1. What is the Inverter and Battery Calculator?

This calculator helps determine the battery capacity (in ampere-hours) needed for a solar power system based on your inverter's wattage, desired backup hours, and system voltage.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( Inverter\ Solar\ W \) — Power rating of your inverter in watts
• \( h \) — Desired backup time in hours
• \( System\ V \) — Voltage of your battery bank

Explanation: The formula calculates how much battery capacity is needed to power your inverter for the specified duration at the system voltage.

3. Importance of Proper Sizing

Details: Correctly sizing your battery bank is crucial for system performance and battery longevity. Undersizing leads to short backup times, while oversizing increases costs unnecessarily.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your inverter's continuous power rating in watts, desired backup time in hours, and system voltage (typically 12V, 24V, or 48V for solar systems). All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Should I add a safety margin to the calculated Ah?
A: Yes, it's recommended to add 20-30% to account for inefficiencies and battery aging.

Q2: What's the difference between inverter watts and solar panel watts?
A: This calculator uses the inverter's output wattage, not the solar panel rating. The inverter rating determines how much power your system can deliver.

Q3: How does system voltage affect the calculation?
A: Higher system voltages require less battery capacity (Ah) for the same power (W) because power = voltage × current.

Q4: Can I use this for lead-acid and lithium batteries?
A: Yes, but remember lead-acid batteries should only be discharged to 50% capacity for longevity, while lithium can often go to 80-90%.

Q5: How do I account for multiple batteries?
A: The calculation gives total Ah needed. Divide this by individual battery capacity to determine how many batteries you need in parallel.