Battery Capacity Formula:
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The Power Inverter Battery Calculator helps determine the battery capacity needed for a solar power system based on your inverter's power requirements, desired autonomy hours, and system voltage.
The calculator uses the following formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the amp-hour (Ah) capacity needed to support your inverter's power draw for the specified autonomy period at your system voltage.
Details: Proper battery sizing is crucial for solar systems to ensure reliable power during periods without sunlight and to prevent battery damage from over-discharge.
Tips: Enter your inverter's continuous power rating in watts, desired backup time in hours, and system voltage. All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: What is autonomy hours?
A: Autonomy hours refer to how long your battery should power the system without any solar input (e.g., during nighttime or cloudy days).
Q2: Should I add a safety margin to the calculated capacity?
A: Yes, it's recommended to add 20-30% to account for battery aging, inefficiencies, and unexpected loads.
Q3: What's the difference between inverter watts and solar panel watts?
A: Inverter watts indicate how much power it can deliver to loads, while solar panel watts indicate how much power it can generate under ideal conditions.
Q4: How does system voltage affect battery capacity?
A: Higher system voltages require lower Ah capacities for the same power (watts), as power = voltage × current.
Q5: Can I use this for lead-acid and lithium batteries?
A: Yes, but remember lithium batteries can typically discharge deeper (80-90%) than lead-acid (50%) without damage.