How Much Solar Power Do I Need? How to Calculate Your Needs

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In this video, I will cover how to size your solar panels, battery bank, and charge controller so you can build a DIY solar power system that is perfect for you!
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When asking yourself “How much solar power do I need?,” you first need to know how much power you need to run the appliances that you want.
Online Solar Calculator → www.altestore.com/store/calcu...
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ABOUT DUET JUSTUS
Hi! We are Michael + Jenny Justus. We post videos on our life of alternative + sustainable + healthy living. Our desire to live a more meaningful life led us to concoct a crazy plan: Downsize our belongings, ditch the "9-5," and move full-time into a solar-powered, self-sustainable tiny home on wheels with our two dogs, Chase + Roni. Taking this leap into the unknown has completely transformed our future, so be sure to hit that SUBSCRIBE button, join the Justus League, and follow along to see where the journey take us!
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MUSICAL CREDITS:
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[@DuetJustusFam]

Hey guys. Hope you enjoyed the video. If you know anyone who is interested in DIY Solar Power, it would really help us out if you shared this video and spread the word on what we're doing. Thanks a bunch and we'll see you on the next one! 😎

[@dragonfly1414]

All I know is winter I used 6.78 kilowatts and summer 7.5 kilowatts, please tell what I need for my inverter and batteries bank, thanks

[@mimitena1]

On the online calculator you used, there was this part '3 String Configuration' in battery connection. What does it mean?

[@amaodemmy]

hi, I'm interested in DIY SOLAR POWER asap. Thanks for the previous uploaded videos.

[@amaodemmy]

How can I get your contact information?

[@kevinnguyen8612]

Wouldn't it be easier to call the electric company to get the monthly usage over 1-2 years and average it out?

[@hamhai0]

The best way to get the KW reading is to read your house electrical meter, it will show you the amount of energy used. In summer it will show for a household 1KW and in winter it may show 2 or 3 KW as per your heating of the house.

[@tedeljames3356]

I knew next to nothing about electricity and solar power when I found your videos. I had just researched enough to know what watts, volts and amps stood for! That and the basic components of an RV solar system, panels, controller, battery and wires. Your video explanations are so clear that I learned what I needed to know to make a wise purchase when I am ready to do this. I know that I will not install it myself, but I wont be in the dark as a consumer. You are a born teacher! Thanks so much for taking the time to share what you learned from your research and experience in installing your system.

[@randomspirit]

At last! Someone did a video that explains things in the absolute simplest and DETAILED terms. Thank you!

[@BarkatAli-pp9gt]

I highly appreciate your comprehensive explanation! It is very smooth. You are a very good Teacher

[@eyewonder3052]

I am currently trying to determine if I can do this myself and your videos are immensely helpful! Mucho thanks!!

[@dallaspierce988]

Dude, best video ever for newbies (Like me and my dog-Rascal B. Ornery) understanding this!!!! You Rocked this one! yes, you did do it Justus!

[@TheSevenstrong]

I'm working on installing solar on my RV I just bought and your videos are such a big help. Thank you so much your videos are helping tons 😊

[@duathlete827]

I don't need any of the information in this video but have to say you did a great job putting the video together. Looks like the work of a professional. Well done.

[@klouism1]

Very helpful. Prior to this I thought that one would just have to guess what to use if you were not a solar installer. Thanks for the video.

[@DuetJustusFam]

Awesome! Glad it helped 😊

[@lauradutson23]

This video is the best info I’ve found. Looking to solar power a tiny home. I’ll be using this!! Thank you!!

[@bravo20ghost27]

Seriously, the best videos by far. Biggest thank you.

[@spudthegreaterusa8386]

just wanted to do a shout out on how good your videos have improved, you can tell the last three years have weathered your confidence levels well, your instructions are really informative and i think realistic and not contrived like a bad reality tv show series. I look forward to your January start and the places you two end up going too. I predict that you two will hit 100k subscribers by this time next year if you keep up the good quality video that we've been accustomed to watch. Have a great Christmas with your family and happy trails next year....

[@DANIEL-ls5ku]

ahhhh the Metric System, simple precise and beautiful!

[@Windkisssed]

That was a wonderfully informative presentation! I had already began my list and this video gave me some good ideas to simplify it! Great website also! I love how simple you made it....ANYBODY should be able to figure out their needs! I have a Toy Hauler, so a generator certainly is an option, HOWEVER there are too many times (& places) that I don’t want a noisy generator interrupting my peace. You did a great job putting this all together! I look forward to the upcoming videos!!! Thanks bunches Michael (and Jenny for “taking one for the team”!) Lauri

[@DuetJustusFam]

🌞🌞🌞

[@ryant2324]

Very helpful!!! I actually understand this stuff within a day by watching this video

[@Organicarivu]

This is what exactly I was searching brother.. Thank you so much

[@pobo6113]

Thank you for this video. I understood everything you covered ( which is a first). Now I feel like there is hope for me yet.

[@lustraveller717]

Wow that really helped me understand how to figure my solar needs. Thank you. I'm really looking at flexible solar panels because they weigh so much less but I understand that they are not as, should I say, reliable as the rigid panels. Hopefully that will improve.

[@flyingfalafel7748]

Thanks heaps mate!!! This would have to be the best explanation on solar set ups and needs on the net. You have a sub right here :)

[@lickilious2000]

Awesome video. Thank you for your help in understanding what I need to do prior to buying solar

[@prizantsproducts4u]

Very thorough/interesting - I think I could DIM! Thank y'all and God bless!

[@DuetJustusFam]

You absolutely can. I believe in you 🌞

[@barrellcooper6490]

I realize this video is 2 years old, so don't know if it's getting much attention. I wanted to share what I did. I came at the sizing approach from a different direction. I have 5kW generator that will run all loads I have except HVAC, Water Heater, Range. Etc, Basically the only 240 V I want to be able to power is the well. I could run everything including the well with the 5kW generator. This gives me an idea how big the inverter needs to be. By turning off the big loads and taking electric meter readings I could come up with an actual daily use without looking at every little load. I ran between 4 and 5kWh day.

[@Love_I_am]

WOW! This video was very useful! THANK YOU!

[@animesonghits2307]

Thanks duet justus for teaching us how to compute.

[@billbrumley1875]

I really like your videos as you make it easy to understand. Thank you

[@llwscott5720]

The second of your solar videos I've watched and just want to say you're the best! You make everything so clear I don't feel overwhelmed anymore. Thank you and keep those videos coming!

[@joehaney1002]

Thanks for all your solar videos that has been very helpful.

[@jasonwidegren3211]

Wow! That’s great advice for how to think about what size of system you need. Thanks!

[@virginia_in_the_rearview]

This information is so valuable to newbies like me. Thanks so much for the great video.

[@takayama1638]

Good, Duet! I need to do it.

[@fajardorafael64]

thanks a lot for your comprehensive explanation.

[@tonymorisause1631]

Thank you. Very easy to follow. Appreciate it very much.

[@AKRichardM]

I ended up with 400W or solar and 430 AH of battery and only ended up starting the generator once over 3 months. And that was to run the A/C. The cost for solar is modest though if your rig already has a generator that runs off of the vehicle tank, then the convenience of solar may not be there. Even though we ran a lot of stuff off of the battery including electric appliances and an induction burner, it was rare for the batteries not to be fully charged by mid afternoon. Of course, this was during the summer. I'll be interested to see what you chose for components. Good job on the video.

[@southkoreavideo]

Fantastic, so well explained. Thank you so very much.

[@larsturner310]

Very thorough instructional video. Nice.

[@gabbystephenson2784]

wow great video,thanks for the easy step breakdown. i'm new to this so this was a great introduction.

[@DianaSFNg]

Very informative. I have been wondering how RVers know what they needed in solar panels, batteries, inverters, etc. You have made it quite simple in this video. Thank you!

[@larrybland007]

This tutorial was very realistic for me I can clearly understand that I am throwing money and energy away in my home. Using an off grid solution is exactly like planning for a life at sea where there can be no room for excessive consumption.

[@stephenscott1518]

I love your video explaining solar sizing and set up. I took so many notes. I'm in the design stage of a bus conversion and a concept I've come up with is a tilting mechanism for our many roof solar panels while we are boondocking. My question is whether, in your opinion or any research you have done or come across, of the added benefit of tilting 8 to 10 panels to more directly face the sun vs. a flat fixed location on the vehicle roof? Thanks for your time and again, your videos are very informative!

[@Lex10999]

Fantastic video and information. Thanks :)

[@59Wanders]

Fabulous i love it. I have subscribed to your channel after watching few videos of yours.

[@shutthegate8232]

Thanks mate. Great vid.

[@user-td6rq3oe6g]

Great teacher

[@Poncho758]

Your the best. Thank you much

[@rogerkern]

Very good info. When I started learning solar I kept combing back to one issue. Battery weighs approx 75lbs times four. And you can only drain it to 50% so I’m carrying around half a battery I can’t use.. so search was on for life of battery and excess weight that’s useless cost compared for that and extra fuel used. In 15 year period about 5 grand so after meeting a solar expert we talked about one batter and 48 volt system with charge controller etc 12k and 25 year battery life I can drain to literally 0 and can run the a/c 4 hours a day on solar or not run it and can last four days with not needing to charge that one battery. Yea a ton more $$ up front but long term much cheaper

[@VictorDiaz-gv5uf]

Very informative need to watch more.

[@aboiayockaboi5754]

This is very helpful....thank you so much.....

[@PullipKisses]

This is great! Liked and subscribed

[@GEMINIBD]

good day this video is very helpful to me. to learn what system i will be needing for off-grid system. the next step is cost and budgeting

[@jandupreez367]

Thank you this is a great video and very helpfull

[@foretravelman67]

Great video Michael! That sizing chart will help for sure. Still deciding between another 5k gen for the fiver and a full set of solar. Decisions, decisions!

[@DuetJustusFam]

Decisions, decisions indeed! If it helps, we absolutely LOVE the freedom of solar. Good luck.

[@offgridsolarpr2336]

Interesting information and very instructive.

[@laminkoroma7801]

Its good and thanks for helping out.

[@artbyfaith]

Great information. Thank you.

[@TomandLoriRVLife]

Awesome videos! Very helpful as we put ours together! :)

[@Bigrell0326]

Thank you EXCELLENT, just found you!!!!

[@sulemanalakeel3886]

Very useful and clear. Thanks. Greetings from Saudi 🌹

[@raheemh.9891]

Bravo! Thanks .

[@aaallami]

Awesome video, great information

[@abiarani4985]

Thank you! At least I have now idea.

[@ranjan_v]

Thank you

[@eliakimcharles6931]

Very very useful!!!

[@rcdoodles6214]

My current Excel Energy utility bill shows my daily and monthly kwh data so I presume going through the spreadsheet exercise is not necessary, but very interesting to see how to calculate. Thanks.

[@blendonwhite352]

Very nice and need every information

[@allanlindsay1330]

Hi Guys, Very interesting thank you for making the great videos 👍

[@edt2378]

Thanks Great Video!

[@dominicsanthuff]

Thanks super helpful subbed since you're from mo too 🤘

[@fodcade40]

Thanks brother

[@anthonyrichardson7543]

Very informative

[@ZuhairAlsagar]

thank you

[@gerardhaubert8210]

Excellent source of information

[@DuetJustusFam]

Thanks for watching!

[@alphafort]

the first solar system i think didnt take much planning as you suggested. He just said let there be light!

[@annetterose8631]

Hi love your videos easy to follow, Can you use different size solar panels to make up your wattage

[@drakesshion3174]

Thank you for this video but I realise everything everything u running are DC what size inverter will I need for this will it be the same amount of total wattage per day used?

[@honestyfaithful]

Just found your channel AWESOME!!! We are newbies to the solar world but want to go totally off grid. We do not use any 220 lines in our house no TV,cable ect. Getting a sundanzer freezer. So basically lights and kitchen appliances will need power. We use wood yo heat. Trying to figure out what we will need. Of course the solar company in our area is pushing the biggest most expensive system.... what do you think ? We are in the south western county of NC in the mountains. Our house faces south on one end. Panels will work on the roof...... thank in advance

[@consawareness1959]

Its very useful

[@donaldpaivu6901]

Best, i just subscribed.

[@kulkiikan8643]

I like your eplaination... think it will help me later.

[@wasswajimmy7720]

Yo the best boss thanks much

[@lisas7389]

Very good video

[@megsman4749]

For home use, looking at the electricity usage on my bill would give me the total per day.

[@olaniyankehinde309]

Hello. I love this video. It really great.. Buy I have a i question.. The calculation above. Please how many batteries do you derive to? In rate of 12v/200ah..

[@michaeltina3866]

VERY NICE VIDEO

[@HikerBiker]

Being new to RVing and diving into it by building my own van conversion I literally have know way of knowing how much power I'll use per day. My biggest power draw most likely will be my cooler/fridge, computer and TV all of which I hope to run on 12DC. My plan is to live full time and I will be solo but since my activities include various mountaineering activities year around as well as self contained bicycle touring i'll also be traveling/staying in all weather/temperature conditions. So since living in an RV is not the same as unlimited power usage in a house I'm lost right off the bat. My best guesstimate based off watching KZbin videos would be around 400W panels but I'm not sure if I'll have the room on my Transit van, any suggestions?

[@abdimalikosman2434]

thanks for your help i really enjoyed and waitin your nex vedeo if Allah says

[@maninavan.2043]

Hello. great video. I have three s/panels 180w combined - a 2000w inverter and 5 batteries 410ah. I power a tv. DVD and l.e.d lighting... Q. am I over doing it a little? I live full time in a converted long wheel base van all yr round in the UK.

[@mobinarghandewal7044]

thank you for your lecture and how i can find that above software that you solve the example

[@joehaney1002]

I am just getting into the solar panels which I have four panels 25 watts each Hundref Watts total wired in series I believe each panel has it's own wires which plug into a 4 way that plugs into my controller. When i install my four 6 volt batteries in series and parallel then connect my modified inverter to plug in my 30 amp RV will I do any damage to the inverter in the RV? My inverter is a 1000 watt. Right now before I got solar I just hooked up my 1000 watt modified inverter and plug my RV into it and leave my truck running to run coffee pot and tv in mornings

[@jean-clauded5823]

@2:46 When doing the calculation, your both over and under measuring, especially with power transformers like the Apple charger, or other wall wart charger. You see, a device often does not use 100% of the power rating of the transformer, but the transformer is not 100% efficient. So, if your output is 500 watts, and your 90% efficient, then your input is actually 555 watts. Except, since your device is not using 100%, your actual load is less. Instead of looking at the adapter, look at the device and see what the device actually needs, not what the transformer produces. My laptop is 65 watts, but my charger is 90 watts. So, using the method outlined, I would be over sizing by 25 watts (ignoring the fact that it is not 100%, etc). My over may need 3000 watts, but once it reaches temperature, it stops drawing. So, if I am cooking for 3 hours, I won't have this 3000 watts load for all 3 hours but may only have it for 30-40% of the time (with peaks of 100% and off peaks of 0%).

[@DuetJustusFam]

Thank you very much for the helpful info. That makes total sense. 😎☀️👍🏼

[@admiralrob777]

Hi ok I need to make a appointment for 3yr from now on the solar

[@eyuelteshome5012]

thank you very much for sharing the ideas. but i cant get the solar calculator.please help me how to size the components manualy?

[@rikujkoivisto]

Hi! You are the dude, i want to ask.. I'm going to buy fev 285w PERC- panels, they told me, Perc-panel is the best. Is that so..? I'm beginner, but very exited to learn more about solar power! Could you help me..?

[@areusure7551]

Hi, Awesome series that you have here, so thanks for your efforts really well done. I do have a question or 2 if possible, hope u can help. If i wanted to run a Computer system for 24 hours a day, my computer system has a 1000W power supply. The thing is i have a 1000W power supply but i am not maxing out the Power of that supply, My power meter is only reading under 450w. SO my question is, Should i still calculate of the MAX potential Watts of my PSU or what my computer is actually using. This is the same for the battery bank? My other question is, If i want the Bank to power my PC through out the night and recharge throughout the day, do the panels need to produce double the watts needed during the day so it does the recharge? For example uses 400w meaning panels need to produce 800w during the day to power PC and charge batteries for nights usage. I hope this makes sense, Thanks again

[@DuetJustusFam]

Hey 👋🏼 send me an email ([e-mail])... this numbers sound astronomical for a computer. Make sure you are looking at the output wattage on your power supply. An iMac is 217W max and our MacBooks are 85W

[@rey_nemaattori]

@@DuetJustusFam Depends on your machine. I used to own a 2 cpu / 12 core gaming rig with two MSI R7970 graphics cards which, if ran at full power, easily pulled 800+ watts. The PSU was rated for 1200Watts, as the motherboard actually had room for 2 more gfx cards, never got to install them though. It actually heated the room it was in to unbearable levels during summer... But it's very unlikely you would run that 24/7 in an off-grid setup / camper van anyways.

[@Trev9]

Concise and no waffle

[@micasaesloca]

you just made everything, and i mean everything make sence..

[@Rico702Vegas]

*sense

[@MikeAndNary]

"Is solar right for me?" Yes, yes it is. Can I afford what I need? Well that's another story.

[@MrSummitville]

Then get a Leased System with $0.00 out-of-pocket and $0.00 payments. Can you afford $0.00 ?

[@ronlabe5487]

Then solar is not right for you.

[@ronlabe5487]

@@MrSummitville People complaining about the cost of solar likely don't own their home.

[@greenvalley651]

what about just looking at your electrical bill monthly

[@Mirsab]

I think this is for when you're only planning to run particular amount of things in your house on solar or you're on the go like him in his RV.

[@jlhs123]

That is better, I was thinking the same question. Why so much math when you can use the bill, and cut it in half for the location you will be using. Better no?

[@joekool9601]

It’s better to read your meter twice a day . Once during the daytime and once at night. That should tell you what u need.

[@diydan6045]

Thanks for the video I had a question regarding consumption of a refrigerator, the plate says 350 Watts but after a week on The Kill a watt meter it shows 1.5 kilowatts per day. Which is around 63 watts an hour.

[@MrSummitville]

No, not 63 watts. It is "63 watt-hours per hour". It is still a 350 Watt appliance

[@reymartmanablug2965]

Hello im your new subscriber. I have question.what is the best connections for 5k t 100 kw design? Is it series all over or parallel or series parallel. Thanks