Tool · sizer
How much battery do you need?
Tell it what the battery's for and what you'll plug in. It adds up the energy, checks what runs at once and suggests a size class.
Why bigger isn't always better
A bigger battery costs more, weighs more and takes longer to refill. If it's only ever half used, you've carried the other half for nothing.
- Size for the loads you'll really run, with a little to spare.
- For long power cuts, a way to recharge matters as much as size: a folding panel in the day, or the car.
- Check continuous output too. Capacity won't help if the unit can't power the appliance at all.
Why does the fridge-freezer show 120W for 8 hours?
Its motor switches on and off. It draws roughly 120W while running and is off for about two-thirds of the day, which averages about 40W, or around 1kWh a day. Change the figures if your label says otherwise.
Can I size a battery for my plug-in solar kit here?
No. A plug-in kit must never be used with a battery, so the sizer doesn't ask about one. It sizes standalone storage only.
Where do I find an appliance's watts?
On its rating label, usually on the back or underneath, or in the manual. A plug-in energy monitor shows what it really draws.