1. What is a Solar Light Power Calculator?

Definition: This calculator estimates the total power consumption of a solar light system by combining the LED wattage and controller power consumption.

Purpose: It helps solar installers and DIY enthusiasts determine the total power requirements for proper solar panel and battery sizing.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Total power consumption (Watts)
• \( L \) — LED wattage (Watts)
• \( C \) — Controller power consumption (Watts)

Explanation: The LED wattage and controller consumption are simply added together to get the total system power draw.

3. Importance of Power Calculation

Details: Accurate power calculation ensures proper solar panel sizing, battery capacity planning, and system reliability.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the LED wattage and controller power consumption (default 0.5W). All values must be ≥ 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why include controller power?
A: The controller consumes power too, typically 0.5-2W, which affects total system requirements.

Q2: What's a typical LED wattage?
A: Solar lights commonly use 5-20W LEDs, but this varies based on brightness needs.

Q3: Should I include battery charging power?
A: No, this calculates only the light's consumption. Panel sizing needs to account for charging efficiency.

Q4: How do I find the LED wattage?
A: Check product specifications or measure with a watt meter.

Q5: Does this include power losses?
A: No, consider adding 10-20% to account for wiring and efficiency losses in your system design.