Many people are considering using their space heater while also being green and using solar electricity.
But why do so many people think this way? The answer is simple: solar has certain financial advantages, such as cost savings from decreased utility bills.
Besides, some people simply enjoy the concept of becoming more environmentally friendly and energy self-sufficient.
They appreciate the fact that they are not as reliant on the grid for their energy demands.
So, if you’ve decided to go solar and purchase some panels to power your heater, you’ll be wondering how many solar panels to run a space heater?
This article will show you how to determine the number of panels you need, so don’t worry, this simple guide will walk you through the process step by step.
So, without further ado let’s go into details.
How Do Solar Panels Work?
Before we answer any questions, first we need to understand how solar panels work.
Photovoltaic cells, or solar cells, are the building blocks of solar panels. The sun’s energy is absorbed by these cells, which are then converted to electricity.
Because each cell has a pair of electrodes on either side with semiconductor material between them.
When sunlight strikes this material, photons (light energy packets) break electrons loose from their atoms, allowing the cell to generate an electric current.
Additionally, there are some important considerations to make before purchasing the solar panels you’ll need to convert your heater to green energy.
- Panels: Users must determine the load required to power their heaters and purchase enough solar panels to meet that demand.
Choose the panels that best suit your needs from the available options.
- Charge Controller: The voltage and current produced by the panels are managed by a charge controller that is installed between the panels and the batteries.
Additionally, A good controller allows your system to function at its best all of the time.
- Inverter: The DC to AC conversion is handled by an inverter. In most homes, AC electricity is utilized to power plug points.
It’s important that users choose between different types of inverters after performing their study.
- Battery: Your solar power system’s entire output is unlikely to be utilized right away. So, A battery is used in this situation.
These batteries can then be used to power your heater as well as any other equipment as needed.
Related Article: How Do Solar Panels Work? [Step By Step Guide]
Calculate The Number Of Panels You Need To Run Your Heater Step By Step.
To calculate the number of solar panels you need to run your heater there are three specific considerations you must put in mind
- Your heater wattage
- The number of hours your heater will be operational.
- Total sunshine hours in your area
Heater wattage:
We all know that heater wattage varies from person to person. For example, if you use your heater to simply heat your bedroom, the wattage will differ from someone who uses it to heat a large room or a basement.
But let’s talk in general. The majority of electric heaters have a wattage of 1,500 watts, however, others have a wattage of slightly less or slightly greater.
The number of hours your heater will operate:
Some places have to run their heaters 24 hours a day, seven days a week from September to May, which is very different from these areas where you only want to run your heater for a few hours.
As a result, we’ll base our estimations on the standard range, which is approximately 6 hours every day.
Total sunshine hours in your area:
Peak sunlight hours (or simply peak sun hours) are an important measure to consider when deciding whether or not solar panels are a good investment for you.
Besides, you can use the PVWatts calculator if you wish to determine your roof’s peak solar hours on your own.
You’ll need to provide your roof measurements, including azimuth and tilt, and it’ll calculate average solar radiation by month based on that.
For instance, let’s assume that our location gets around 5 hours of sunlight/day.
Now that we know everything, we need to figure out how many solar panels we need to power our space heater. Let’s do it step by step:
- Assume you are using your heater for six hours each day.
- To begin, multiply 1500*6= 9000 watt-hours to convert the watts to energy.
- Divide the total energy by the total number of sunshine hours (sunshine hours are the hours in which the sun give us energy)
Let’s say your area has a total of 5 sunny hours.
9000/5=1800
- Now, here’s the deal: you may use a 100-watt panel or, if you like, a 200-watt panel or a high-power panel.
Assume you have 300-watt panels installed.
- 1800/300= 6 panels you need to run a 1500 watt heater.
You can adjust the values according to your current location and usage in your situation.
Related Article: How Much Voltage Can A Solar Panel Produce?
Last Words:
With a solar panel system, you’ll get free electricity throughout the life of your system, which may be 25 years or more. Even if you don’t produce 100% of the energy you need, solar reduces your electricity bills, resulting in significant savings.
We hope this article has answered all of your questions about how many solar panels you need for your heater.
If you have any further questions, please leave them in the comments area below.
