Appliance Load Calculator ⚡
Estimate your daily energy usage (kWh) by selecting appliances and usage hours. Use this result in our solar calculator to size your system.
| Appliance | Watts | Hours/Day |
|---|
Tip: Don’t forget always-on devices like Wi-Fi routers, security systems, and smart home equipment—they run 24/7 and add up quickly.
What Is an Appliance Load Calculator?
An appliance load calculator helps you estimate how much electricity you use each day by calculating the wattage and usage time of your devices.
This is the first step in designing a solar power system, especially for off-grid setups, RV systems, and home backup power.
Why You Need to Calculate Your Energy Usage
Before you can size solar panels or batteries, you need to know:
- how much energy you use daily
- which appliances consume the most power
- how long each device runs
Without this, your solar system could be:
- too small (runs out of power)
- too large (wastes money)
How to Calculate Appliance Energy Usage
The formula is simple:
Watts × Hours = Watt-hours (Wh)
Example:
- Refrigerator: 150W × 24 hours = 3,600 Wh
- TV: 100W × 5 hours = 500 Wh
Total:
4,100 Wh = 4.1 kWh/day
Modern homes use significantly more power than basic calculators assume. Use this guide to estimate additional appliances in smart homes, kitchens, and HVAC systems.
🔌 Common Appliance Wattages
| Appliance | Watts |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 100–200W |
| TV | 80–150W |
| Laptop | 50–100W |
| Microwave | 800–1200W |
| Air Conditioner | 1000–2000W |
🔌 Smart Home & Always-On Devices
| Appliance | Watts |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi Router | 10–20W |
| Modem | 5–15W |
| Ring Alarm System | 5–10W |
| Security Cameras (each) | 5–15W |
| Smart Home Hub | 5–10W |
| Garage Door Opener (idle) | 3–5W |
💻 Office & Electronics
| Appliance | Watts |
|---|---|
| Desktop Computer | 200–500W |
| Monitor | 30–100W |
| Printer | 30–600W |
🍳 Kitchen (Expanded)
| Appliance | Watts |
|---|---|
| Electric Stove | 1200–3000W |
| Electric Oven | 2000–5000W |
| Dishwasher | 1200–1800W |
| Garbage Disposal | 400–800W |
👕 Laundry
| Appliance | Watts |
|---|---|
| Washer | 400–1200W |
| Electric Dryer | 1800–5000W |
🌡️ HVAC & Utilities
| Appliance | Watts |
|---|---|
| Heat Pump | 2000–5000W |
| Water Heater | 3000–4500W |
For more detailed appliance wattage estimates, check this reference:
Appliance Energy Use Chart (Official Resource)
How This Connects to Solar
Once you know your daily usage:
Plug that number into your solar panel calculator
This tells you:
- how many panels you need
- battery size
- inverter size
Next Step
Use our Solar Panel Calculator by Location to turn your energy usage into a complete solar system.