1. What is the Solar Battery Runtime Calculation?

The solar battery runtime calculation estimates how long your home's battery bank will last based on its capacity (Ah), voltage (V), and your home's power consumption (W). This helps in sizing solar systems and planning for power outages.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the runtime equation:

Where:

• \( Ah \) — Battery bank capacity in amp-hours
• \( V \) — Battery bank voltage
• \( W \) — Home's power consumption in watts

Explanation: The equation calculates how many hours your battery bank can power your home before needing recharge.

3. Importance of Runtime Calculation

Details: Knowing your battery runtime helps in emergency preparedness, sizing solar systems correctly, and managing energy consumption during outages.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your battery bank's total amp-hour capacity, its voltage (typically 12V, 24V, or 48V), and your home's average power consumption in watts. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Should I use nominal or actual battery capacity?
A: For accurate results, use the actual usable capacity (typically 50-80% of nominal capacity to preserve battery life).

Q2: What's a good runtime for home solar systems?
A: Most systems aim for 1-3 days of autonomy, depending on climate and backup needs.

Q3: How do I find my home's power consumption?
A: Check your electricity bill for average daily usage, or use a watt-meter to measure actual loads.

Q4: Does this account for inverter efficiency?
A: No, for more accuracy you should divide the result by your inverter's efficiency (typically 0.85-0.95).

Q5: Can I use this for partial home backup?
A: Yes, just enter the wattage of the circuits you want to back up rather than your whole home's consumption.