Homestead Energy Calculator
How much power do you actually need? Model your loads, get battery, inverter, and solar sizing — in minutes.
Typical DoD: 90%
Includes inverter, wiring, charge/discharge. Default 0.85.
Accounts for temp, dust, angle, wiring. Default 0.75.
Headroom for motor/pump startups. Default 1.25.
Your Loads
| Name | Watts | Hours/Day | Qty | Duty Cycle | Daily Wh | Actions |
|---|
Daily Energy & Peak
Tip: Motors (pumps, compressors) have startup surges. Increase surge factor if you have multiple inductive loads.
Battery Bank
Rule of thumb: Lead‑acid ~50% DoD for longevity, LiFePO4 ~80–90% usable. Choose voltage (24/48V) to reduce currents for larger systems.
Solar Array & Charging
Consider MPPT controllers sized above the array current. Use series/parallel strings to match controller voltage/current limits.
How to use
- Add your devices and typical daily usage. Use duty cycle for intermittent loads (e.g., fridge ~0.33).
- Set autonomy days for how long you need to run without sun. Two days is a solid baseline.
- Adjust system voltage to reduce currents for larger builds (24V/48V preferred over 12V).
- Use average sun hours for your location. 4–6 is common depending on season and latitude.
Results provide daily energy, inverter suggestion with surge, battery capacity including DoD, PV array size, controller and BMS recommendations. Use this as a planning baseline and consult manufacturer specs for final selections.