Calculator

Battery Bank Sizing Calculator

Calculate the right battery bank size for your energy needs

Inputs

Total watt-hours consumed per day

2days

Days to run without solar/charging

Daily energy needs

Minimal (lights, phone)500-1,000Wh
Moderate (+ laptop, fan)1,000-2,000Wh
Full RV/cabin2,000-4,000Wh
Off-grid home5,000-15,000Wh

Depth of discharge

LiFePO480%
AGM50%
Lead Acid50%

Common battery sizes

100Ah 12V1,280Wh
200Ah 12V2,560Wh
280Ah 12V3,584Wh
100Ah 48V5,120Wh

How to use this calculator

  1. 1Calculate your total daily energy consumption in watt-hours
  2. 2Decide how many days of autonomy you need (days without charging)
  3. 3Select your battery type (LiFePO4, AGM, or Lead Acid)
  4. 4Choose your system voltage (12V, 24V, or 48V)

How to size your battery bank

Proper battery sizing ensures you have enough power during cloudy days or high-use periods. The key factors are daily energy consumption and desired days of autonomy.

Days of autonomy is how long you want to run without any solar charging. For off-grid homes, 2-3 days is common. For RVs, 1-2 days may suffice.

System voltage affects wire sizing and efficiency. Higher voltage (24V or 48V) means lower current and smaller wires, which is important for larger systems.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate my daily energy needs?

Add up the wattage of each device multiplied by hours used. For example: LED lights (10W × 5 hrs) + laptop (50W × 4 hrs) + fridge (50W × 24 hrs) = 1,450Wh/day.

What are days of autonomy?

Days of autonomy is how long your system can run without any solar charging. For off-grid homes, 2-3 days is common to cover cloudy weather. RVs typically need 1-2 days.

Why does battery type matter for sizing?

Different batteries have different safe depth of discharge (DoD). LiFePO4 can use 80% of capacity, while lead acid should only use 50%. This means you need nearly twice the lead acid capacity for the same usable energy.

Result

209Ah

At system voltage

Details

Suggested Size280Ah
Total Energy Storage3,360Wh
Usable Energy2,688Wh