Here's ABS's step-by-step how-to list:
1. List all your electrical appliances.Here's ABS's load calculation form.
2. Determine the power draw for each item. This means wattage, and whether it runs on alternating or direct current. (Amperage and voltage can be used to figure the load, too, if wattage isn't listed.)
3. Estimate appliance usage time, in hours per day.
4. Look for extra efficiency, or where the load can be reduced.
5. Determine your AC power needs: find the AC appliance with the highest wattage, then figure out how many AC items will be plugged in at the same time and add that together. (This helps you determine the size inverter you will need.) Also check to see what the start-up power draw is on each AC appliance (some things, like refrigerators, draw way more on start up than they do once they've gotten going). This will help determine the power surge requirements for your electric load, and thus the size of your inverter.
3 comments:
I am so *for* solar, but the technology right now takes a bazillion years to pay for itself. Wood, though, is still cheap.
Yeah, but wood doesn't do diddly for the electric bill.
Solar power needs to be integrated in any serious energy policy. Tough to do in an urban environment these days but necessity may inspire creativity. Thanks for the guide.
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