When you decide you want to put a solar system on your home there are some things to consider before you get started. You'll want to find the right place to install the solar panels so you get maximum exposure to the sun, you'll need to assess your power needs to understand the amount of panels to use and the battery storage requirements. The first thing you should do is to use a checklist and find out what your power usage is on a monthly basis. Each of your appliances will use a certain amount of power and depending on what your lifestyle is, you'll learn what unit is using the most power and how to assess your overall power needs. The following chart will give you an idea of some standard wattage usages. These are some wattage ratings for typical household appliances and home electrical devices. Check the rating on your personal items for an accurate wattage count.
| Light Bulbs - 60 / 70 Watt | 60/70 |
| Dishwasher | 1500 |
| Refrigerator / Freezer | 700* |
| Microwave | 1000 |
| Coffee Maker | 1000 |
| Electric Range | 1200 |
| Radio / Television | 50 - 500 |
| Security System | 500 |
| Computer w/17" Monitor | 800 |
| ¼ HP Garage Door | 875 |
| Clothes Dryer | 5000 |
| Washing Machine | 1500 |
| Toaster Oven | 1500 |
| Hot Water Heater | 5,000 |
| Blender | 300 |
| Stereo | 300-450 |
| Ceiling Fan | 100 |
| Floor Lamp | 100 |
| Hair Dryer | 600-1200 |
| Window Unit | 750-1200 |
| Hedge Trimmer | 450 |
| Lawn Mower | 1200 |
| Weed Trimmer | 500 |
| Edge Trimmer | 500 |
| Furnace Fan Blower - ⅓ HP | 700* |
| Window AC - 12,000 BTU | 3250* |
| Central AC - 10,000 BTU | 1500* |
| Central AC - 24,000 BTU | 3800* |
| Heat Pump | 4700 |
Next you would calculate the Watt Hour which would be the Wattage rating times the hours used. Load Calculation Example:Lets say you want to run a 11W compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) for 5 hours from a solar panel, then the watt hour is equal to:
Watt Hour = 11Watts x 5 hr = 55 Watts
Once you have calculated your total monthly wattage use you can get an idea of what size of solar array to install in your home. This is the first step you need to take in order to properly plan your home solar installation. Stay tuned for the next step
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