If you have a solar panel, then you should definitely be wondering what can this solar panel power.
Luckily, in this article, we will go through some of the most -if not the most- common solar panel wattages in the market and what can they power including:
- 45 Watt solar panels
- 50 Watt solar panels
- 70 Watt solar panels
- 100 Watt solar panels
- 200 Watt solar panels
- 300 Watt solar panels
But before jumping into what appliances can a 300 watt solar panel run, first, we need to calculate how much power does a solar panel produce.
So without further ado, let’s jump right into it.
How to Calculate your Solar Panel Power Output
The total amount of power produced by your solar panel depends on various factors such as:
- Solar panel efficiency
- Solar Panel wattage
- How many hours of direct sunlight your panels get
- How intense is the sunbeam
- Shading
- Roof slope
- Azimuth
- And many more
For this reason, it can be pretty hard to give an accurate number, as there are many variables to consider.
However, there are a few ways to have a decent estimation of how much power does your solar panel produce.
Method 1: The Fast Way (Less Accurate)
To calculate the total power output of your solar panel, all you need to do is to multiply the number of direct sunlight hours you get by the solar panel wattage.
For instance, if we have a 100 watt solar panel and on average we get 5 hours of direct sunlight each day.
Then the total power output will be:
Method 2: Using your Location Weather Data
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory developed a magnificent tool that uses your location weather data to calculate the total power output of your system throughout the year.
They named this tool PVWatts and it’s one of the most accurate solar calculators in the world.
Here is how to use it:
Step 1: Enter your home or business address
Step 2: Click Go to system info
Step3: Fill in your information
- System Size: Your solar panel wattage in kW. For example, if you wish to calculate a 200 Watt solar panel output, then write in 0.2 in the system size square
- Module Type: This asks for your solar panel efficiency. There are 3 types to choose from:
- Standard: A crystalline solar panel with a nominal efficiency of 15% (Polycrystalline)
- Premium: A crystalline solar panel with a nominal efficiency of 19% (Monocrystalline)
- Thin Film: Thin-film solar cells with a nominal efficiency of 10%
- Array Type: There are 4 types of arrays:
- Fixed
- Roof-Mount
- 1-Axis Tracking
- 1-Axis Backtracking
- 2-Axis Tracking
- System Loses: The average system losses are 14%, so leave it as it’s
- Tilt: This is the angle from the horizontal of the photovoltaic modules
- Azimuth: This is the angle clockwise from true north describing the direction that the array faces
Step 4 (optional): Fill in your kWh rate and your rate type to get an estimation of how much money will your solar panel save you each month.
Step 5: Click Go to PVWatts results
Here are the results for a 100-Watt Roof-mounted solar panel in my location (New York):
So, on average, my 100-Watt solar panel will produce around 0.35 kWh/Month, which is way more accurate than the first method.
Related article: How long does it take for solar panels to pay for themselves?
Now, after knowing how to calculate your solar panel’s total power output, it’s about time to go through some of the most common solar panels’ wattages and what can they run.
What Can I Do With a 1.5 Watt Solar Panel
Solar companies manufacture many special solar panels that have a wattage rating of 1.5, 3.3, 5, 7, and many more.
A 1.5 Watt solar panel produces around 6 Watts/Day, which is more than enough to charge a small battery
These types of solar panels are mainly used as battery chargers and maintainers for RVs, Automobiles, Motorcycles, Boats, and many more.
How Many Amps Does a 1.5 Watt Solar Panel Produce
To calculate the current rating of the solar panel, all you need to do is to follow this equation:
So, a 1.5 Watt solar panel with an operating voltage of 12V, will produce around 0.125A or 125mA.
How Many Batteries Does a 1.5 Watt
What Can a 45 Watt Solar Panel Power
On average, a single 45 Watt or a 50 Watt solar panel will produce around 200 Watt/Day.
Here is a list of what can a 50 Watt solar panel power:
| Appliance | Number of Hours |
|---|---|
| One LED Light Bulb (10 Watt) | 20 hours |
| One CFL Light Bulb (14 Watt) | 14 hours |
| One Incandescent Light Bulb (60 Watt) | 3.5 hours |
| 22 Inch LCD (30 Watt) | 7 hours |
| Game Console (90 Watt) | 2 hours |
| Laptop (60 Watt) | 3.5 hours |
| Phone Charger (5 Watt) | 40 hours |
| Ceiling Fan (70 Watt) | 3 hours |
| Mini Fridge (60 Watt) | 3.5 hours |
| Space Heater (1500 Watts) | 8 minutes |
| Air Conditioner (1000 Watt) | 11 Minutes |
| Portable Water Heater (1500 Watt) | 8 minutes |
| Portable Cooker (1200 Watt) | 10 minutes |
How Many Amps Does a 50 Watt Solar Panel Produce
Most 45 and 50 Watt solar panels have an operating voltage of 12V.
This means that on average, they will produce around 3.75A and up to 4.2A.
How Much Power Does a 70 Watt Solar Panel Produce
The typical 70 Watt solar panel will produce anywhere from 210 and up to 350 Watt/Day. So on average, it will produce 280 Watt/Day.
Here is a list of what Can a 70 Watt Solar Panel Power:
| Appliance | Number of Hours |
|---|---|
| One LED Light Bulb (10 Watt) | 28 hours |
| One CFL Light Bulb (14 Watt) | 20 hours |
| One Incandescent Light Bulb (60 Watt) | 4.5 hours |
| 22 Inch LCD (30 Watt) | 9 hours |
| Game Console (90 Watt) | 3 hours |
| Laptop (60 Watt) | 4.5 hours |
| Phone Charger (5 Watt) | 56 hours |
| Ceiling Fan (70 Watt) | 4 hours |
| Mini Fridge (60 Watt) | 4.5 hours |
| Space Heater (1500 Watts) | 11 minutes |
| Air Conditioner (1000 Watt) | 17 Minutes |
| Portable Water Heater (1500 Watt) | 11.5 minutes |
| Portable Cooker (1200 Watt) | 14 minutes |
How Many Amps Does a 70 Watt Solar Panel Produce
Most 70 Watt solar panels have a voltage rating of 12V, so you can expect around 5.83 amps.
What Can a 100 Watt Solar Panel Power
A 100 Watt solar panel will produce 300 and up to 500 Watts/Day depending on how many hours of direct sunlight it gets.
So on average, your 100 Watt solar panel will produce around 400 Watt/Day.
Here is a list of what can a 100 Watt solar panel power:
| Appliance | Number of Hours |
|---|---|
| One LED Light Bulb (10 Watt) | 40 hours |
| One CFL Light Bulb (14 Watt) | 28.5 hours |
| One Incandescent Light Bulb (60 Watt) | 6.5 hours |
| 22 Inch LCD (30 Watt) | 13 hours |
| Game Console (90 Watt) | 4.5 hours |
| Laptop (60 Watt) | 6.5 hours |
| Phone Charger (5 Watt) | 80 hours |
| Ceiling Fan (70 Watt) | 5.5 hours |
| Mini Fridge (60 Watt) | 6.5 hours |
| Space Heater (1500 Watts) | 16 minutes |
| Air Conditioner (1000 Watt) | 24 Minutes |
| Portable Water Heater (1500 Watt) | 16 minutes |
| Portable Cooker (1200 Watt) | 20 minutes |
How Many Amps Does a 100 Watt Solar Panel Produce
Most 100 Watt solar panels have a maximum operating current rating of 5.5 A.
Related article: How many solar panels do I need to power a fridge
How Much Power Does a 200 Watt Solar Panel Produce
The average 200 Watt solar panel will produce anywhere from 600 Watt and up to 1000 Watt per day.
Generally speaking, you can expect your panel to provide you with around 800 Watt/Day.
Here is a list of what can a 200 Watt solar panel power:
| Appliance | Number of Hours |
|---|---|
| One LED Light Bulb (10 Watt) | 80 hours |
| One CFL Light Bulb (14 Watt) | 57 hours |
| One Incandescent Light Bulb (60 Watt) | 13.5 hours |
| 22 Inch LCD (30 Watt) | 26.5 hours |
| Game Console (90 Watt) | 9 hours |
| Laptop (60 Watt) | 13.5 hours |
| Phone Charger (5 Watt) | 160 hours |
| Ceiling Fan (70 Watt) | 11.5 hours |
| Mini Fridge (60 Watt) | 13.5 hours |
| Space Heater (1500 Watts) | 30 minutes |
| Air Conditioner (1000 Watt) | 48 Minutes |
| Portable Water Heater (1500 Watt) | 30 minutes |
| Portable Cooker (1200 Watt) | 40 minutes |
How Many Batteries Do I Need for a 200 Watt Solar Panel
Most 200 Watt solar panels on the market have an operating voltage of 18V and up to 22V.
Therefore, you can expect a current output of around 9-11.1 amps.
Related article: How many solar panels do I need to run air conditioner
How Much Power Does a 300 Watt Solar Panel Produce
When it comes to the 300 Watt solar panels, they are all made of high-quality crystalline cells that will provide you with 900 Watt and up to 1500 Watt each day depending on many factors such as the amount of direct sunlight, mounting degree, azimuth, and many more.
On average, your 300 Watt solar panel will produce around 1200 Watt/Day.
Here is a list of what can a 300 Watt solar panel power:
| Appliance | Number of Hours |
|---|---|
| One LED Light Bulb (10 Watt) | 120 hours |
| One CFL Light Bulb (14 Watt) | 86 hours |
| One Incandescent Light Bulb (60 Watt) | 20 hours |
| 22 Inch LCD (30 Watt) | 40 hours |
| Game Console (90 Watt) | 13.5 hours |
| Laptop (60 Watt) | 20 hours |
| Phone Charger (5 Watt) | 240 hours |
| Ceiling Fan (70 Watt) | 170 hours |
| Mini Fridge (60 Watt) | 20 hours |
| Space Heater (1500 Watts) | 48 minutes |
| Air Conditioner (1000 Watt) | 1 hour and 12 minutes |
| Portable Water Heater (1500 Watt) | 48 minutes |
| Portable Cooker (1200 Watt) | 1 hour |
How Many Amps Does a 300 Watt Solar Panel Produce
Because most solar panels have an operating voltage of 18V to 22V.
You can expect your 300 Watt solar panel to provide you with around 15A.
Related article: How long does it take for solar panels to pay for themselves
FAQs
1. What Wattage Solar Panel Do I Need for Camping?
Well, the answer really depends on your usage.
However, here is a quick calculation of how many Wattage you need per day:
- 1 LED Bulb (10 Watt) for 3 hours = 30 Watts
- Charge your mobile (5 Watt) for 2 hours = 10 Watts
- Use your laptop (60 Watt) for 2 hours = 120 Watts
- Ceiling fan (70 Watt) for 2 hours = 140 Watts
- Cooking (1200 Watt) for 20 minutes = 400 Watts
In this example, your daily Wattage usage will be around 840 Watts.
Assuming you will get 5 hours of direct sunlight, then a 170 Watt solar panel will be more than enough for your camping adventure.
Related article: Best Solar Kettles Review
2. How Many Batteries Do I Need For a 100 Watt Solar Panel
On average, you will need two 300-amp batteries (12V).
Related article: What size solar panel to charge 12v solar panel
3. How Many Batteries Do I Need For a 200 Watt Solar Panel
Most 200 Watt solar panels will need around four 300-amp batteries (12V).
Last Words
What appliance can a solar panel power depends on many factors such as the total solar panel power output, the appliance wattage, and how many hours do you use the appliance per day.
In the end, we really hope you enjoyed this article as much as we did.
Do you have any solar questions?
If so, please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
