How many solar panels would I need to power my washer machine?

by Kurt on July 31, 2009

My washer is 120 volts 60 gz,9.6 amps. The solar panels I am looking at are:

Sharp ND-208U1 Solar Panels (208 Watt)

List Price $1,479.99

Only $1,049.99
Sharp solar panels (208 Watt)
List Price $1,352.99
Only $1,040.99

If I buy that will it be enough to run my washer?

Solar panels produce power in proportion to the amount of sun light and inverse proportion to the temperature. To use solar power you will need in addition to the panels a bank of batteries a charge controller and an inverter to convert to 120v. The panel(s) will only be used to recharge the batteries and the batteries connected to the inverter is what is going to run your washing machine. You therefore need to know how long is the machine going to run, how often and how much charging can you expect to get from each panel in order to figure out how many panels you will need and how many batteries. If you do only one load very infrequenly, you will be able to use a smaller battery bank and charge at a lower rate.

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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

WizPip August 1, 2009 at 4:43 am

P(Watts) = I(Amps) x V(Volts)

Power = 9.6 x 120

Power = 1,152 Watts.

Therefore you would require 6 x 208Watt solar panels to power the machine on a clear bright day, many more on a cloudy or dull day.

Sorry to be a little rain cloud!
References :

dulcrayon August 1, 2009 at 5:04 am

I will now teach you to fish, rather than feed you fish.

Well, that said–the following formula will answer your question.

watts divided by 115=amps
so-multiply 9.6 X 115=1,104 watts.
1,104 divided by 208=6 panels

associated wiring breakers etc. should bring the cost to around 9 or $10,000 that’s plus labor
References :

Mark H August 1, 2009 at 5:29 am

Can’t answer your questions but you can find those panels for $984.50, which is signficant if you are buying more than one. An uneducated guess would be that one panel would be enough to power the clothes washer, but maybe not the clothes dryer. The washer is just a motor and a spinning device.
References :
http://www.altersystems.com/catalog/sharp-solar-m-6.html?page=2&sort=3a&gclid=CInVzNqQ-IsCFRTCYAoddnXRVg&manufacturers_id=6

nypiperpilot August 1, 2009 at 6:15 am

Solar panels produce power in proportion to the amount of sun light and inverse proportion to the temperature. To use solar power you will need in addition to the panels a bank of batteries a charge controller and an inverter to convert to 120v. The panel(s) will only be used to recharge the batteries and the batteries connected to the inverter is what is going to run your washing machine. You therefore need to know how long is the machine going to run, how often and how much charging can you expect to get from each panel in order to figure out how many panels you will need and how many batteries. If you do only one load very infrequenly, you will be able to use a smaller battery bank and charge at a lower rate.
References :

gdwrnch40 August 1, 2009 at 6:48 am

The solar panels have a 12 volt DC output.You would have to get an inverter and a small battery bank to run the washer.
References :

Terry August 1, 2009 at 7:17 am

You need as many as it takes! Global warming is YOUR fault! Al Gore said so! $1,100 for 208 watts? There isn’t enough electricity produced from a solar panel to even produce a solar panel. How pathetic. If you’ve got that kind of $, hire a laundry service.
References :

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