How Long Can I Run Appliances on a Solar System?

Hey everyone! I’m considering setting up a solar power system and wondering how long I can run household appliances on it. I know the answer depends on factors like panel wattage, battery storage, and energy consumption, but I’d love some insights from those with experience.

For example, how long could a 1.5kW or 3kW system power appliances like refrigerators, fans, or TVs? Also, does upgrading to higher-efficiency panels make a significant difference?

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Would appreciate any advice or real-life experiences

 

I'm looking at a solar power system myself, but it's still a year or so off. The most important appliances that I will run will be a refrigerator and freezer. The biggest limiting factor will be the battery IMO. I can also use a generator to run appliances or to charge the battery, if necessary. However, I'm not planning to run everything in the house with solar, it will be a prep for survival, nothing more!

 

The length of time depends on storage.
I like the analogy of a mountain stream or small waterfall.
if you only put a cup under it, that's your limit.
seeing the rate changes from time to time what might have been captured is lost for the size of your cup.
weather and earth-tilt change.
not knowing what your particular situation is , it takes learning what you've got to work wit over time.
IMO Plan for far greater than you can imagine and start building as you go, anticipating the worst case scenario.

 

I have been using solar power for our home since 2015. I have access to grid power in a rural area where our grid power is NOT reliable. I documented all the power outages for ten years and proved that our public power grid is not capable of providing continuous power for thirty days, ever. That was a big factor in us deciding to build a solar power system. We can flip breakers on way to be one the power grid, or the other way to be on solar power.

We have 4400 watts of Solar panels and a 48VDC / 600AH battery bank.

Our 'Electrical Panel' is a 'Four Star Solar Power Center' from http://www.wholesalesolar.com

We use a 'Midnite Solar Classic' Charge Controller #150, [MPPT-type, 150VDC, 83A@48V],

a 'Magnum Energy' Inverter, [120/240volt, 4400watt, pure sinewave inverter],

Along with 3 lightning arresters.

We have a 48VDC / 600AH battery bank, with twenty-four EXIDE marine deep cycle batteries [27MDCST] in 6 strings with 4 batteries in each string.

During sunlight I can power all my tools, my wife can run all of her appliances [washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, coffee maker, refrigerator and four chest freezers]. But the minute the sunlight goes away, suddenly even the coffee maker will drain the batteries so quickly that everything shuts down.

It takes a while to adapt to living a lifestyle that conforms to solar power.

 

sundancer makes 12v dc fridges and deep freezers

 

You could run them until the battery in the thing goes bad.
A "1.5kw or 3kw system" is just the output of the inverter. Need to know battery capacity, how much solar panel it comes with where you are, how many sun you get in the winter and exactly what the loads are to even begin to have an idea.
Panel efficiency is irrelevant. You want raw power.
For example I have 4 year old 300w Samsung panels and used 295w used 10 year old panels. The old panels are bigger and less efficient but they cost 1/5 as much as the new Samsung panels.
I could have saved about $9,000 going with used panels.

 

You can get 12vdc TVs, fridges, stereos, nearly every home appliance can be acquired in 12vdc.

The 'best' solar power system I have seen here in our township, is one where the entire system and house is exclusively 12vdc.

And the 'charge-controller' is an automotive voltage regulator from a 1965 Chevy. That cost less than $10.

 

i live in a bus and i have 1 8d battery 1800w inverter/charger on it. it will run the toyo stove and laptop,modem,tv for 2-3 days.
i made one for the van with 2 8d bats , 2500w charger inverter and the 2 van bats. that will run the renai propane and starlink dish about 2 days. right now i run them on shore power and they switch on if power goes out. 381$ elec bill has me wondering if i couldnt charge them and run a frezzer cheaper. my 2 china -100wat solar panels made 4 amps under ideal sun. its some thing and ill add them to the van eventually but i need better panels. i can run 110v air compressor, skill saw with the van off its setup.
getting off the grid would eliminate a huge monthly bill. im getting there.

 

,,,,,, shit. i replyed to a spam post. after it was marked a spam post. with machineguns. i suck at this. and thats ok.

 

It's still a good post.

 

I was looking at the "salt-water" batteries, but the manufacturer went out of business. Now I'm looking at the LiFePO4 batteries, mostly because of their long life, deep discharges and thousands of cycles over their life span.

 

There are stores that cater to motorhomes.

Camping World Shop New & Used RVs for Sale - Camping World® | America's #1 RV Dealer

They specialize in carrying products that run on 12vdc.

 

I tried lithium Ion batteries but the service window was too small and too high or too low and the battery disconnected it's self requiring a 12 volt lead acid battery to bump it back on again. I took the lithium batteries back and traded for some sealed lead acid batteries, and they are performing just fine.
My 9, 100-watt Harbor Freight solar panels are performing just fine.
As you configure your set up, consider the cleaning necessary depending on the area you live.
I built my system on my shop trailer, so I had easy access and if I moved the trailer came with me.
I have 2 larger panels not wired up yet that are mounted in the sides like wings I can lift as awnings.

 

Yeah, lithium ion batteries are not very good for a solar application, but lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) are a completely different story. I got rid of the sla batteries when they reached their end of life. LiFePO4 have been an excellent choice (for me.) Lighter, more compact and darned near maintenance-free.

 

If you are swimming in money you can buy a large enough system to do anything. An easier way is to pay attention to what each appliance draws and scale down.