In today’s era, individuals are more concerned about their impact on the environment than ever. This concept has popularised the use of solar panels to power everyday appliances. They are good for the climate, portable, and most importantly, offer free energy.
While TV is a staple of every household, there is meager information available about its feasibility with solar panels. It’s obvious that solar panels can power your TV, but exactly how many solar panels will serve the purpose?
This depends on various factors, including your watch time, the size of your TV, the production capacity of solar panels, and your geographical location. This article will comprehensively discuss all these parameters, and by the end, you will have detailed information about how many solar panels are needed for TV.
Can I Run My TV with Solar Panels?
Yes! You can run a TV with solar panels.
Solar panels are gaining widespread popularity as an alternative to conventional grid power. However, some important considerations should be made before making the switch.
- The number of solar panels required could vary depending on your TV size. Ensure that you have sufficient space for their installation.
- Solar panels harvest solar radiation to generate power, so access to optimal sunlight is crucial. So, using solar panels might not be a good idea if you live in an area with mostly cloudy or snowy days.
- Cost is another factor that might make you question your decision. Though you can run a TV directly on the solar panel, this will be for a limited time, only during peak sunlight hours. So, if you need a proper solar setup to run your TV, the initial cost for a complete system could be high.
How Much Power Does a TV Require?
Before you understand how many solar panels you will need, you must know how much power your TV requires. This varies depending on multiple factors, including the size of your TV, watch hours, display technology, and the appliance's operating preferences such as brightness.
In general, the wattage requirement of modern-day TVs ranges from 50 to 500 watts per hour, which is for LED TVs and plasma TVs, respectively. However, with progress in display technology like OLED display and LED backlighting, the energy efficiency of TVs has been improved.
How to Calculate the Power Needs of TV
Two important factors in calculating a TV's power needs are its wattage requirement and watch time. Now that you have an idea about your appliance's watt requirements, the second important factor is its use time. For example, if you watch your 150-watt LED daily for 5 hours, we will use the equation below to find your TV's power consumption.
Watt requirements X Watch Hours = Power consumption
750 watts X 5 Hours = 750 Watts
The above calculations are given in watts, but household energy use is determined in kWh. So to convert them into kWh, we will divide them by 1000. This will result in your TV power consumption being around 0.75 kWh daily and 22.5 kWh monthly.
Additionally, by reviewing product documents, you can get an exact idea about your TV's hourly wattage requirement.
What Will I Need to Run My TV on Solar?
While running your TV on solar panels could help you save money and ensure a carbon-free environment, there are some limitations associated with this.
Solar panels generate power only when enough sunlight is available. At night or during cloudy days, they will not produce enough electricity to run your TV. Additionally, the power produced by solar panels is DC power, so you need an inverter to convert it into DC, which TV utilizes.
Thus, if you are solely relying on solar panels, adding a small power backup is recommended. This will ensure a continuous power supply 24/7 and you will not need additional components like inverts to ensure smooth operations.
Below are some reliable products suggested in this regard.
BLUETTI AC180 Solar Portable Power Station
This AC180 could be a perfect choice for running your LED TV along with other essentials like a portable refrigerator, blender, and small gadgets. With an AC output rating of 1800W and a powerlifting mode of 2700W, it can effortlessly run all the essentials of a small to medium-sized household.
The unit comes with two variables, AC180 and AC180P. Their battery capacities are 1152Wh and 1440Wh respectively. What’s more promising about this is its turbocharging, which means the battery can go from 0% charging to 80% charging in only 45 minutes.
Regarding its shelf life, it offers 3500+ charge cycles, which extends its shelf life to more than 10 years with one charge cycle per day. Further, due to its LiFePO4 battery, it's totally safe to use in a household.
Using its price match guarantee, if you find any product with the same specifications that are lower priced than this, you can claim the extra amount within 30 days of your purchase. And in case you are worried about product quality, it comes with an industry-leading warranty of 5 years. So you have a win-win situation.
BLUETTI AC240 Portable Power Station
Specifically built to perform both indoors and outdoors, AC240 could be a go-to solution for all your power needs. Its IP65 manufacturing ensures resistance to dust, debris, and corrosion, thus allowing it to withstand all weather conditions.
Other primary specifications include 2400W output, 3800W powerlifting mode, and battery capacity expandable upto 10,136Wh with 4 B210 batteries.
This LiFePO4 battery can be charged through different sources, including solar, AC, car battery, and generator. So, whether you are at home or enjoying a solar-powered trip off the grid, this portable unit will always be filled with power to ensure continuous entertainment.
The unit has 9 different charging ports, so its use case is not limited to TVs only. These extra ports can charge multiple devices simultaneously.
For an effortless experience, you can handle its operations through the BLUETTI smart app. This easy-to-carry, versatile, safe, and reliable could definitely be your reliable companion whether at home or off the grid for a small camping trip.
How Many Solar Panels Are Needed for TV?
The power production capacity of a solar panel depends on various factors, including its output capacity and installation angles. Further, your geographical location also plays a crucial role in deciding the availability of solar peak hours.
Below is a comprehensive discussion of the process to estimate how many panels are needed for your TV.
- Firstly, check your panel's output rating. Based on this, various types of solar panels are available in the market, and their output capacity usually ranges from 150 to 400 watts.
- Next, find out the availability of peak sun hours in your area. This varies from state to state. However, According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the average peak sun hours in the US are 4.
- Now multiply the output capacity of your panel with peak sun hours to find the total energy produced per day. For example, for a 300-watt panel, the power production will be 1200 watts or 1.2 kWh.
- Once you have figured out the power production by your panel and consumption by your TV, you can compare them to find how my solar panels will be required to run this. For example, if you have a 200-watt TV with a watch time of 5 hours, your power requirement will be around 1.00kWh per day. Thus, a single 300-watt panel will be enough to run your TV.
What solar panel is best suited for TV?
There is no solar panel available that is built specifically to be used to power a TV. However, three main types of solar panels are available in the market depending on their manufacturing. They differ in their efficiency, reliability, cost, and shelf life. Below is their brief discussion to help you choose among them.
- Monocrystalline: Monocrystalline solar panels have no competitors in terms of power conversion, high-efficiency ratings, or long life span. They have the best power output per square meter and a shelf life of more than 25 years. However, their relatively high price could be a concern compared to other available options.
- Polycrystalline: They are reliable and, most importantly, cost-effective. However, their low efficiency could be a real issue. So, if you are not on a very limited budget, monocrystallines are more recommended.
- Thin film: The use of these panels is not very widespread as their efficiency ratings are low. However, what makes them stand out is their flexibility. They can be used as roof tiles and windows. As far as powering a TV is concerned, due to their low output ratings they are not very much recommended.
Can You Use a Portable Solar Panel to Power TV?
Of course Yes! Portable solar panels are perfect for watching your TV off the grid while RVing or camping. However, their efficiency and power conversions should be must exceptional, like those of panels offered by BLUETTI.
All the above-mentioned types of solar panels could help you run your TV, but monocrystalline portable panels are more recommended. Below are the two portable variables that can fulfill your TV's power needs.
They are not only reliable and leading light in terms of power conversion but also very cost-effective. Their price match guarantee ensures that you will never find a low-priced product with the same capacity as them.
BLUETTI PV350 Solar Panel
This 350W output capacity unit could be well suited for a small to medium-sized TV. It comes with all necessary side items, so you do not need to worry about its installation.
This budget-friendly choice is not only compatible with your TV, but you can also charge your laptop, run your mini fridge, an electric drill, etc. With its weight of around 14kg and size 35.6X24.1X2.5, it is easy to carry wherever you want.
Further with exceptional conversion rates of 23.4% and ETFE laminations, it is splash and scratch-proof, which ensures its durability. You can use these panels either directly or pair them with a vast list of BLUETTI solar power stations including EB240 and EB150.
BLUETTI PV420 Solar Panel | 420W
PV420 could be a game-changing solution for powering all smart home appliances, especially TVs of all sizes. This is foldable, ensuring a reliable power supply whether you are at home or at a campsite away from home.
With only 6 hours of peak sunlight, this panel could produce up to 2kWh of solar energy, double the requirement of your 300-watt TV with 5 hours of watch time. What makes it a smooth ride is its easy installation. You only have to set the stands and place panels alongside them.
It weighs only 14kg and is foldable making its portability a child’s play. This is the best choice if you want a system that powers your TV and supports the power needs of other essentials like laptops, mobile phones, mini-fridges, etc.
The Bottom Line
Switching to solar panels to power your TV is a wise decision. Their power is free and sustainable. Additionally, you can first-hand experience how solar power can benefit you. However, the exact number of solar panels required to run a TV depends on factors like the TV’s power needs, the availability of solar rays in your area, and watch time.
Whatever the case, your choice of solar panel is most important. They should be reliable, efficient, and cost-effective. BLUETTI products stand out in all these parameters. So reap the maximum benefits of solar power with BLUETTI solar panels and embark on a safer, greener, and more sustainable voyage.
