The trend shows that homeowners are waking up to the idea of getting home energy storage. And for good reason.
In June, blackouts became a problem since there were problems with coal-fired plants. Nobody wants to suddenly find themselves in the dark – unable to connect computers, TV and medical devices.
That’s why people are exploring the idea of using sun rays to power home appliances. But how exactly do you do that? That’s what this article will explore.
Appliances You Can Run on a Portable Solar Generator
Here is a list of appliances you can run on a portable solar generator.
1. Large Essential Appliances
Large appliances, such as refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners, consume a lot of electricity. Thus, these appliances can result in incredibly high costs per year. For example, it costs around AUD600 per year to keep your air conditioning on and approximately AUD150 to keep your refrigerator on throughout the year.
Given the importance of these appliances in the house, you can power them using a solar generator. Even though you might require a large initial investment to get a solar generator big enough to run your appliances, you won't need to pay for electricity again.
How Much Energy Does Your Refrigerator Consume?
You need to know how much energy your refrigerator is going to use. If you have purchased a brand new model, you can check the energy guide information on the packaging to know the quoted energy rating. However, if you are using an old refrigerator, you'll have to compute the energy it uses.
For this, you need to check the required amperes and voltage of your appliance. Then use the equation watts = amperes x voltage. The resulting figure is the amount of solar energy you require to run your refrigerator.
2. Electric Cooker
An electric cooker is an important appliance that every house needs, and it's one of those appliances you can power using a solar generator. Electric cookers range from small coffee machines to large ovens in the house. Using it, you can prepare meals either in your home or outside during hiking or camping trips safely without damaging the environment. Thus, as long you have a moderate-sized cooker, a solar generator of around 500 watts should be able to run it without any trouble.
How to Save Power When Using an Electric Cooker?
Here are some tips and tricks to save energy when using an electric cooker.
- Cook several dishes together – the longer you run your electric cooker, the more energy it's going to consume. Thus, it's best to cook multiple dishes at once to reduce the time your cooker is on.
- Clean the oven immediately after use – once you have baked your dish in the oven, start the cleaning cycle instantly to minimize the amount of electricity and time it takes for the cleaning process. You should also clean your oven regularly to prevent dirt build-up. Dirt makes your oven consume more energy, thereby forcing it to consume more solar power.
- Invest in an energy-efficient electric cooker – we cannot stress this enough, but energy-efficient stoves and other appliances can make a significant difference. They use less power than regular appliances, which makes a major impact if you live in an off-grid home. Using an energy-efficient stove will also help you save some power from your battery bank.
3. Lights
One of the most important electrical appliances you might need in your house or during a camping trip is a source of light.
A lot of times, solar generators have lights, so you can use them in the house or navigate camp areas. In fact, a lot of them come with lanyards or handles that you can carry around whenever you need them.
While the lights on the solar generator can work, LED bulbs are the most appropriate as they use less power than incandescent bulbs and last much longer.
4. Electric Fan
You are going to need sunlight to run your solar generator. However, when the sun shines too brightly, it will heat up your tent. A small electric fan can largely help in overcoming such discomfort as you can run your mini fan using the alternate current power output, which is around 40 watts in most solar generators.
5. DIY Tools
You can even run your drilling equipment using solar generators. Drilling tools are going to come in handy at home and at outdoor events such as hiking and camping. Nevertheless, building tools have become quite advanced over the years and use more electricity than usual. For instance, a 1500-watt solar panel could power most of the routers and drills on the market. However, if you're looking to run circular saws or something larger, you will need around 3,000 watts. If you plan to use several DIY tools, you should pick a 4000-watt solar energy system with batteries.
6. Television
Solar generators provide an excellent source of energy for running a TV. However, the energy supplied by your solar generator should be higher than the amperes and voltages required by your TV to work.
Sometimes, the TV can be a major energy consumer, particularly if you use a high-end model. However, it uses much less electricity than you would think.
The amount of electricity your TV consumes depends on its model and size. Nevertheless, there are LED TVs that consume 60 per cent less power than other TVs.
How to Determine the Size of Your Portable Solar Generator?
To determine the size of the solar generator you need, you will have to carry out the calculations listed below.
Step #1 – Identify the Devices You Have to Run on the Generator
The first step in choosing the right solar generator is understanding your needs. This means identifying the devices you wish to run on your system and estimating how long you want to run them.
Pro-Tip: Make sure to only choose devices and appliances that you can plug into your solar generator. For instance, appliances such as water heaters are usually hardwired into your house. Thus, it's quite likely that you won't be able to power one using a generator.
Here are a few devices you might wish to run on a solar generator:
- PCs and laptops
- Kitchen appliances
- Air conditioners
- Hairdryers
- Phone chargers
Step #2 – Calculate How Much Energy Each of the Required Devices Needs
Once you identify which devices to run, you will have to calculate how much power you need to do so.
For this, you will have to find out the watts your appliances and devices need to work. This value is typically mentioned on the device itself. However, if you only see a measurement for amps, you can simply multiply that number with the appliance's voltage to get the watts.
Next, you have to see the number of hours you want to be able to use all the devices. After that, multiply the number of hours that you have selected with the wattage of every appliance. This way, you will get the total watt-hours required to run all the devices.
Step #3 – Calculate the Total Watt-Hours
You have to do the calculation mentioned in the last step for every appliance you wish to run with your solar generator.
Now add all the answers together to get the total number of watt-hours you need the solar generator to provide. For instance, let's say you need 300 watt-hours to power your fan, 400 to run your lights, and 300 to charge your laptop. Your total watt-hour requirement will be 1,000 (400 + 300 + 300).
Step #4 – Figure Out the Watt-Hours of the Power Station You Require
By this point, you'll have the information you need to choose the right portable solar generator.
Just take your answer from the previous step and compare it to the wattage of every portable generator you look at. Just remember to choose a generator that has a greater wattage than your total watt-hour needs.
Can You Power a House with a Solar Generator?
Keep in mind that unless you invest in a large portable solar generator, you probably won't be able to run everything in your home for several hours.
If you feel that your answer from step 3 is greater than almost every solar generator you look at, then you might need to go back and re-evaluate what you really have to power with it. If you can cut down to just the basics, you'll surely find a solar generator that works for you without breaking the bank.
Why Should You Purchase a Portable Solar Generator?
Portable solar generators are an excellent backup power option. You can use them both in your house and while you're on the go. They are intentionally made smaller than home backup solar generators to provide this flexibility.
Since they have a power station that you charge with portable solar panels, you basically plug the portable solar panels into the power station until it is charged. Then you can use the energy you have generated on almost any electronic device or appliance that you want.
A lot of individuals buy a portable solar generator to get access to renewable energy while enjoying the outdoors. As an additional advantage, they can use the generator as a backup power source for their houses whenever they need one. It's actually their versatility that has led to the popularity of portable solar generators.
Last Few Words
All things compared – portable solar power generators outshine gas-powered generators. Imagine using clean energy that’s outage-proof to power your life! It’s possible for you now. Bluetti has a wide selection of affordable, state-of-the-art products. If you have questions about what products would best serve you, feel fee to contact customer support.
