Do you want to install Solar panels for tiny house? Then you are on the right click. In recent years, the use of solar panels has become increasingly popular due to their cost-efficient and environmental benefit.
According to a survey in 2022, 3.6 million homes in the United States were equipped with solar panels. There are many benefits of installing solar panels for tiny houses as they reduce electricity, save money, low maintenance costs, work in a variety of climates, and increase home value.
The future of solar panels is bright! Let's get into detail on how much power your tiny house needs.
How Much Power Does A Tiny House Use?
The usage of power for tiny houses is around 4 KWs per day. Here is an example of a power usage breakdown to find out how many W your tiny house uses:
|
Minisplit (heating/cooling) |
3,000 W per day |
|
Fridge |
780 W per day |
|
Lights |
100 W per day |
|
Cell Phone |
30 W per day |
|
Laptop |
240 W per day |
|
Total: 4,150 W per day |
|
Tiny houses usually have very efficient appliances and light fixtures, which helps reduce overall power usage.
If you compare a tiny house to a residential house, a tiny house will use about 7% electricity. The 30-amp electrical capacity of a tiny house is generally set as compared to a large house that requires 100-200 amp electrical capacity.
How many bulbs does a tiny house need:
- In a tiny home with less space, fewer light bulbs are needed.
- An average-sized house is equipped with 20-40 light bulbs.
- In a tiny house, no more than six light bulbs are needed.
How Many Solar Panels Do I Need to Power My Tiny House?
For tiny houses, the number of panels needed totally depends on power consumption, roof space, location, occupancy, and many more factors.
Let’s say the average energy consumption is 21,681 watt-hours per day. Generally, a single solar panel can produce around 250 to 400 W. Around 2000 W daily, a 250 W panel can produce that captures sunlight for 8 hours.
To power your tiny house, it will take 11 solar panels to produce 22,000 W per day. Tiny houses, on average, need around 12400-W panels to produce sufficient energy.
Regarding the number of panels required for your tiny house, the primary factors to consider are:
Power Consumption:
The more panels you need, the more appliances and devices you use. If you power many devices, tiny houses can still use lots of electricity.
Occupancy:
If there are more people in your home, it's evident that the energy consumption will be higher.
Location:
Depending on the location, tilt the panels you want so that the sun’s rays hit the solar panels directly during the day.
Roof Space:
Tiny houses typically have a limited capacity for installing solar panels. The roof surface area determines how many panels you can install.
If you don’t have sufficient roof space, you can choose fixed ground and pole mounting options. It’s the best option for installing solar panels on the ground and makes it easier to clean as well.
Solar Panel Efficiency:
Instead of inferior solar panels, highly efficient solar panels produce more power with less surface area. Moreover, high-efficiency panels are perfect for tiny houses with limited roof space.
Benefits of Solar Panels for Tiny Houses
As a perfect combination made in tiny heaven, it seems like solar panels and tiny homes are. Let’s check some benefits of installing solar panels for tiny houses:
1. Offers Clean, Renewable Energy:
Solar panels are a renewable and immense energy source that creates no harmful gas emissions. The carbon footprint of solar panels is quite small and can last for over 25 years.
2. Will Reduce Your Electric Bills:
American homeowners choose to go solar because solar panels as they have the ability to reduce electric bills. Tiny houses have lower utility bills, and solar panels can eliminate most of your electricity charges.
3. Offers a Great Return on Investment:
Are solar panels a good investment? The answer is yes. It’s a good investment from a financial viewpoint.
Over the lifetime of their system, an average person who installs solar panels can expect to save between $2,000 to $7,000.
4. Will Increase your Energy Independence:
The easiest way to achieve a smaller footprint is by going solar when it comes to energy consumption. It can be used to lower the consumption of dirt grid power, can cut the connection to the grid entirely, and can provide backup power during grid outages.
5. Can be Customized to Your Needs:
Solar panel systems can be designed to be as large or as small as you need as they are completely modular.
They are modular by nature, which means you can build a solar panel system of any brand by reducing the number of panels used as compared to a typical home installation.
How To Build A Solar Power System For Your Tiny House?
For your tiny home, by following the below steps, you can build a reliable, renewable solar panel system.
1. Choose the Right Solar System:
Once you figure out how much energy your tiny home needs, you can look for a solar panel system. For tiny homes ranging from 160 to 430 square feet, a solar panel system is designed for off-grid builds.
Choose solar panels with solar charge controllers, solar panels, an inverter charger, and a smart generator you need to power your tiny house.
2. Choose Your Racking System:
Allowing you to maximize the amount of energy captured, positioning your solar panels to face the sun is better. There are two options: either you can choose to mount your panels on the roof or on the ground.
Roof-penetrating racks are drilled into a roof with screw homes on their surface; in this way, panels can easily attach to them. The best option is to ground your panels, as tiny homes have limited space on their roof.
There are some racking systems, such as pole mounts, that allow you to adjust the panel's angle. Using clamps or connectors, you can secure the panels onto the racking equipment.
3. Know Where Your Solar Panels Go:
By finding energy requirements and the number of solar panels you need. The next step is to find a spot to install your panels where they will receive the most direct sunlight. Solar pathfinder tools can be used to determine the best placement.
As we have discussed earlier, installing your solar panels on the ground is best. Because panels on the ground are accessible, easier to fix, clean, and can be monitored easily. On the other hand, Roofs can get hot, and panels will operate at reduced efficiency when they overheat.
4. Wire Your Solar System:
Before you install the panels, follow the instructions and check for proper connection. To ensure energy transfer occurs, double-check that you have connected the correct wires to each component when wiring these systems.
Choose Solar Generator Kit for Your Tiny House
For your tiny house, BLUETTI batteries are the best option. Let’s check their key features:
1. BLUETTI AC500 + B300S + PV350
You will get a free pv350 with this device. As the BLUETTI PV350 is a high-performance, foldable solar panel that is designed for efficient solar energy conservation.
It will provide a high conservation efficiency of up to 23.4% as it has a peak power output of 350 W and utilizes monocrystalline solar cells.
This device, PV350, weighs around 30.6 pounds (13.9 kg).
You will adore the BLUETTI AC500 + B300S for its inventive and modular power station that provides reliability and sustainable power supply for numerous applications.
It has smart control features that include smart app control (Wifi & Bluetooth connections).
It has rechargeable options, 16 outlets, and is versatile for 99% of devices. It also provides a warranty for 4 years. There are also six ways to recharge this battery:
- AC
- Solar
- Car
- Generator
- Lead-acid Battery
- Dual Charging (AC/AC+Solar)
Moreover, this battery has features such as 24/7 UPS Home Backup.
Key Features:
Power Specifications:
It offers a powerful output with a 5,000W rated power and surge capability of 10,000W that makes it capable of running large appliances and tools efficiently.
Expandable Capacity:
It has a significant expansion of capacity from 6144 Wh by connecting two B300S battery modules.
Battery Technology:
It offers more than 3,500 life cycles at 80% capacity retention with advanced LiFePO4 battery technology that is known for its safety and durability.
Electrical System Details:
It can be composed into a 240V/10KW split phase setup by connecting 2 Ac500 units and 2 B300S batteries.
2. BLUETTI EP500Pro + 3*PV200 Solar Generator Kit
When you will purchase this device, you will receive a free 3*pv200 solar panel. As the BLUETTI 3*pv200 is a foldable, portable solar panel that is made for outdoor and off-grid power needs.
Aiming for over 20% conversion efficiency, each panel can produce up to 200 W of power, and also it is designed with highly efficient monocrystalline solar cells.
To shield against weather damage and extend their lifespan, 3*pv200 are often equipped with ETFE lamination.
The BLUETTI EP500Pro has marked a significant milestone as its highly advanced and portable power station. This battery is an ideal choice for outdoor and home use activities.
It allows multiple devices to be charged at the same time. Through a smartphone app, it provides the ability to manage and monitor the system remotely.
It has a smart touch screen that is helpful for easy operation and control. And also off-grid functionality and rechargeable option.
Key Features:
Battery Capacity and Lifespan:
This system offers more than 3500 cycles at 80% of its original capacity and is equipped with a 5120 Wh capacity LiFePO4 battery that ensures reliability and longevity for extensive use over many years.
Pure Sine Wave Output:
With a 300W pure sine wave output, the device provides stable and clean power without damage, as it's crucial for running sensitive electronics and household appliances.
Portability Features:
The BLUETTI EP500 Pro is designed as a movable power station; it comes with built-in wheels that make it easy to move anywhere from home to outdoor sitting.
UPS Modes:
To ensure that critical devices remain powered under any circumstances, the EP500 Pro features versatile UPS modes for 24/7 protection.
Final Words
Nowadays, Solar Panels are very famous because of their benefits, as they can reduce electricity bills, create a better environment, have low maintenance costs, reduce carbon emissions, save money, are noiseless, and work for a lifetime.
Moreover, this article will help you to find how much power, panels, and batteries you need to build a solar panel for your tiny house. According to a survey, the installment of solar panels is likely to reach around 16.8 million houses by 2032.
Better not waste your time. It’s the ideal time to install solar panels for tiny houses as they are a better choice than other energy appliances.
