3kW Solar System Load Capacity
Is your light bill getting too expensive? Are you thinking of switching to green energy? Well, solar power is the way to go. A 3kW could be a great start if you want to start low or if you have a small household. But before you install the system, you should know its load capacity.
A 3-kilowatt solar system has a load capacity of 12 kilowatts. This means a 3kW solar system can support electrical loads of up to 12,000 watts. On average, a 3kW solar stem produces 12 to 12.5 KWh daily, an average of 360 kWh to 375 kWh monthly, and about 4300 to 4500 kWh annually. The 3kW solar system can power a two to three-bedroom home or a small business.
Read on to learn more about the load capacity of a 3kW solar system.
The load capacity of a solar system is how much electrical load it can handle. This electrical load is all the electrical appliances like TVs, Light bulbs, washers, dryers, etc. operated in that home.
Anything that uses electricity is an electrical load on the system. The more appliances connected to the solar system, the higher the electrical load will be.
A 3kW solar system has an electric load of about 12 kilowatts. It is enough to power an average-sized house with a home pool or a small business. The 3kW solar system can power Led Lights, Fans, a Fridge, a microwave, a washer, a dryer, a split Air conditioner, an HP Motor, LED TV, and a Water dispenser.
What can I run on a 3kW solar system?
For an average two-three bedroom home, the above-listed appliances are commonplace. A 3kW solar system can support an electrical load of 12 kilowatts daily. The total above comes to 11.900 watts (11.9kW) and can be run by a 3kW solar system.
Here is a detailed table of what you can run on a 3kW solar system.
| Appliance | Watts per hour | Avg. Hrs used daily | Total Watts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 LED lights for a 2-3 bedroom house | 70 | 6 | 420 |
| Split Air conditioner | 3200 | 2 | 6400 |
| 1 LCD televisions | 30 | 5 | 150 |
| Refrigerator | 35 | 24 | 850 |
| Microwave | 1500 | 0.3 | 450 |
| Washing machine | 500 | 0.5 | 250 |
| Dishwasher | 1800 | 1.5 | 2700 |
| 1 Laptop | 100 | 6 | 600 |
| Wi-fi | 6 | 24 | 144 |
| Total | 11,964 | ||
Note; The average hours depicted below are an estimate of the average household and may be less or more than yours so make sure to evaluate when calculating for your household.
How much power does a 3kW solar system produce?
The 3kW solar system is one of the best choices for many average households. It can also accommodate small businesses. A 3kW solar system generates an average of 12-12.5 kWh daily. They can produce over 4300 – 4500 kWh of energy annually.
The amount of power generated by a 3kW solar system will differ from place to place with some having a higher output and others having lower outcomes. This is due to different factors such as the number of solar panels and batteries, the amount of sunlight daily, the weather stability of the area, and many more.
Places with high levels of daily sunlight are likely to have higher outputs than areas with less sunlight. Areas with more sunny months have a higher annual output than areas with less sunny months. Homes with more solar panels and solar batteries are likely to have higher outputs than those with fewer solar panels and batteries and so on.
How many solar panels do I need to charge a 3kW battery?
A 3kW solar power system usually consists of 12x250W solar panels or 8x375W solar panels. The actual amount of solar panels is determined by a lot of factors such as roof space, cost, etc.
If you have a 3kW solar system, the number of solar panels required will depend on the following factors.
1. Efficiency rating of the solar panels
The higher the efficiency of the solar panels, the less you will need. For example, if you purchase 250 watts of solar panels, you will need 12 solar panels for a 3kW solar system (250w x 12 = 3kW).
However, if you purchase 375 kW solar panels, you will only require 8 solar panels for a 3kW solar system (375w x 8 = 3kW).
2. Available roof space
If you have a small house or your roof is occupied, you may need to go for high-rating solar panels to reduce the number of solar panels needed and reduce the amount of roof space required to install them.
A 3kW solar system requires roof space of about 14 – 21 sq. meters of roof space depending on the number of solar panels installed. One solar panel measures approximately 1.7 sq. meters. Solar panels should be south-facing when installed.
3. Price point
While solar panels with high ratings and efficiency are better options, they are not the most affordable. The higher the rating and the efficiency, the higher the price.
So if you are on a budget, you can decide to go for a few high-rating and low-efficiency solar panels or more low-rating and low-efficiency panels. Ask your solar installer for advice on the best options for your home.
4. Location
If you live in an area with much sunlight, whether your solar panels are low or high rating, they will receive optimal sunlight enough for a 3kW solar system.
However, if you live in a less-sunny area, you may require more solar panels. This may be to increase the surface area exposed to the sun to capture more sunlight, enough for a 3kW solar system.
How many batteries do you need for a 3 kW solar system?
There are different types of solar batteries available on the market, however, the lead-acid battery is one of the best choices. For a 3kW solar system, you will need a battery of voltage 24 Volts, and a current of 125 Ampere (3000W/24V=125A).
For a 3kW solar system, to run a full load for a long time, we suggest you use 125A*10H=1250AH, 13 batteries in parallel. If it is 48V, it needs 14 batteries, 7 in parallel and 2 in series.
The size of the solar battery required can be calculated based on the load Amp hour & required backup time. However, a 30 – 50 Ah Battery is sufficient for a 3kW solar system. If the battery banks you want to purchase are also 50Ah, you will need six of them for a 3000-watt inverter.
To know how long a 3kW battery will last, simply calculate the running time using the below formula;
Running time (h) = 3kWh / power consumption (W)
If you consider the average daily consumption of an Australian home, which is 12 kWh per day, and consider that you only really use energy about 16h a day (except the fridge, which runs 24h a day), then a 3 kWh would last about 2.5 – 3 hours after a full charge.
Is 3kW enough to power a house?
Well, a 3kW solar system is enough to power an average 2-3 bedroom house in Australia with 3-4 occupants. For the above household described, the average power consumption can be covered by a 3kW solar system.
Small businesses and offices can also employ the 3kW solar system. However, whether or not a 3kW solar system can power a house depends mainly on the power consumption of that home.
High-wattage appliances such as air conditioners, pool pumps, etc will make the battery run down faster. So it is important to take note of how much power is used by your home before purchasing a solar system. Larger homes and businesses may need to purchase a 5kW or an 8kW solar system depending on their power needs.
How much does a 3kW solar system cost
Well, if you are considering purchasing a 3kW solar system in Australia, the exact cost will depend mainly on where you live. For instance, a 3kW solar system costs on average $4,500 in Hobart but costs only $3,900 in New South Wales.
The cost of a solar system in Australia depends on location. The location is very important as the solar rebate adjusts according to how much sunshine your postcode receives. The cost can also differ due to the difference in the quality of components available and the labor costs of different installation companies.
| City | Cost |
|---|---|
| Sydney | $4,223 |
| Melbourne | $4,313 |
| Brisbane | $4,313 |
| Adelaide | $4,283 |
| Hobart | $4,567 |
| Perth | $4,193 |
| Victoria | $3,950 |
| New South Wales | $3,900 |
| Western Australia | $3,900 |
| Queensland | $3,755 |
| South Australia | $3,755 |
| Aust. Capital Territory | $3,755 |
Is a 3kW solar system worth it in 2022?
Whether or not a 3kW solar system is worth it depends on whether or not it can meet your power needs. If you live in a 2-bedroom house, a 3kW solar system should be able to meet your electricity needs.
However, people in larger houses use more power and will require a large solar system. If however, you are looking to just add a power source rather than fully substitute, a 3kW solar system is affordable enough.
Author: Ben McInerney is a renewable energy enthusiast with the goal of helping more Australians understand solar systems to make the best choice before they purchase. Having an accredited solar installer in the family helps give Ben access to the correct information, which allows him to break it down and make it easily understandable to the average homeowner.
