Solar Electricity
Off-Grid Solar Array Calculator
Use Off-Grid Solar Array Calculator when the question is to estimate off-grid array size from daily energy, sun hours, and system efficiency and the inputs come from one consistent source case.
Calculate Required array size
Use one Off-Grid Solar Array case at a time; save a new run when a condition changes.
Detail checks for required array size
Off-Grid Solar Array changes with season, shading, controller behavior, and battery voltage. Keep the sun-hour assumption visible.
Keeping system efficiency tied to the case
On Off-Grid Solar Array, confirm decimal placement and unit scale before using required array size; small prefixes can move an electrical result by orders of magnitude.
- Daily energy use. Example value: 12 kWh. Enter daily energy use in kWh.
- Peak sun hours. Example value: 4 h. Enter peak sun hours in h.
- System efficiency. Example value: 75 %. Enter system efficiency in %.
Formula notes for Off-Grid Solar Array
Only the entries shown on Off-Grid Solar Array feed required array size. If another correction factor matters, keep it in the notes or make a separate run.
The formula uses Daily energy use, Peak sun hours, and System efficiency to produce Required array size. Unit mistakes usually show up as an answer that is off by a factor of 10, 100, or 1,000.
The Required array size value and any supporting metrics belong to this same Off-Grid Solar Array case, not to a nearby run with different inputs.
Using the Off-Grid Solar Array answer
If required array size is near a limit, preserve the calculated value from Off-Grid Solar Array and apply required margin after the calculation.
Where Off-Grid Solar Array can break down
Use the limiting-season solar resource and include site-specific shading and temperature losses.
- Shading
- Battery charge acceptance
Use Off-Grid Battery Bank for that neighboring calculation rather than adding unstated assumptions here.
A short Off-Grid Solar Array audit
- Save the baseline before changing a field for sensitivity testing.
- Review zero or near-zero denominators before trusting a very large answer.
- Run a second case for the least certain value.
- Confirm every unit shown beside the input.
- Compare the result with the relevant rating or limit before acting on it.
Before saving required array size
Which value should be rounded first?
Keep peak sun hours at source precision during Off-Grid Solar Array; round required array size only where presentation or purchasing requires it.