Small Low-wattage appliances and devices come with power requirements ranging from a few watts to around 100 watts. This includes led lights, smartphones and tablets, laptops, small fans, some TVs, and small portable kitchen appliances. These items have become essential in our homes and in our day-to-day activities. 

You can use various solar generator sizes to power appliances in your home.

In this article, we look into solar generators for low-wattage devices. Picking the right size, how long it will last, and what you can run off the solar generator. 

What Size Solar Generator to Run Low Wattage Devices 

To choose the appropriate size solar generator for an appliance you need to match the power rating of the appliance to the inverter rating of the solar generator. You also need to consider the capacity of the solar generator as it will determine how long it will run your appliance. You should also ensure that the device can be directly attached to the power station. 

Inverter Rating 

Matching the solar generator’s wattage to the inverter rating ensures compatibility and optimal performance. Picking an inverter rating for a low-wattage appliance is quite easy as the requirements are minimal compared to other appliances. 

With power requirements of less than 100 watts Inverter ratings of 150 watts to 200 watts is typically recommended for efficiently powering such devices.

Capacity 

The battery capacity of a solar generator directly affects its runtime and performance. While the inverter rating ensures the capability to run an appliance the battery capacity ensures that it can handle the power demands. 

Solar generators with a balanced design will a have 1:1 power to capacity ratio. A 200-watt-solar generator should have a 200-watt-hour capacity and a 150-watt solar generator will have a 150-watt-hour capacity. 

Outlets

A 110v AC output means you can connect and power devices that require standard household AC power, such as small appliances, laptops, or even low-power desktop computers. DC outputs are ideal for powering devices that operate on direct current, such as automotive accessories, portable electronic devices, or even certain cameras or lights. You can connect your devices to these DC outputs using the appropriate cables or adapters.

A USB port provides charge to suitable devices like phones, smartwatches, and Bluetooth headphones. A Qualcomm Quick Charge USB port allows for fast charging than standard ports. 

How Long Will a 200-watt Solar Generator Run an Appliance?

Electrical energy is measured in watt-hours, which is calculated by multiplying the wattage of the device by the number of hours it will be used.  For example, if you have a 60-watt laptop and want to use it for 2 hours, you will need 120-watt hours (Wh) of energy. 

If you like to calculate the working times for an appliance on a solar generator you use the following formula:

Working Time =  Solar Generator Watt-hours x 0.85/ operating power of the device 

You’ll multiply the Watt-hours of the device by 0.85 because of system losses. This is due to the wiring, DC-AC conversion, and efficiency losses. 

For example, to get the working time for a 60-watt laptop

= (200 x 0.85)/60 

=  2.88 hrs

So 200 Watt-hours is enough to run a 60w laptop for 2 hrs 49 minutes 

Appliance (Wattage)	Runtime/Charges
Light 10W	20 Charges
Phone 15W	12 charges
Car Fridge 30W	5 hrs
Laptop 60W	2hrs+

How Long will the 200-watt solar generator last with a Solar Panel?

The recommended solar panel for a 200-watt solar generator is a 50w solar panel.  This solar panel can charge the battery in around four hours. This will depend on the availability of sunlight. 4 hours of sunlight in an ideal situation should provide 400Wh enough to recharge the solar generator. 

With the solar panel you have extra 50 watts going to the solar generator adds to the capacity of the solar generator.  A solar generator that supports pass-through charging will enable you to use it as you are charging.  

With a 50-watt solar panel hooked to the solar generator, you can run a 50-watt appliance without depleting the capacity of the solar generator.  You can also run an appliance like a laptop for longer periods.  

You can run more appliances with a slighter bigger solar generator. You can consider a solar generator for small medium-wattage appliances.

How Long Will a 150-Watt Solar Generator Run an Appliance?

Working Time =  Solar Generator Watt-hours x 0.85/ operating power of the device 

You’ll multiply the Watt-hours of the device by 0.85 because of system losses. This is due to the wiring, DC-AC conversion, and efficiency losses. 

For example to get the working time for a 60-watt laptop

= (200 x 0.85)/60 

=  2.88 hrs

So 200 Watt-hours is enough to run a 60w laptop for 2 hrs 49 minutes

The runtime of a solar generator for a specific appliance depends on its watt-hour (Wh) capacity and the power consumption of the appliance. The watt-hour capacity represents the total energy storage of the solar generator. To calculate the runtime, divide the solar generator’s watt-hour capacity by the power consumption of the appliance. For example, if a solar generator has a capacity of 500 watt-hours and an appliance consumes 50 watts, it will run for approximately 10 hours (500 Wh ÷ 50 W = 10 hours).

How Long Will a 150-Watt Portable Power Station Last with a Solar Panel?

A 150-watt solar generator will have a 150wh capacity. This depends on the battery’s capacity. So how long will it last 

Working Time =  Solar Generator Watt-hours x 0.85/ operating power of the device 

You’ll multiply the Watt-hours of the device by 0.85 because of system losses. This is due to the wiring, DC-AC conversion, and efficiency losses. 

For example to get the working time for a 30-watt tv

= (150 x 0.85)/30 

=  4.25 hrs

So 150 Watt-hours is enough to run a 30w tv for 4 hrs 15 minutes

How Long Will It Last with a Solar Panel?

A 150-watt solar generator will need a 30-watt solar panel. This solar panel should charge the power station in around 5 hours. This will depend on sunlight availability. 

Again, a solar generator that supports pass-through charging will allow it to be used while it gets charged. 

With 30 watts coming in you can use multiple low-wattage devices including smartphones and phones without using the solar generator’s capacity. 

Other Charging Options

In addition to solar panels, there are other options to charge solar generators. These include using AC power outlets, car charging ports, or utilizing a generator as a backup power source. Having multiple charging options adds versatility and ensures an uninterrupted power supply, especially during periods of low sunlight.

Recommendation 

The Flashfish 200W Inverter boasts a commendable power output, making it suitable for a wide range of electronic devices and appliances. With its 110 AC output, you can power devices up to 200W, providing ample capacity to charge laptops, small appliances, and more.

The Flashfish power station is designed with convenience in mind, featuring a versatile array of outlets. With 2 DC outputs, you can effortlessly power devices that rely on direct current, such as portable electronics or automotive accessories. Additionally, the station includes 2 QC 3.0 quick-charge USB ports, ideal for fast-charging smartphones and tablets.