Emergency Solar Generator Sizer
Estimate the solar generator you need. Select common emergency appliances to see the total power (wattage) required.
1. Select Appliances
Add Custom Item
2. Your Power Needs
Recommended Size:
Add items to see
Selected Items:
A Complete Guide to the Emergency Solar Generator Sizer
Welcome! This guide explains how to use our free Emergency Solar Generator Sizer tool. We'll walk through its features, help you understand your results, and provide key examples so you can confidently calculate your power needs for any outage or emergency.
What Is the Emergency Solar Generator Sizer?
A power outage can be stressful, but planning ahead makes all the difference. One of the biggest challenges in emergency preparedness is choosing a portable power source. How big does it need to be? If you buy one that's too small, it won't run your essential items. If you buy one that's too large, you've overspent on capacity you'll never use.
The Emergency Solar Generator Sizer is a simple, interactive tool designed to solve this exact problem. It helps you quickly and accurately calculate your emergency power needs by tallying the wattage of devices you want to run.
This tool is for anyone who needs to prepare for a power outage, including:
- Homeowners building an emergency preparedness kit.
- Renters who can't install a permanent generator.
- Remote Workers who need to keep their laptops and modems running.
- Individuals with medical devices (like CPAP machines) who need 100% reliable backup power.
By using the Emergency Solar Generator Sizer, you move from guesswork to a data-driven plan. It provides a clear wattage total and a straightforward size recommendation, giving you the confidence to shop for the right generator.
How to Use the Emergency Solar Generator Sizer (Step-by-Step)
Our Emergency Solar Generator Sizer is split into two simple panels: the Input Panel (where you add appliances) and the Output Panel (where you see your results). Your results update in real-time as you add or remove items.
Step 1: The Preset Appliance List
The fastest way to start is with the preset list, found under the "1. Select Appliances" heading. We've pre-loaded common, essential items you'd likely need during an outage.
Simply click the checkbox next to any item you plan to run. For example:
- Check "Phone Charger" (10W)
- Check "Laptop" (65W)
- Check "Mini-Fridge" (60W)
As you check these items, you'll immediately see your "Total Required Watts" and "Recommended Size" update in the output panel. This is ideal for quickly understanding the power requirements of basic devices. You can check and uncheck items as much as you want to see how they affect your total.
Step 2: Adding a Custom Item
What about appliances that aren't on the preset list, like a coffee maker or a full-size refrigerator? That's what the "Add Custom Item" form is for. To use this feature of the Emergency Solar Generator Sizer, you need two pieces of information: a name and the wattage.
- Appliance Name: Type in a clear description, like "Kitchen Refrigerator" or "Space Heater."
- Wattage: Enter the "running wattage" of the device.
How to Find Your Appliance's Wattage
This is the most critical part of getting an accurate result. Wattage is a measure of power consumption. You can usually find it in one of these places:
- The Appliance Sticker: Most electronics have a sticker or metal plate (often near the power cord) that lists power information. Look for a number followed by "W" or "Watts."
- The User Manual: The technical specifications section of the manual will always list the wattage.
- Online Search: If you've lost the manual, a quick search for your appliance's model number (e.g., "Frigidaire FRSS2623AS wattage") will almost always find the answer.
Once you have the name and wattage, enter them into the form and click the "Add Item" button. Your custom item will be added to the "Selected Items" list, and your totals will instantly update.
Step 3: Review Your List and Totals
As you add items, a complete list appears at the bottom of the output panel under "Selected Items." You can use this to double-check your work. This list is a combination of all the presets you've checked and all the custom items you've added.
This simple, three-step process is all it takes to calculate emergency power needs with the Emergency Solar Generator Sizer. You can add as many items as you need to get a complete picture of your requirements.
Understanding Your Results
After you've added your appliances, the Emergency Solar Generator Sizer gives you three key pieces of information in the "2. Your Power Needs" panel. Let's break down what each one means.
1. Total Required Watts
This is the most important number the tool provides. It's the sum of the running watts of all the appliances you selected. For example, if you selected a Laptop (65W) and a Mini-Fridge (60W), your total will be 125 W.
This number represents the minimum continuous power your solar generator's inverter must be able to provide to run all your selected items *at the same time*. When you shop for a generator, this "Total Required Watts" number should be compared to the generator's "Running Watts" or "Rated Watts" specification.
2. Recommended Size
To make shopping easier, the Emergency Solar Generator Sizer translates your total wattage into a simple, plain-English recommendation. The tool uses the following brackets:
- Small Portable (300-500W): Your total is 300W or less. This is for basic needs: charging phones, laptops, running lights, or a CPAP machine.
- Medium Capacity (700-1000W): Your total is between 301W and 700W. This size can handle the basics plus a small appliance like a mini-fridge or a small TV.
- Large Portable (1500-2000W): Your total is between 701W and 1500W. Now you're in the range to power more significant devices, like a coffee maker or a full-size refrigerator (check surge watts first!).
- Heavy Duty (2000W+): Your total is over 1500W. This is for running multiple large items and requires a high-capacity generator.
3. Selected Items List
This is your "shopping list." It's a clear summary of everything you've added to the calculator. When you ask, "what size solar generator do I need," this list is your proof. It shows exactly how you arrived at your total wattage, making it easy to adjust your plan. You might look at the list and decide, "Maybe the coffee maker isn't an 'emergency' item," and uncheck it to see how your recommendation changes.
A Critical Note: Watts vs. Watt-Hours (W vs. Wh)
This is the single most important concept to understand, and our article will clarify it. The Emergency Solar Generator Sizer helps you find your Watts (W), which is a measure of *power* (like the speed of a car).
It does *not* calculate Watt-Hours (Wh), which is a measure of *energy capacity* (like the size of the car's gas tank). Watt-hours tell you *how long* the generator can run your items.
Example:
- The tool tells you your total is 100 Watts.
- You buy a generator rated for 500 Watts (W) and 1000 Watt-Hours (Wh).
- Your generator has enough *power* (500W > 100W).
- To find the runtime, you divide capacity by load: 1000Wh / 100W = 10 hours of runtime.
Always use the Emergency Solar Generator Sizer to find your "W" (power/inverter size) first. Then, use that number to calculate the "Wh" (capacity/battery size) you need based on your desired runtime.
Examples and Scenarios
Let's walk through three common scenarios to see how the Emergency Solar Generator Sizer works in practice and how to interpret the results for each.
Scenario 1: The "Digital Essentials" Kit
Goal: Just keep phones, a laptop, and a light on during a brief outage.
- Inputs (Presets):
- Phone Charger (10W)
- Laptop (65W)
- LED Lamp (12W)
- Total Watts (from tool): 87 W
- Tool Recommendation: Small Portable (300-500W)
Analysis: This is a very light load. A small, briefcase-sized generator (often called a "power station") is perfect. A 300W inverter is more than enough. Now, for capacity: if you buy a 300Wh battery, you'd get (300Wh / 87W) = ~3.4 hours of runtime for all three items simultaneously. This is a great, affordable starting point for emergency power.
Scenario 2: The "Medical Device" Kit
Goal: Ensure a CPAP machine can run all night, plus charge a phone.
- Inputs (Presets):
- CPAP Machine (50W)
- Phone Charger (10W)
- Total Watts (from tool): 60 W
- Tool Recommendation: Small Portable (300-500W)
Analysis: Again, the power (W) requirement is very low. The tool correctly identifies a small generator is all you need for power. However, the *runtime* (Wh) is the critical factor here. For 8 hours of sleep: 50W (CPAP) * 8 hours = 400Wh. You must buy a generator with at *least* 400Wh of battery capacity, plus a little extra for the phone. This is a perfect example of how to use the tool's wattage to calculate your required battery capacity.
Scenario 3: The "Long-Term Outage" Kit
Goal: Power essentials to wait out a multi-day storm: food preservation, medical, and communications.
- Inputs (Presets):
- Mini-Fridge (60W)
- CPAP Machine (50W)
- Laptop (65W)
- Phone Charger (10W)
- Inputs (Custom):
- Custom: "Small Microwave" (600W)
- Total Watts (from tool): 785 W
- Tool Recommendation: Large Portable (1500-2000W)
Analysis: Here, the tool's recommendation is "Large Portable," even though the total (785W) is much lower than 1500W. Why? Because the tool is smart. It's giving you essential *headroom*. A microwave and a fridge have compressors and heating elements. They draw *surge power* (see Mistakes section). The "Large Portable" recommendation ensures your generator can handle the spike. This is a perfect example of how the Emergency Solar Generator Sizer helps you avoid buying a 1000W generator that would fail the moment you tried to use the microwave.
Benefits of Using This Tool
Using the Emergency Solar Generator Sizer before you buy is one of the smartest things you can do. The benefits are immediate and significant.
- Eliminate Guesswork: Stop trying to add up watts in your head. This tool does the math for you, giving you a precise number to work with.
- Avoid Overspending: The most common mistake is buying a massive 3000W generator "just in case." Our tool will show you if you only need a 500W model, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars.
- Prevent Under-buying: The *worst* mistake is buying a generator that's too small. The Emergency Solar Generator Sizer prevents that critical failure, ensuring the generator you buy can actually run the items you need.
- Build a Confident Plan: This tool helps you create a realistic emergency plan. You'll know exactly what you can and can't run, helping you prioritize your essential devices.
- Get Instant, Clear Results: You don't need to sign up, and you don't need to be an electrician. This tool provides an immediate, simple answer to the complex question, "what size solar generator do I need?"
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Our Emergency Solar Generator Sizer is a powerful estimator, but it's part of a larger picture. To be truly prepared, avoid these common mistakes when planning your power needs.
Mistake 1: Forgetting "Surge Watts"
The Emergency Solar Generator Sizer calculates running watts (the continuous power an item uses). However, many appliances with motors or compressors (refrigerators, blenders, power tools, some fans) require a large, brief jolt of power to start up. This is called "surge watts" or "peak watts."
Rule of Thumb: Your generator's "Surge Watt" rating (a separate number from its "Running Watt" rating) should be at least 2-3 times the running watts of your largest motor-based appliance. Our tool's "Large" and "Heavy Duty" recommendations already provide this safety buffer.
Mistake 2: Ignoring Watt-Hours (The "Gas Tank")
We can't say it enough: Watts (power) and Watt-Hours (capacity) are different. Ignoring watt-hours is like buying a Ferrari with a one-gallon gas tank. Our tool finds your power needs (W). You *must* then decide how long you need that power for and buy a generator with enough battery capacity (Wh).
Mistake 3: Trying to Power Everything
An emergency solar generator is for *essentials*, not for running your house as normal. You cannot run central air conditioning, a large electric stove, or a clothes dryer. Using our Emergency Solar Generator Sizer will help you adopt a "preparedness mindset" by forcing you to prioritize: medical devices first, then food preservation, then communications, then comfort.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
This is the most important question!
Watts (W) measure *power*—how much electricity an appliance needs at any one moment. Think of it as the speed of your car. Our tool calculates this.
Watt-Hours (Wh) measure *energy capacity*—how much energy is stored in the generator's battery. Think of it as the size of your car's gas tank. A 1000Wh battery can run a 100W device for 10 hours (1000 / 100 = 10).
Surge watts are a brief spike of power needed to start appliances with motors (like refrigerators or blenders). Our Emergency Solar Generator Sizer calculates running watts, not surge watts.
However, our "Recommended Size" (e.g., "Large Portable") intentionally provides extra headroom to help account for surge. When shopping, always look for a generator with a "Surge" or "Peak" rating that is higher than your "Running Watts" total from our tool.
It's there, but sometimes it's hidden! Look for a silver or white sticker, or a metal plate, on the back, bottom, or inside the door of the appliance. It's often near the UL, CE, or ETL logo. If it's not there, check the technical specifications page in the user manual. As a last resort, search online for your exact model number plus the word "wattage." If you only see "Amps" and "Volts," you can calculate watts by multiplying them: Watts = Volts x Amps. (In the US, Volts are almost always 110V or 120V).
Yes, absolutely! This is one of the most common uses. A modern, energy-efficient refrigerator typically uses 100-200 running watts, but it can *surge* to 1000-1500 watts for a second when the compressor kicks on.
To use our tool, find the "running watts" (e.g., 150W) and add it as a custom item. The tool will likely give you a "Large Portable (1500-2000W)" recommendation, which is correct. This ensures the generator has a high enough surge rating (1500W+) to handle the refrigerator's startup.
The Emergency Solar Generator Sizer is as accurate as the data you put into it. The preset values are common averages for modern, energy-efficient devices. If your devices are older or larger, their wattage may be higher. For the most accurate calculation, always use the "Add Custom Item" feature with the exact wattage from your own appliances. This tool is an excellent estimator and is designed to get you a reliable, data-driven starting point for your research.
No. This tool is specifically an Emergency Solar Generator Sizer for the generator's *output* (inverter size in Watts) and helps you plan for its *capacity* (battery size in Watt-Hours).
Sizing the solar panels to *recharge* the generator is a separate calculation. That depends on the generator's max solar input (e.g., 100W, 400W), the size of your panels, and how much sun you get. This tool focuses on the first and most important question: how to size a solar generator for emergencies based on what you need to run.
Conclusion: Your First Step to Preparedness
Choosing the right solar generator can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. The first step is always to understand your actual needs. By using the Emergency Solar Generator Sizer, you've already taken that first, most critical step.
You now have a clear, data-driven "Total Required Watts" number. You can ignore the marketing hype and focus on the two specifications that matter: a generator with a "Running Watts" rating that matches your total, and a "Watt-Hour" capacity that will give you the runtime you need.
We recommend you use the Emergency Solar Generator Sizer, save your results, and use them as your guide when you compare models. True preparedness starts with a good plan, and your plan starts here.
