What Size Solar Generator Do You Need for a House?

Solar generators are portable solar power plants with built-in batteries that can be charged with AC outlets, PV panels, or even with a vehicle charging port. However, if you want to run your whole house with solar power, buying an appropriately sized solar generator with enough battery storage to power all your appliances becomes crucial.

A large-sized solar generator generally has an exceptional inverted rating of 2,000W or above, an expandable battery backup of up to 10,000Wh, and multiple outlets to make sure all your devices stay operational.

This comprehensive guide will delve into how big a solar generator must be to power an entire house. It will also stipulate three top recommendations for the best solar generator kit for your house.

Can A Solar Generator Run A Whole House?

Indeed, a solar generator can provide power for an entire household. However, its feasibility largely hinges upon the size of your generator, the size of the house, and your energy consumption.

A solar generator generally includes photovoltaic solar panels, a sine wave inverter, a storage battery backup or power station, and other balance of system (BOS) components. 

Solar panels harness the incredible energy of the sun and transmute it into direct current (DC). This current charges the power station or battery so you can access the stored power during an outage or when the sun is not shining. As appliances cannot be powered by direct current, the inverter converts this current into alternating current. 

The amount of solar energy your panel array can capture is subject to the rated power, efficiency, and number of PV panels you choose to deploy. It also depends on peak sunlight hours specific to your location. 

Based on the amount of electricity you consume, you might need to use additional power from the grid or a backup generator to supplement your solar generator’s output and storage capacity. This is particularly significant during times of low sunlight or high energy consumption.

How Are Solar Generators Sized?

When industry experts argue about the size of solar generators, they are typically not referring to the physical dimensions but rather the capacity.

The capacity of a generator is typically measured in terms of watts and watt-hours. The wattage represents the amount of power used in the transfer of energy. A solar generator with a higher capacity means it has more watts and can provide you with more power on a single charge.

However, knowing a generator’s capacity is not sufficient, as power does not always transfer at a consistent rate. You will need to determine if this capacity is enough to run your preferred device and start it up.

Here, it is worth noting that there are two primary forms of watt measurement: continuous power and peak power. 

Continuous Power

Continuous power is the initial parameter that needs to be measured. It refers to the quantity of consistent energy that a solar generator can produce.

Continuous power represents the amount of energy you will receive from a single charge of your power station under typical conditions. It also measures the run-time for operating a device.

Peak Power

Peak power is also called surge power or peak surge. This term is used to describe the maximum amount of energy that your solar generator can deliver in a brief period of time. 

The generator’s peak power becomes crucial when you start a device. Consider a refrigerator. These sizable appliances work through the day on continuous power. However, to initiate their operation, a brief surge of energy is necessary. This surge is approximately three times greater than the refrigerator’s continuous power requirement.

With solar generators, it is vital to consider the specific appliances you wish to power both in terms of how much energy they need to run continuously and how much power is required to start them up.

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How Big Should Your Solar Generator Be to Power A House?

On an average day, an American household consumes approximately 28 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity. However, relying on a ballpark figure is not advisable when investing in a solar generator. 

Here is a guide on how to determine the solar generator’s size for your home:

Determine Your Average Energy Consumption

One way to determine the size of a solar generator you need is to calculate the average energy consumption from your monthly bills, preferably over a year. Your household’s energy consumption can vary significantly from month to month, especially if you use air conditioners or heaters, depending on where you live.

If you want a solar-powered backup for emergencies and outages, you will not require as much electricity as when the grid is operational. In that case, calculating the energy needs of your essential appliances is preferable to calculating your average electricity consumption.

Determine Your Wattage Requirements 

Determine the continuous and wattage requirements of the appliances you want to run using the generator. Appliances typically have their wattage requirements labelled, but we have also compiled a table below with the starting and running watts of common household appliances.

If your appliance’s power requirements are in volts or amps, you can calculate the appliance’s operating watts with the following equation: 

Watts (W) = Volts (V) * Amps (A)

Add the running watts of all the appliances you intend to use. If the total exceeds the running watts specified on your generator, it may not be able to handle the load. Also, identify the appliance with the highest peak surge and include that wattage in the total running wattage. This final figure represents the total watts you require from your generator.

Is Using A Solar Generator Cost-Effective?

While the upfront cost of buying and installing a solar generator system may be high, the long-term savings from lower utility bills can be significant. However, the savings you can achieve on your utility bills will vary based on your local electricity rates, your electricity consumption, and the proportion of your consumption covered by solar power. 

Additionally, the federal government offers tax incentives and rebates for solar energy, reducing the upfront expenses of converting to solar energy. In some areas, homeowners with grid-tied solar systems can also redirect surplus electricity back to the grid via net metering. Net metering typically does not provide direct monetary compensation, but it does provide utility credits that can be used to reduce your on-grid electricity expenses.

3 Recommended Solar Generator Kits for Your House

Looking for some recommendations for solar generator kits? BLUETTI is a leading company that specializes in portable power solutions. Below are my three top recommendations for the best solar kit for your house:

BLUETTI AC200MAX + 3*PV200 Solar Generator Kit

The BLUETTI AC200MAX solar generator with three solar panels is a 100% modular and expandable system. It is shipped with an astonishing 2,048 Wh ultra-durable battery cells. It has a powerful AC 2,200W pure sine wave inverter, ensuring your appliances run smoothly.

The AC200 MAX can accept up to 900W of solar input and 500W through the adapter. You can even charge it using the wall outlet and solar panels simultaneously, increasing the total charging rate to a stunning 1,400W.

Plus, if your energy needs increase, its storage capacity can be expanded to a whopping 8,192 Wh with two B300 battery modules.

BLUETTI EP500 + 3*PV200 Solar Generator Kit

The BLUETTI EP500 + 3*PV200 solar generator kit is an all-in-one backup for all your energy storage needs. It arrives with a groundbreaking 5,100 LiFePo4 battery pack and a powerful 2,000W AC inverter. 

People appreciate the EP500 for its versatility. It can run your family camping adventures, cabin workshops, or even your whole home for a day or two in the event of an unexpected grid failure or outage. It comes equipped with 15 outlet sources so that you can power anything from laptops, heaters, and air conditioners to your electric vehicles.

The EP500 also features a dual-core microcomputer. You can upgrade its firmware using the Internet. If you’re worried about draining your onboard battery, you can connect it to a 1200W MPPT solar input to recharge quickly or keep your devices powered.

BLUETTI AC300 + B300 + PV350 Solar Generator Kit

The BLUETTI AC300 + B300 + PV350 is another excellent option for blackouts and grid failures. It can accommodate a maximum of four B300 battery units, each with a capacity of 3,072 Wh.

The AC300 + B300 has a 3,000W pure sine inverter, which can modify the charging rate, ranging from 1,800W to 3,000W. The default AC output of this solar generator is 1800W, but it can be increased to 3000W using the 30A AC charging cable. 

Additionally, this backup system is capable of handling a high input rate with exceptional speed. It can be rapidly charged at an impressive rate of 5,000W with both a wall outlet and solar panels. 

Final Word

Investing in a solar generator is a wise decision against unpredictable grid failures, high utility bills, and growing power outages. A rightly sized solar generator will power your household without fuss and give you peace of mind.

If you want the best investment value, consider the solar generator kits mentioned above. If these recommendations exceed your budget, visit the BLUETTI website - it will surely have some flexible options for you.