How Much Energy Does a 400 Watt Panel Produce?

A 400-watt solar panel can generate varying amounts of electricity throughout the day depending on factors like weather, the tilt of the panel, and its orientation (with south-facing being the most efficient in Florida). If installed on your roof, you can expect it to produce around 1.8 kWh to 3 kWh daily.

This amount of power is sufficient for running some household appliances, such as a fridge or computer. Solar panels work by converting sunlight into usable energy. On a sunny day with about 5.5 hours of direct sun, the panel could produce up to 1,800 watt-hours, potentially reaching its maximum output of nearly 3 kWh.

Can One 400 Watt Panel Power a Fridge?

To determine if this power is enough for your fridge, you need to know its daily energy consumption. Let’s use an example of a fridge rated at 120 volts and 0.9 amps (information typically found on the Energy Star sticker). Multiply volts and amps to get the hourly wattage: 120 x 0.9 = 108W. Over a day, this fridge uses 108W x 24 hours = 2,592Wh (2.6 kWh). Annually, that’s 2,592Wh x 365 days = 946,080Wh, or 946.08 kWh per year, which breaks down to about 2.6 kWh per day.

In conclusion, a single 400-watt panel might not be sufficient to power a less efficient fridge entirely, indicating that more than one panel would be necessary. This exercise helps illustrate how solar power works and offers insights into the energy consumption of household appliances. Our aim is to simplify these concepts to educate consumers about energy efficiency and ease the transition to solar power.

Find out more at https://www.solarfirst.us/understanding-your-homes-consumption