This is going to be a quick but complete guide about what size solar panel you'd need to run your Tv on solar power.
In Short, You need between 20-100 watts of solar panel to run a Tv for an hour. The exact value will depend on the size of the Tv, its running hours, and the number of peak sun hours.
Now let's dive deep into the factors which will help you to choose the right size solar panel to power your Tv.
How Much Solar Power To Run A TV?
First of all, let's calculate how much solar power would be needed to power a TV. the answer to this question will simply depend on the power consumption of your TV and the running hours.
There are different sizes and technology of TVs available. So to find out the exact power consumption of your TV check the product info sheet (usually located at the backside of the Tv).
You can find the power consumption of Tv as shown in the pic. If the power consumption is not mentioned in watts then look for input voltage and amps.
To calculate the watts from volts and amps use this formula (Watts = Amps * Volts).
Or use this electricity power consumption meter to find out the wattage consumption of your or any other appliance you have. it shows the total wattage consumption, amps, and voltage.
Also, you can leave it for a specific period of time and it'll show you the total power consumption in that time period.
This is necessary when checking the wattage consumption of your appliances which has Duty cycles like fridges or refrigerators, etc...
Tv Power Consumption Chart
For your convenience here's a chart with different sizes and technology Tv with their wattage consumption.
| TV size (inches) | TV type | Power Consumption (watts) |
|---|---|---|
| 18-inch | LED | 18-22 W |
| LCD | 25-32 W | |
| Plasma | 50-75 W | |
| 24-inch | LED | 24-28 W |
| LCD | 36-44 W | |
| Plasma | 75-95 W | |
| 32-inch | LED | 35-40 W |
| LCD | 50-60 W | |
| Plasma | 100-130 W | |
| 40-inch | LED | 40-50 W |
| LCD | 60-70 W | |
| Plasma | 120-160 W | |
| 50-inch | LED | 50-60 W |
| LCD | 75-90 W | |
| Plasma | 150-200 W | |
| 60-inch | LED | 60-75 W |
| LCD | 90-110 W | |
| Plasma | 200-250 W |
how much power does a tv use? chartSummary
- LED Tv consumes between 20-70 watts of power, the exact value will depend on the size of a Tv.
- LCD Tv consumes between 30-100 watts of power, the exact value will depend on the size of a Tv.
Total Energy Required To Run A Tv Per Day
To calculate the total energy consumption of your Tv per day, multiply the Tv power consumption by the total number of running hours in a day.
According to a survey, U.S adults spend about 3 hours watching Tv per day. (Source)
For Example, I have a 32-inch LED Tv that consumes 40 watts of power when running and usually the running hours of the TV are about 3 hours a day.
40 * 5 = 120Wh You'd need about 120 watt-hours of solar power to run a 32-inch LED Tv for 3 hours a day
Peak Sun Hours
When it comes to selecting the size of solar panels the number of peak sun hours plays the major factor here.
Because the solar panels are designed to produce their rated power at direct 1kw/meter2 of sunlight intensity on the solar cells, 25oC temperature, and no winds.
- 1 peak sun hour = 1000 watts / meter2 sunlight intensity
- 0.5 peak sun hour = 500 watts / meter2 sunlight intensity
Every city and country receives a different amount of peak sun hours. To find out the average peak sun hours per day in your city check this website.
like here in Florida city we receive about 4.9 peak sun hours per day or 4900 watts / meter2 of sunlight intensity per day on average. This number will be higher in summer and a bit lower in winter.
Related post: Peak Sun Hours: Explanation, Importance, How To Calculate?
Average Solar Panel Output
As I have discussed earlier, solar panels are designed to produce their rated wattage output under standard test conditions which in the real world is rarely gonna happen.
So on average, you will receive about 70-80% power efficiency from your solar panels per peak sun hour.
This value is based on 30 days of total output from my 200-watt solar panels.
Related Post: Solar Panel Output Calculator
Calculation: What Size Solar Panel For Tv
For this calculation, i would take a 32-inch LED (40w) with 5 hours of daily runtime.
Step 1: Multiply the Tv power consumption by total running hours per day.
40 * 5 = 200WhStep 2: Add the solar panel's inefficiency rate (30%).
200 + 30% or 200 * 1.3 = 260 wattsStep 3: Divide the value by the number of total peak sun hours per day.
260 / 5 = 52 watt You'd need a 50-watt solar panel with 5 hours of peak sunlight to run a 32-inch LED Tv for 5 hours a day.
Note! Also, you'd need the right size battery to store the power from the solar panels for later use. I've discussed it in detail about it Read Here...
How Many Solar Panels To Run A Tv? - Chart
Here's a chart about what size solar panel you need to run different sizes and types of TV.
| TV size (inches) & Type | Total Power Consumption (3 hours of Tv Runtime) | Required Solar Panel Size (Considering 4 peak sun hours) |
|---|---|---|
| 18-inch | ||
| LED | 60 watts | 20 watt |
| LCD | 90 watts | 30 watt |
| Plasma | 180 watts | 60 watt |
| 24-inch | ||
| LED | 75 watts | 25 watt |
| LCD | 120 watts | 40 watt |
| Plasma | 240 watts | 80 watt |
| 32-inch | ||
| LED | 110 watts | 40 watt |
| LCD | 165 watts | 50 watt |
| Plasma | 330 watts | 110 watt |
| 40-inch | ||
| LED | 150 watts | 50 watt |
| LCD | 210 watts | 70 watt |
| Plasma | 450 watts | 150 watt |
| 50-inch | ||
| LED | 180 watts | 60 watt |
| LCD | 240 watts | 80 watt |
| Plasma | 540 watts | 180 watt |
| 60-inch | ||
| LED | 230 watts | 80 watt |
| LCD | 300 watts | 100 watt |
| Plasma | 660 watts | 220 watt |
Table: What size solar panel to Run A Tv?Summary
- You'd need about 40 watts of solar panel to run a 32-inch LED Tv for 3 hours a day, considering 4 hours of peak sunlight.
- You'd need about 60 watts of solar panel to run a 50-inch LED Tv for 3 hours a day, considering 4 hours of peak sunlight.
- You'd need about 80 watts of solar panel to run a 60-inch LED Tv for 3 hours a day, considering 4 hours of peak sunlight.
Note! To charge the battery from solar panels you'd need a charge controller, I've covered this topic in detail about how many watts a charge controller can handle so you can select the right according to your solar panel size
Can a 100-watt solar panel run a TV?
100-watt solar panel can run up to 60-inch LED Tv, up to 50-inch LCD Tv, or up to 24-inch plasma Tv.
The above answer is based on if you'd run a Tv directly from the 100W solar panel while it's producing power. But if you'd store the total power produced by a 100-watt solar panel in a day into batteries, you can run any size Tv for many hours.
Other Must-Read Posts
- What Size Battery To Run A TV?
- How Many Solar Panels To Run A Tv?
- How Long Will A 100Ah Battery Run A Tv? (+ Calculator)
- How Long Will A 12 volt Battery Run A TV?
I hope this short guide was helpful to you. still, have any confusion? LEAVE A COMMENT or contact us. Thank You!
