Before settling for a 5K solar system, ensure you get all its facts right. Otherwise, you may realize it isn’t suitable for your power needs when it is too late.
First things first, though. How much power does a 5W solar system produce?
The answer to this question is important since it helps you determine whether it is right for your house. So, let’s unveil the answers and much more in a bit.
How Much Power Will My 5 KW Solar System Produce?
Like any other solar system, the 5 KW one converts solar energy from the sun into electricity. Its name gives you an idea of how much power the solar system produces.
The system comprises 16 solar panels measuring 1.6 m by 1 m. Each solar panel produces power of up to 320 watts.
So, if you do the math, that’s up to 5120 watts, equivalent to 5 kWh every hour. However, it is important to note that such production only applies during the peak output phase.
Direct sunlight must be strong enough to enhance this production. Under different circumstances, don’t expect the same amount of power.
For instance, your 5 KW solar panel may only produce power between 300 and 500 watts early in the morning. Interestingly, that would skyrocket to 4000 to 5000 watts during peak hours; an excellent example is noon.
However, that’s not what matters regarding what your appliances use and what utility companies use to charge. After all, it is no longer electrical power but electrical energy.
Therefore, units change from watts and kilowatts to watt-hours and kilowatt-hours. Since that’s per hour, let’s look at the daily, monthly, and annual power output of a 5 KW solar system.
How Much Power Does a 5 KW Solar System Produce in a Day?
You can use an equation to calculate the power output of your 5 KW solar system. This equation is as follows;
The Solar Power Output = Power Rating x Peak Sun Hours x 0.75
Since the power rating and the 0.75 are constants, what brings the difference, despite having the same solar system, is the peak sun hours. The figure keeps changing, thus explaining why power output isn’t a constant.
In our case, the power rating is 5 Kw. If the peak sun hours are about 5, here’s how the equation will look like;
Daily Solar Power Output = 5 kW x 5 hours x 0.75 = 18.75 kWh in a day
In most cases, the energy production of a 5 KW solar system ranges from 15 kWh to 22.5 kWh daily. On average, that’s about 20 kWh.
So, upon purchasing a 5 KW solar system, you should expect this daily. Ensure that it is enough to meet your daily power needs.
How Much Power Does a 5 KW Solar System Produce in a Month?
Having figured out the daily power output of a 5 KW solar system, one can estimate its monthly counterpart. It is approximately 600 kWh every month.
How Much Power Does a 5 KW Solar System Produce in a Year?
Similarly, you can figure out the annual power production of this solar system. On average, a 5 KW solar system produces 7500 kWh per year.
Which Factors Affect the Power a 5 KW Solar System Produces
We are dealing with average figures instead of exact numbers. That’s because it keeps fluctuating due to various things that are never constant yet affect the power output.
For instance, a 5 KW can produce about 35 kWh daily during summer since direct sunlight is abundant during this season. On the other hand, the same solar system will produce 5 kWh daily during winter.
Here’s a summary that brings such a variance;
- Obstruction of your solar panel by snow, foliage, and other similar things, thus interrupting its exposure to direct sunlight
- The brand of your solar system since energy efficiency is usually different among them
- Each component of the solar system has a role to play, which means one bad one is enough to jeopardize the power output of your solar system, especially if its features or performance aren’t impressive
- The tilt angle also determines the intensity of the direct sunlight reaching the solar panel
- The same applies to the solar panels’ orientation
- Areas with shade may also compromise the power output since the more sunlight, the more solar power it produces
- Finally, your geographical location has an area to cover since it affects the solar irradiance every day, and its role in determining the solar system’s power output is indisputable
How Many Solar Panels Do I Need for a 5 KW System?
Various manufacturers use different numbers of solar panels for a 5 KW solar system. Besides the number of solar panels, the power output of an individual panel also makes a huge difference.
Manufacturers usually use 17 solar panels with an individual power output of about 300 watts. Others settle for 16 solar panels, each producing about 320 watts.
The bottom line is the total power output being 5 KW. However, the figure is usually slightly above the 5 KW mark.
What Can You Run on a 5 KW Solar System?
Due to their power needs, below is a summary of appliances you can run using a 5 KW solar system. Check it out!
- 2 LCD televisions using 60 watts per hour and used for an average of 5 hours daily, thus amounting to 300 watts
- 2 Laptops using 200 watts per hour and used for an average of 6 hours daily, thus amounting to 1,200 watts
- Central Air conditioner uses 3200 watts per hour and is used for an average of 2 hours daily, thus amounting to 6,400 watts
- The clothes Dryer uses 4000 watts per hour and is used for an average of 0.3 hours daily, thus amounting to 1,050 watts
- The dishwasher uses 18 watts per hour and is used for an average of 1.5 hours daily, thus amounting to 2,700 watts
- The freezer uses 42 watts per hour and is used for an average of 24 hours daily, thus amounting to 1,000 watts
- Hot water system (100L electric) using 1500 watts per hour and used for an average of 3 hours daily, thus amounting to 4,500 watts
- Lights for a 4-bedroom home use 70 watts per hour and are used for an average of 6 hours daily, thus amounting to 420 watts
- Microwave using 1500 watts per hour and used for an average of 0.3 hours daily, thus amounting to 450 watts
- The refrigerator uses 35 watts per hour and is used for an average of 24 hours daily, thus amounting to 900 watts
- A washing machine uses 500 watts per hour and is used for an average of 0.5 hours daily, thus amounting to 250 watts
- Wifi uses 6 watts per hour and is used for an average of 24 hours daily, thus amounting to 144 watts
