Completion of this form will assist us in determining the amount of power required to be generated and stored for your use on a daily basis. You will need to consider alternative energys for cooking, heating and hot water.
Most common whitegoods are sold with an appliance rating on them in the form of a star rating system. Fridges, for example, will have a number under the star rating. This number represents the amount of kilowatt hours (kw/hr) that the fridge uses on average in one year.
A typically energy efficient fridge doesn’t usually use anymore than about 400 kw/hr per year (the smaller the number the more efficient it is). Take this figure and divide it by 365 days and the answer is how much that appliance uses per day on average.
Example: 400 divided by 365 = 1.095 kw/hr per day or 1095 watts per day.
Careful consideration must be used in the calculation of your power usage so as to avoid the use of unnecessary expensive components in over sizing a system or the premature failure of the battery bank and components in an undersized system.
Notes to assist in completion of Power Usage Form
COLUMN 1
A brief description of lighting or appliance. Example:TV 68cm
COLUMN 2
Find the rating plate (either under the item or on the back), it should have “watts”or “wattage” or “w” on it. Enter this figure into the column. If no “watts” shown then look for “amps” or “a”.
COLUMN 3
Calculate the number of hours per day the item will be used for. NB: Acutal hours used, not just the time the item is switched on for whilst no one is using/watching it.
COLUMN 4
Alternative to column 3. Items that only get used 2 or 3 times per week (washing machine) may be entered in this column.
