buying guide · October 19, 2021

What Size Solar Generator Do I Need? (Power Station Tips)

A solar generator is a highly convenient and versatile power source. You can use one to access power while on the go or as a backup source of energy for your home. Before buying one, you might be asking yourself, what size solar generator do I need?

This is certainly an important question. Buying the right size solar generator will ensure that you have an optimal source of power without paying more for one than you have to.

But perhaps the real question you should be asking is, what size power station do I need for my solar generator?

This is because a “solar generator” can technically refer to a solar solution that combines two (or more) components. A Jackery Solar Generator consists of:

1. The solar panels – which collect the solar energy from direct sunlight.

2. The power station – which stores the electrical power converted by the solar panels.

In this article, we will help you figure out what size power station is most suitable for your solar generator goals. Keep reading to learn how to calculate the right power station size, along with other information about solar generators, so that you make the best choice.

How Power Stations Are Sized

Power stations are typically sized in watts (W). This is a measure of power that’s used to calculate the rate of energy transfer. But what you really need to know is that the greater watts a power station has, the more power it can provide you in a single charge.
That being said, there are different watt measurements to pay attention to when deciding on a power station.

Continuous Power

The first measurement is usually called continuous power. This is the amount of power that a power station can provide consistently.

Peak Power

The second measurement is usually called peak power. This is the maximum amount of power that a power station can provide in a short burst.

Continuous Power vs. Peak Power (An Example)

Here’s an example. Think of when you turn on your air conditioner. It needs a quick burst of power to get started. That’s peak power. But the amount of power needed to continuously run the AC unit is generally lower. That’s continuous power.

Some appliances, such as refrigerators, need a burst of 3-7 times their normal power needs to get started. Keep in mind, your power station needs to be able to accommodate this peak power requirement to run the appliance. So, if you are looking for a solar generator to run a refrigerator, simply meeting the continuous power requirements won’t be enough.

Continuous power will likely be the more impactful number for you to think about. It’s what tells you how much power you will get from a single charge of your power station under normal conditions.

How to Calculate Your Optimal Power Station Capacity in 4 Steps

Jackery sells power stations to meet a wide variety of power consumption needs. Our products range from 167Wh of capacity to as high as 2,060Wh of capacity.

How Many Watts Do I Need in a Solar Generator’s Power Station?

To figure out which Jackery product offers the right power capabilities for you, you’ll need to perform the following calculations:

Step 1: Select What You Want to Power With Your Power Station and For How Long

The first part of picking the right power station for your needs is understanding what those needs are. This means selecting the specific devices that you want to power with your solar generator, and setting a rough estimation of how long you’d like for its power station to provide that power.

Tip: Be sure to only pick devices that you can plug into your Jackery Power Station. For example, things like water heaters are often hardwired into your home. So, the chances are you wouldn’t be able to power one with a power station. (Unless you also hardwire that device to your home.)

Here are some common devices that people power with solar generators:

Laptops and PCs
Phone chargers
Kitchen appliances
Hairdryers
Air conditioners
Video game systems

Step 2: Find Out How Much Energy Each of Your Selections Uses

Once you know what you want to power, it’s time to figure out how much energy you need to do so.

The starting point towards calculating this is finding out how many watts your devices need to run. This number is often listed somewhere on the device itself. But if you only see a measurement for amps, you can multiply that number by the item’s voltage to convert into watts.

Shown here:

Next, you need to pick how many hours you want to be able to use each of your devices. Then, multiply the number of hours that you’ve selected by the watts of each item. This will give you the total watt-hours you require to be able to power each device.

Shown here:

Here’s an example:

You want to power two 60 watt lightbulbs for two hours each. To find the total amount of watt-hours of power you need:

Get the total hours: Multiply 2 hours of power by 2 light bulbs. (2 x 2) = 4
Get the total wattage: Multiply 2 light bulbs by their 60 watts. (2 x 60) = 120
Multiply them together to calculate the total watt-hours. (4 x 120) = 480

Then, divide your answer by 0.85 to account for a constant energy consumption rate of 85% when the device is in charge.

480 watt-hours / 0.85 = 564 watt-hours

This results, in you needing a power station that can provide at least approximately 564 watt-hours to meet your goal of being able to power two 60 watt lightbulbs for 2 hours each.

Step 3: Add All Of Your Watt-Hour Answers Together

You need to perform the calculation shown in the previous step for each item you want to power with your Jackery Solar Generator.

Then, simply add all of the answers together to get the total amount of watt-hours that you need the power station to provide and reach the goals you have for it.

For example, let’s say you need 400 watt-hours to power your lights, 300 to charge your phone, and 300 to charge your laptop. Your total watt-hour requirement would be 1,000 (400 + 300 + 300).

Step 4: Determine the Watt-Hours of the Power Station You Want

At this stage, you have all the information that you need to pick the right portable power station.

Simply take your answer from Step 3 and compare it to the wattage offered by each power station that you look at. Just make sure that you pick a power station that has a higher wattage than your total watt-hour requirement calculated in Step 3.

Can a Solar Generator Power a House?

Note that unless you purchase a large Jackery Solar Generator (such as Solar Generator 1500 with an portable power station with 1,534Wh capacity), you likely won’t be able to power most appliances in your house for multiple hours with a solar powered generator.

If you find that the answer you got in Step 3 is higher than almost every power station you look at, then you may need to go back and reassess what you really need to power with it. If you can lower yourself down to just the essentials, then you will find a solar generator that works for you without having to break your budget to buy it.

Jackery Solar Generators and Suggested Usage Scenarios

Running out of power can never be fun. That is why Jackery has designed different sizes and capacities of solar generators. Whether you are looking for a home backup solution or a power pack for your outdoor adventure, Jackery offers an impressive product line for every scenario.

All-Day Trip Activities

When you're on an outdoor adventure, the last thing you want to worry about is running out of power. One-day outdoor adventures like backpacking, hiking, fishing, etc., require a portable power solution. Jackery Explorer 240, 300, and 500 are compact enough to be packed as essential gear during such trips.

With its impressive 240Wh battery capacity, Jackery Solar Generator 240 effortlessly charges small appliances like laptops and smartphones, ensuring you stay powered up to enjoy every moment. The slightly larger power solutions Jackery Explorer 300 and Jackery Solar Generator 500 feature a battery capacity of 293Wh and 518Wh, respectively.

Since these solar generators are lightweight and portable, they are highly preferred for short trips with moderate power requirements.