Calculate Solar Panel Size Needed
Total capacity of your power station
How quickly you want to fully charge the battery
Peak sun hours vary by location (typical: 4-6 hours)
How Solar Panel Sizing Works
Formula: Required Wattage = (Battery Capacity ÷ Sun Hours) × 1.3
The 1.3 multiplier accounts for:
- Charging inefficiency (10-15% loss)
- Non-ideal sun angles
- Cloudy conditions
- Safety margin for consistent charging
Peak Sun Hours: This is not the same as daylight hours. Peak sun hours represent the equivalent hours of full 1000W/m² solar irradiance. A sunny location gets 5-6 peak hours, while cloudy regions get 3-4.
Common Solar Panel Sizes
100W: Good for small power stations (200-500Wh) and trickle charging
200W: Ideal for mid-size stations (500-1000Wh), 1-day camping trips
400W: Perfect for large stations (1000-2000Wh), extended off-grid use
600W+: Best for very large systems (2000Wh+), full off-grid living