordingly. If you’re barely home, go leaner. Here’s the cheat code: your inverter size should usually match your solar panel system’s size in kilowatts.

Is a 1:1 solar panel to inverter ratio efficient?

A 1:1 solar panel to inverter ratio is not the most efficient option. Solar panels usually don't produce the rated power. In reality, the ratio will be less than 1. This means the solar array will produce less power than the inverter can convert.

What size battery do I need for my solar system?

To determine the size of the battery you need for your solar system, you'll need to calculate the storage capacity based on your energy usage and desired autonomy. If we repeat the calculations with a lead acid battery, we’ll need a storage capacity of 99.6kWh (33.3kWh x 3 days of autonomy). The 113 kWh Outback Power 48V AGM Battery from SunWatts will meet your needs with capacity to spare.

How many solar panels are required?

To determine how many solar panels are required, we divide the total daily output we need by the output of one solar panel. That’s 16.6 kWh/day ÷ 1.6 kWh/panel = 10.3 solar panels. However, we’ll order 12 solar panels to account for their not always producing 100% of the rated power output, resulting in a daily production of 19.2 kWh (12*1.6 kWh).

How much power does a solar inverter produce?

The ideal power rating of the inverter for this system is 3,072W, as calculated by dividing the total output (3840W) by the recommended array to inverter ratio of 1.25.