| Sizing Your System |
| Any alternate energy system design starts with determining the daily electrical energy requirements. The size of a system depends on two factors: the electrical energy requirements of the devices relying on the system and the amount of sunlight or wind available to power the system. Because nothing can be done about the sun or wind, energy conservation and efficient loads are essential if the system costs are to be affordable. |
Determining the total daily energy use requires the following steps:
-Identifying all the electrical devices that will rely on the system for power
-Determining each device's power usage (in watts)
-Estimating the average daily use of each device in hours per day
-Multiplying each device's wattage by the hours of daily use to get watt-hours per day
-Adding together the watt-hours for all devices to get the total energy requirement
-Identifying all the electrical devices that will rely on the system for power
-Determining each device's power usage (in watts)
-Estimating the average daily use of each device in hours per day
-Multiplying each device's wattage by the hours of daily use to get watt-hours per day
-Adding together the watt-hours for all devices to get the total energy requirement
Wattage Chart
Typical
Appliances Wattage
Air Cleaner (Room & Furnace) 40
Air Conditioner (Room) 6,000 BTU 750
Air Conditioner (Room) 9,000 BTU 1,050
Air Conditioner (Central) 2.5 Tons 3,500
Barbecue Grill 1,350
Block Heater 500
Broiler 1,400
Car Interior Heater 850
Can Opener 175
Carving Knife 90
Ceiling Fan 60
Clock 5
Clothes Dryer 5,000
Clothes Washer 500
Coffee Maker 900
Computer (Monitor & Printer) 200
Deep Fat Fryer 1,500
Dehumidifier 350
Dishwasher 1,300
Drill 300
Electric Blanket 180
Electric Heater (Portable) 1,000
Fan (Portable) 150
Floor Polisher 300
Food Blender 390
Food Freezer 335
Food Mixer (Hand & Table) 100
Furnace Fan Motor 350
Hair Dryer (Portable) 1,000
Heat Exchange/HRVs 125
Heat Lamp (Infrared) 250
Heating Pad 65
Hedge Trimmer 125
Appliances Wattage
Air Cleaner (Room & Furnace) 40
Air Conditioner (Room) 6,000 BTU 750
Air Conditioner (Room) 9,000 BTU 1,050
Air Conditioner (Central) 2.5 Tons 3,500
Barbecue Grill 1,350
Block Heater 500
Broiler 1,400
Car Interior Heater 850
Can Opener 175
Carving Knife 90
Ceiling Fan 60
Clock 5
Clothes Dryer 5,000
Clothes Washer 500
Coffee Maker 900
Computer (Monitor & Printer) 200
Deep Fat Fryer 1,500
Dehumidifier 350
Dishwasher 1,300
Drill 300
Electric Blanket 180
Electric Heater (Portable) 1,000
Fan (Portable) 150
Floor Polisher 300
Food Blender 390
Food Freezer 335
Food Mixer (Hand & Table) 100
Furnace Fan Motor 350
Hair Dryer (Portable) 1,000
Heat Exchange/HRVs 125
Heat Lamp (Infrared) 250
Heating Pad 65
Hedge Trimmer 125
Typical
Appliances Wattage
Hot Plate 1,320
Humidifier (Portable) 100
Iron (Hand) 1,000
Kettle 1,500
Lawn Mower 1,500
Compact Fluorescent (60W Equiv.) 18
Ceiling Fixture (3 bulbs) 180
Tri-Light (Table Lamp) 100
Chandelier (5 Lamp) 300
Fluorescent (2-Tube 4 ft.) 100
Microwave Oven 1,000
Oil Furnace (Burner) 260
Power Saw 275
Range 12,500
(Self Cleaning Cycle Only) 3,200
Refrigerator-Freezer, Frost Free 500
Non-Frost-Free 75
Shaver 15
Stereo 30
Sun Lamp 280
Swimming Pool Filter Motor (1/2 HP) 900
Swimming Pool Filter Motor (3/4 HP) 1,200
Swimming Pool Filter Motor (1.0 HP) 1,500
Swimming Pool Filter Motor (1.5 HP) 2,100
Television 80
Toaster 1,150
Toaster Oven 1,250
Toothbrush 10
Vacuum Cleaner (Portable) 800
Vacuum Cleaner (Central 1,600
Video Cassette Recorder 40
Water Heater, Typical 3,800
Appliances Wattage
Hot Plate 1,320
Humidifier (Portable) 100
Iron (Hand) 1,000
Kettle 1,500
Lawn Mower 1,500
Compact Fluorescent (60W Equiv.) 18
Ceiling Fixture (3 bulbs) 180
Tri-Light (Table Lamp) 100
Chandelier (5 Lamp) 300
Fluorescent (2-Tube 4 ft.) 100
Microwave Oven 1,000
Oil Furnace (Burner) 260
Power Saw 275
Range 12,500
(Self Cleaning Cycle Only) 3,200
Refrigerator-Freezer, Frost Free 500
Non-Frost-Free 75
Shaver 15
Stereo 30
Sun Lamp 280
Swimming Pool Filter Motor (1/2 HP) 900
Swimming Pool Filter Motor (3/4 HP) 1,200
Swimming Pool Filter Motor (1.0 HP) 1,500
Swimming Pool Filter Motor (1.5 HP) 2,100
Television 80
Toaster 1,150
Toaster Oven 1,250
Toothbrush 10
Vacuum Cleaner (Portable) 800
Vacuum Cleaner (Central 1,600
Video Cassette Recorder 40
Water Heater, Typical 3,800
Switchback Energy Systems, Inc.
Go Wind or Solar!
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| Switchback Energy Systems, Inc. P.O. Box 636 Iona, ID 83427 (208)520-0614 Fax: (208)528-2852 info@switchbackenergy.com |