Yes, you can power a whole house with a solar generator in Canada. The trick is to assess the sunlight hours, bring some add-ons, and opt for smart solutions. The availability of good sunlight hours, government incentives and the drive to choose environmentally friendly options make solar solutions popular.
To understand more, here's everything about whether you can power a house with a solar generator in Canada, and other important information will help you choose the best solutions.
Can a Solar Generator Run a Whole House in Canada?
The straightforward answer is YES! A solar generator can be used for a whole house in Canada. However, several factors come into play: the location, homeowners' energy needs and sizing of the solar generator.
Therefore, you should evaluate where to install the panels as they should get maximum sunlight hours. Also, the weather conditions at your place can play a role.
Apart from this, your solar generator must be compatible with your energy requirements. This will let you run maximum appliances at the right power outage. So, consider all these variables before sizing and choosing the solar generator.
Off-Grid vs. Grid-Tied Systems
There are two very popular systems which are prevalent these days. They have their perks and disadvantages. To understand it better, here's everything about it:
Off-Grid Systems: An off-grid solar system is independent and detached from the electrical grid. It stores surplus energy in batteries when the solar panels cannot produce energy. These systems are often used in remote locations or for individuals desiring complete energy independence. They can power an entire house, provided the system is correctly sized to meet the household's energy demands.
Grid-Tied Systems: Grid-tied solar systems are connected to the electrical grid. They generate electricity from the sun, and extra energy is fed back into the grid in exchange for credits. When solar panels aren't producing electricity (such as at night), the house draws power from the grid. Grid-tied systems can significantly reduce a household's dependence on conventional energy sources, but they do not operate independently of the grid.
|
Off - Grid |
Grid Tied |
|
|
Energy |
It completely rely on solar solutions |
It has both the connection from solar panels (used during daytime) and traditional grid(when panels don’t produce energy). |
|
Bills |
No utility bills. |
You can save money as you can switch to solar solutions during sunlight hours. You will receive utility bills on usage. |
|
Cost |
It requires more heavy investments having solar panels and batteries. However, it can be covered with incentives and low bill for years |
It is cheaper than an off grid system. |
|
Extra energy |
Extra energy is stored in the battery for use. |
The extra energy can be sold back to the grid. |
How Big Should a Solar Generator Be to Power a Whole House?
The solar generator should be big enough to sustain your needs perfectly. There is no fixed number, but you have to do a bit of calculation to find the right size of solar generator. To help you, here's everything about it.
You can check your utility bills and find out your specific energy needs. It will help you find the most compatible solar solutions. Generally, a household may use 30 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity daily, depending on particular needs.
However, this may be misleading sometimes. To find out the size of the generator, you should know about the wattage requirement for your appliances.
Follow these steps to find out:
- Check the wattage requirement for all the appliances at your home. It's mentioned on all the devices.
- If the power requirement is in Volts or Amps, you can use this formula: Volts (V) x Amps (A) = Watts (W)
- Check and add the running watts of all the appliances. Does the total surpass the running watts written on your generator? If so, consider buying a generator with more output capacity.
- Check the appliances with the highest starting wattage( surge power). Add that appliance's starting wattage to the running wattage total. Refrigerators have higher starting wattage than running wattage.
- That final number is the total starting watts you need from your generator.
- As discussed above, to avoid overloading your generator, stay within its starting watts rating.
Note: Also consider the number of members in your home. Size up the battery capacity and power if the number is more.
After considering how much you will use the solar solutions, the sizing can also be done. Some homes use grid energy and switch to solar solutions at their convenience for lower bills and practice sustainability.
In comparison, those going completely off the grid have to choose the size of their solar generator wisely.
So, determine energy needs, location, time of use, family members, etc, to choose the best size of solar generator.
Here are some running and starting watts of common appliances:
|
Appliance |
Rated (Running) Watts |
Starting Watts |
|
Dishwasher |
1300 |
1800 |
|
Washing Machine |
1200 |
2300 |
|
Refrigerator/Freezer |
700 |
2200 |
|
Light Bulb |
60-75 |
0 |
|
Microwave |
600-1000 |
0 |
|
TV |
500 |
0 |
|
Toaster |
900 |
0 |
|
Vacuum |
1440 |
2500 |
|
Coffee Maker |
1000 |
0 |
|
Blender |
300 |
800 |
|
Clothing Iron |
1500 |
0 |
|
Dryer |
5400 |
7000 |
|
Toaster Oven |
1200 |
0 |
|
Curling Iron |
1500 |
0 |
|
Space Heater |
2000 |
0 |
|
Laptop |
50-300 |
0 |
|
20” Box Fan |
200 |
350 |
Can Using a Solar Generator Save You Money in Canada?
Yes, solar generators not only reduce carbon footprint but also save money. You can harness the sun's energy through solar panels directed towards the battery to provide clean power.
It can help you save money in so many ways like:
Reduced Energy Bills: A well-sized solar generator can enormously reduce your dependence on grid electricity, leading to lower energy bills. With a grid-tied system, you can earn credits for excess energy you send back into the grid.
Government Incentives: Canada's various federal and provincial incentives, rebates, and tax credits are available to promote renewable energy adoption. These incentives can minimize the initial investment and reduce your payback period.
Energy Independence: With an off-grid system, you can eliminate energy bills, achieving complete energy independence. Over time, the savings can be substantial, even though the initial investment may be higher.
Environmental Benefits: Using solar power reduces your carbon footprint and creates a cleaner environment. This intangible benefit is increasingly important to environmentally conscious Canadians.
3 Best Solar Generator Kit in Canada
Here are three top Solar Generator Kit in Canada:
The BLUETTI AC200MAX + 2*B230 + 3*PV200 | Solar Generator Kit is a 2,200W AC pure sine wave inverter (which can even handle surges up to 4,800W) and a hefty 2,048Wh battery capacity.
You can expand its battery capacity to a whopping 6,144Wh with just 2×B230 or go all out with 2×B300 for a massive 8,192Wh. Recharging it is a breeze – you've got seven different ways to do it, whether you're plugged into AC, soaking up the sun with solar power, in your car, using a generator, or more. And with over 16 output ports, you can charge all your devices directly from it. It's like having your very own energy hub.
It comes with 2*B230 battery packs and three 200W solar panels. This complete pack makes it an answer for all types of solar solutions. With a premium LiFePO4 battery with 3,500+ life cycles to 80%, great warranty, App monitoring and great user-friendliness, it's a great addition to the home.
Another one is the BLUETTI EP500Pro Solar Power Station. It's a 3000W pure sine wave output inverter. It features a whopping 5100Wh battery capacity with LiFePO4 battery having 3500+ cycles to 80%. It's a movable power station which can be paired on or off the grid as you white.
With around 16 output ports, you can directly charge the device. The Smart Touchscreen and the App remote control kit are so convenient. The incredible warranty and easy installation are some added perks.
Also, the BLUETTI AC300 + 2*B300 + 6*PV200 | Solar Generator Kit is a beast for solar generator solutions. It's a 3,000W AC pure sine wave inverter that can handle a surge of 6,000W. It has 3,072Wh capacity, which can be expanded with 4 × B300 to get 12,288Wh.
Moreover, you can recharge this system anytime in 7 ways (AC/Solar/Car/Generator/Lead-acid Battery/Dual AC/AC+Solar). It also offers 5400W maximum fast dual charging (Solar + AC). The premium and durable LiFePO4 battery with 3,500+ life cycles to 80% makes it an incredible power station. It also comes with six 200 W solar panels, which makes it perfect for medium to heavy power needs.
Final Thoughts
Yes, you can power a house with a solar generator in Canada. Thanks to sunshine hours, incredible solar generators and technology. You have to consider the sunlight hours and how to maximize it. With reliable solar generators, you can gradually shift from the traditional grid. Well, the government incentives, low bills for years and using clean energy mean peace of mind forever. So, consider all the tips mentioned above and slowly change the dynamic of energy usage at your home with these smart choices.
