Calculator

Solar Power Sizing Calculator

Created by CalcKit Community
Last updated: 11 Nov 2024
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This app helps you design a solar home system by accurately sizing the necessary solar batteries, solar panels, and charge controllers.

To begin, input your load requirements, which typically consist of the number and power rating of DC solar lights you plan to use. [Note: DC = Direct Current, and this calculator assumes a 12V solar photovoltaic system]. The load is divided into two categories: lights used for short periods (e.g., in living rooms, dining rooms, washrooms) and lights used for extended periods (e.g., security lights that stay on overnight).

You can also include other DC devices like radios and phone chargers in a third category.

The app will automatically calculate the total daily energy requirement in watt-hours per day (Wh/d) and convert it into charge per day in ampere-hours per day (Ah/d). This information is crucial for accurately sizing any DC solar photovoltaic installation.

Next, the app calculates the number of batteries needed according to your chosen solar battery (the list includes common batteries ranging from 75Ah to 150Ah of different qualities). For example, you could select the 100Ah deep cycle battery from Ritar. The app then determines the required number of solar batteries, all configured for a 12V system. In the next stage, you may also select the panels you intend to use, and the app will provide the necessary quantity of solar panels and the appropriate size of the required charge controller, which you can select from the provided list with charge capacities ranging from 10A to 40A.

Finally, the app calculates the total cost of the major installation components—solar batteries, solar panels, and charge controllers. While other elements like cables and lights are essential, this app focuses on the key items and their total price. The app uses a list of commonly available appliances in Africa with their corresponding prices in USD, and it converts them into TZS upon your selection. Therefore, the total calculation can be done in either USD (US Dollars) or TZS (Tanzanian Shillings).

Components Included in the App

A: Deep Cycle Solar Batteries (75Ah to 150Ah)

  1. Ritar, 100Ah 12V AGM, 150 USD
  2. Renogy, 120Ah 12V AGM, 180 USD
  3. Trojan, 150Ah 12V AGM, 250 USD
  4. Victron Energy, 100Ah 12V AGM, 160 USD
  5. Universal Power Group, 130Ah 12V AGM, 190 USD
  6. Battle Born, 75Ah 12V LiFePO4, 350 USD
  7. ECO-WORTHY, 100Ah 12V AGM, 140 USD
  8. LG Chem, 120Ah 12V Li-ion, 300 USD
  9. FULLriver, 150Ah 12V AGM, 270 USD
  10. WindyNation, 75Ah 12V AGM, 130 USD
  11. Mastervolt, 100Ah 12V Gel, 200 USD
  12. Solaro, 120Ah 12V Gel, 220 USD
  13. Sunshine Battery, 130Ah 12V Gel, 210 USD
  14. Relion, 75Ah 12V LiFePO4, 340 USD

B: Solar Panels (100W and 200W using 12V configuration)

  1. SunPower, 200W, 12V, Isc 10.33A, mono cryst., 250 USD
  2. Canadian Solar, 200W, 12V, Isc 10.24A, polycryst., 180 USD
  3. JA Solar, 200W, 12V, Isc 10.15A, mono cryst., 190 USD
  4. Jinko Solar, 200W, 12V, Isc 10.27A, polycryst., 175 USD
  5. Trina Solar, 200W, 12V, Isc 10.15A, mono cryst., 185 USD
  6. Sundar, 200W, 12V, Isc 10.35A, mono cryst., 150 USD
  7. Suntech, 100W, 12V, Isc 5.45A, mono cryst., 85 USD
  8. Sundar, 100W, 12V, Isc 5.50A, polycryst., 80 USD
  9. Panasonic, 100W, 12V, Isc 5.75A, mono cryst., 90 USD
  10. Victron Energy, 200W, 12V, Isc 10.42A, mono cryst., 230 USD
  11. Renogy, 100W, 12V, Isc 5.89A, mono cryst., 95 USD

C: Charge Controllers (10A to 40A)

  1. Renogy, 30A MPPT, 150 USD
  2. Victron Energy, 20A MPPT, 170 USD
  3. EPEVER, 40A MPPT, 160 USD
  4. Morningstar, 10A PWM, 70 USD
  5. BMSBattery, 20A PWM, 50 USD
  6. HQST, 30A MPPT, 140 USD
  7. Tristar, 10A PWM, 85 USD
  8. Rich Solar, 20A MPPT, 130 USD
  9. Blue Sky, 40A MPPT, 200 USD
  10. Solarland, 20A PWM, 65 USD
  11. Sundar, 10A PWM, 20 USD
  12. EPEVER, 10A PWM, 25 USD
  13. BMSBattery, 20A MPPT, 40 USD
  14. Genasun, 20A PWM, 30 USD
  15. Winstar, 10A PWM, 20 USD

D: Daily Sun-Hours (Insolation) Data for Selected Cities in Africa
(You may also use this app beyond Africa; just input the correct insolation for your location.)

  1. Mwanza, Tanzania, 4.6h
  2. Arusha, Tanzania, 5.2h
  3. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 5.8h
  4. Mbeya, Tanzania, 4.9h
  5. Kigali, Rwanda, 5.5h
  6. Muhanga, Rwanda, 5.3h
  7. Kibuye, Rwanda, 5.1h
  8. Kampala, Uganda, 5.0h
  9. Mbarara, Uganda, 4.8h
  10. Kisumu, Kenya, 5.7h
  11. Nairobi, Kenya, 5.4h
  12. Mombasa, Kenya, 6.2h
  13. Algiers, Algeria, 6.5h
  14. Luanda, Angola, 6.0h
  15. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 10.5h
  16. Yaoundé, Cameroon, 5.8h
  17. N'Djamena, Chad, 10.8h
  18. Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, 5.5h
  19. Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, 5.2h
  20. Cairo, Egypt, 7.5h
  21. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 5.0h
  22. Libreville, Gabon, 5.3h

Note: You can select solar batteries, charge controllers, and solar panels to match your specific requirements. Additionally, select a city close to your location to get accurate insolation data for your calculations.

Created by Richard Madete, Dipl-Ing.