5 Must-Have Features in a solar panels for tiny houses

Tiny houses are becoming widely popular among people looking to cut down their expenses and reduce the environmental impact. However, before you move from traditional homes to tiny houses, you'll need to figure out one important thing — power. Since small homes typically exist off-grid, the best way to power them is by using solar panels for tiny houses. 

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The number of solar panels you'll need for your tiny house will depend on how many appliances you use. Jackery offers a wide range of high-quality solar panels compatible with power stations. Jackery Solar Generator Pro combines Explorer Pro Portable Power Station and SolarSaga 200W Solar Panels to charge 99% of appliances at home.

What Are the Benefits of Solar Panels for Tiny Houses?

Going solar offers many benefits, like reduced utility bills, lower environmental impact, and more. Additionally, solar energy is widely available, making it a free and renewable energy source for tiny houses. Here are a few main benefits of using solar panels for tiny homes.

• Solar power for tiny houses helps you to save costs by reducing utility bills.
• Using free and renewable solar energy enables you to live in an eco-friendly way and save the planet.
• Going off the grid reduces your worries about blackouts, brownouts, and power outages. You can power your appliances even if the grid is down.

What Are the Drawbacks of Solar Panels for Tiny Houses?

While solar panels for tiny houses come with a bunch of advantages, there are a few drawbacks you must know.

• You'll need to spend thousands of dollars to buy a solar panel system.
• The additional lithium-ion or LiFePO4 batteries can store the charge from solar panels but are expensive.
• Tiny houses are small, and installing large solar panels on the roof might not be ideal. That's why it's better to buy compact and portable solar panels with batteries.

In this table, let's quickly wrap up the pros and cons of solar panel systems for tiny houses.

Pros

Cons

● Saving electric bills

● Reduces environmental impact

● Eliminates dependency on grid electricity

● High upfront cost

● Require expensive additional batteries

What to Consider When Choosing Solar Panels for Tiny House?

You can install solar power panels on the roof of your tiny home or choose a portable battery backup to charge appliances. However, with a lot of solar panels available, it can be challenging to choose the one that meets your power requirements and budget. Therefore, it's ideal to consider a few important factors before you shell out money.

Power Usage

When choosing the solar panels for a tiny house, you'll need to know how many watts you use per hour or day. For instance, you'll need more solar panels and a larger battery capacity if you have higher power needs. If you have a high power requirement, consider Jackery SolarSaga 200W Solar Panels with an Explorer Pro Portable Power Station.

Types of Solar Panels

Mainly, three types of solar panels are available — monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film. Monocrystalline solar power panels are the most efficient type made with single silicon cells, whereas polycrystalline are less efficient panels built with different silicon cells. Thin-film solar power panels are the least efficient type but have low cost.

Cost

The solar panels for tiny houses cost varies from a few hundred to thousands of dollars, depending on the quality. When buying solar panels, you must ensure they fall within your budget. Although monocrystalline solar panels have a higher initial cost, they are sturdy and have the highest quality.

Location

Southwestern states like Arizona, Florida, etc., generally get more sunshine hours as they are located in the sunbelt. However, if your tiny home is in the Northern Hemisphere, tilt the panels to the true south to get direct sunlight. The southern hemisphere should tilt PVs towards the true North. You must ensure the sun's rays hit the solar panels perpendicularly throughout the day for best results.

How Much Solar Power Needed for a Tiny House?

The first step to choosing the right solar power system is determining how much electricity you need. In order to calculate the exact energy consumption, all you need to do is list all the appliances and see how much energy they consume daily.

Energy consumption of an appliance = Watts × Usage time

Suppose you have a mini refrigerator that consumes 200 watts of energy. If you run the fridge for 5 hours, you'll need a solar system that supplies 200W*5H = Wh.

The below table reveals the power consumption of daily household appliances and their usage time.

Item

Watts

Usage Time (in hours)

Energy in Watt-hours

5 Led lights

5

5

125

Incandescent lighting

60

5

300

Refrigerator

200

8

AC unit

5

Cellphone

5

5

25

Well pump

750

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1

750

Space heater

4

If you wish to power your tiny home with solar energy, it's better to invest in the Jackery Solar Generator, which combines a portable power station and solar panels. The solar panels convert solar energy into DC electricity, and the pure sine wave inverter in the portable power station then converts DC to AC electricity to charge the appliances. Below, we will recommend two Jackery Solar Generators for tiny homes that can charge most household appliances for long hours.

Jackery Solar Generator Plus 

The Jackery Solar Generator Plus is one of the large-capacity generators that can charge 99% of tiny home appliances for long hours. You can connect the solar generator to the home's electricity system to switch from utility grid power to battery backup in just 20ms. By adding multiple battery packs, you can expand the battery capacity all the way to 24kWh and ensure home appliances remain powered during long-term power outages. 

Customer Review 

“Easy to set up and use, thoughtful design to have a battery mounted on wheels. Since this is a modular system, we will be adding more components in the future.” — Denise Shepherd.

Jackery Solar Generator Plus

The Jackery Solar Generator Plus is the most trusted whole-home backup power that can charge almost all household appliances for long hours. Its dual voltage support ensures you can charge appliances working at 120V or 240V. It features an optimized CTB structure equipped with a pull handle, and double wheels ensure easy movement from one spot to another. It supports add-on battery packs to extend the capacity from 5kWh to 60kWh, ensuring a long-lasting power supply to tiny home appliances. 

Customer Review 

“Incredible whole home set-up! Easy installation (per the electrician) and very versatile. I look forward to adding more power for a longer backup. Great job Jackery!” — Customer.

Please note that all the calculations are just for reference purposes and might vary from actual runtime.

How to DIY Solar Panels for Tiny House?

If you want to build a DIY solar panel system for tiny houses, here are the main components you must know.

Solar Panels: First, you'll need multiple solar panels to charge the battery backup system. You can choose roof-mounted panels fixed atop your house roof or portable and foldable solar panels. If you don't have enough roof space, it is better to choose portable solar panels.

Battery Backup: You must invest in a safe and large-capacity battery backup. The two best batteries that can charge faster and supply stable electricity to appliances are lithium-ion and LiFePO4. Although these batteries have a high upfront cost, they last long and are relatively sturdy.

Inverter: The inverter takes power in the form of DC from the solar power panels and converts it to AC electricity that safely charges appliances.

Charge Controller: The primary role of the charge controller is to manage the power supplied to batteries.

Many new technology batteries come with an in-built MPPT charge controller and inverter to reduce the complete installation cost.

Now that we have covered the components of a solar panel system, here is how it works.

The PV or solar panels convert the sun's rays to electric energy (DC electricity), which is then supplied to the inverter. It converts DC current to AC electricity, which then flows to charge your tiny home appliances.

The cost of solar power panels for tiny homes will vary depending on the power output and the number of components. If you are investing in a roof-mounted solar panel system, you'll have to pay for high installation costs.

However, that's not the case when you choose portable solar systems like Jackery Solar Generators. They combine Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations and SolarSaga Solar Panels to efficiently power most tiny home appliances.

The battery backups are made with lithium-ion or LiFePO4 batteries to safely charge appliances for long hours. These battery backups have a built-in inverter to supply safe electricity and ensure no power fluctuations while charging devices. The MPPT charger controller provides 99% solar charging efficiency.

Final Thoughts

Buying portable power stations and solar panels for tiny houses is a wise decision to power most appliances for long hours. Not only will this help you charge electrical devices faster, but it will also lower the environmental impact by reducing the emission of harmful gases.

If you're considering living in a tiny house, you're likely looking for ways to maximize efficiency and minimize your carbon footprint. One of the best solutions for this lifestyle is installing solar panels. Why? Well, tiny houses are all about sustainability, and solar energy perfectly aligns with that philosophy.

Imagine harnessing the sun’s energy to power your home, reducing your reliance on traditional energy sources. Solar panels can provide a clean, renewable energy supply, helping you save on electricity bills while living off the grid. Plus, with limited roof space, solar panels can be strategically placed to make the most of available sunlight.

Benefits of Installing Solar Panels For a Tiny House

1. Complete Energy Independence—No More Utility Bills

When you make the decision to live in a tiny home, one of your top priorities is likely to minimize costs and live more efficiently. Solar panels give you the power to be completely self-sufficient. With your own solar energy system, you don’t have to worry about electricity bills anymore—no more hidden fees or rate hikes from your utility provider. This is especially valuable if you live off the grid or in a remote area where connection to the local grid is either unavailable or extremely expensive.

Imagine the freedom of producing your own electricity and not having to rely on anyone else. It's all yours, and it's free after the initial investment.

3. Save Money and Reinvest in Your Tiny Home

Tiny homes are designed to be cost-effective, but solar panels take your savings even further. Sure, the upfront cost of installation might seem like a big investment, but consider the long-term savings. You can drastically reduce or eliminate your monthly electricity bill, allowing you to reinvest that money into other aspects of your tiny home, whether it’s upgrading your kitchen, adding a composting toilet, or enhancing your outdoor space.

Plus, many government incentives and tax rebates can help reduce the installation cost, so you’ll start seeing returns on your investment much sooner than you might think. Over time, your solar panels will pay for themselves—and beyond that, they’ll keep saving you money.

4. Flexibility and Freedom—Perfect for Off-Grid Living

Are you looking to take your tiny home off the grid and truly embrace independence? Solar panels make off-grid living not only possible but easy. Whether you’re parked in a remote location, at a cabin in the woods, or even traveling in an RV, solar power ensures you have a reliable energy source without relying on external infrastructure.

Solar power is the perfect companion for an off-grid lifestyle. It allows you to power all the essentials—lights, fridge, heating, and even small appliances—all while remaining completely self-sufficient. Freedom from the grid means freedom from the limitations of traditional utility companies, giving you more control over your living situation.

5. Long-Term Investment—Increase Your Property’s Value

Though the initial cost might seem like a hurdle, solar panels can significantly increase the value of your tiny house. As more people look for sustainable and energy-efficient homes, solar energy is becoming an attractive selling point. If you ever decide to move or sell your tiny home, having solar panels already installed means you’re offering a property with future-proof, low-cost energy.

It’s an investment that not only benefits you today but can also pay off when the time comes to sell.

6. Low Maintenance—Once Installed, They Just Work

One of the best parts about solar panels is how low-maintenance they are. Once your system is set up, you’ll hardly need to worry about it. Solar panels are designed to last 25-30 years, and with only occasional cleaning to keep them free from dust or debris, they require very little attention. This means that once installed, you can forget about frequent repairs or high maintenance costs. It’s a set-it-and-forget-it solution for your home’s energy needs.

7. Resilient and Reliable Power Source

With a properly designed solar system, you can rest easy knowing that you’ll have reliable power—even during emergencies. For tiny homes in off-grid or rural areas, where power outages can be frequent, solar panels are a great backup. If you also install a battery storage system, you can store excess energy during sunny days and use it at night or during cloudy periods.

Solar power gives you peace of mind that your energy needs will be met reliably, and even in emergencies, you have a power source you can trust.

How Much Solar Does a Tiny House Need?

Add up the watts for all the devices you plan to use daily, and you’ll have your total daily energy consumption in watt-hours (Wh).

Table: Energy Consumption of Appliances in a Typical Tiny House

Appliance Power Rating (W) Daily Usage (hours) Daily Energy Consumption (Wh) LED Light Bulbs (5 bulbs) 10 W each 5 hours 50 Wh Refrigerator 100 W 24 hours 2,400 Wh Microwave 1,000 W 0.5 hours 500 Wh Electric Stove 1,500 W 1 hour 1,500 Wh Air Conditioner 1,500 W 4 hours 6,000 Wh Laptop 60 W 5 hours 300 Wh TV 100 W 3 hours 300 Wh Washing Machine 500 W 1 hour 500 Wh Hot Water Heater 1,500 W 1 hour 1,500 Wh Ceiling Fan 75 W 5 hours 375 Wh Other Electronics (e.g., chargers) 30 W 4 hours 120 Wh

In this example, we calculated the total daily consumption to be 13,545 Wh/day.

How Many Solar Panels Do You Need for Your Tiny House?

Following our calculation example from earlier, if your tiny house consumes about 13.55 kWh per day (based on typical appliances like lights, refrigerator, and air conditioner), and you use 350 W solar panels, each panel will generate about 1.75 kWh of electricity per day (assuming 5 hours of sunlight per day). Based on these numbers, you would need about 8 solar panels to meet your tiny house's daily energy needs. Keep in mind that this is a rough estimate, and factors like local sunlight availability, panel efficiency, and seasonal variations will all affect the exact number of panels needed.

Cost of Solar Systems for Tiny Houses

Here’s a quick overview of common solar system configurations and their estimated market prices. This will help you understand what you might expect to pay for your tiny house solar setup.

System Configuration Components Estimated Cost Basic Off-Grid System 4 panels, 1 inverter, batteries $5,000 - $7,000 Standard On-Grid System 6 panels, 1 inverter $6,000 - $8,000 Comprehensive Off-Grid System 8 panels, 1 inverter, larger batteries $10,000 - $12,000 Premium On-Grid System 10 panels, 1 inverter, monitoring $10,000 - $15,000

1. Basic Off-Grid System: Ideal for those who want independence from the grid, typically includes 4 solar panels and a battery setup. Expect costs around $5,000 to $7,000.

2. Standard On-Grid System: Suitable for most tiny house owners, featuring 6 panels and connecting to the grid for additional power. Prices range from $6,000 to $8,000.

3. Comprehensive Off-Grid System: For those with higher energy needs, this includes 8 panels and a larger battery bank, costing between $10,000 and $12,000.

4. Premium On-Grid System: This setup features 10 panels with advanced monitoring capabilities, with costs from $10,000 to $15,000.

Types of Solar Systems for Tiny Houses

When considering solar options for your tiny house, you’ll primarily encounter two types of systems: off-grid and on-grid solar systems.

Off-Grid Solar System

An off-grid solar system is completely independent from the utility grid. Here are its key features:

• Energy Independence: You generate your own electricity, making it ideal for remote locations or those who want to live completely off the grid.
• Battery Storage: This system includes batteries to store excess energy for use at night or during cloudy days, ensuring a consistent power supply.
• Simplicity: Often simpler to install since you won’t need to connect to the grid, making it a popular choice for tiny house owners.

On-Grid Solar System

On-grid systems remain connected to the utility grid, and here are their main characteristics:

• Cost-Effective: They often have lower initial costs since you can rely on the grid for additional power when needed.
• Net Metering: You can sell excess energy back to the grid, which can significantly reduce your electricity bills and provide additional income.
• Less Storage Needed: Since you're connected to the grid, you don’t need large battery banks, making the setup more straightforward.

Shielden 5kW Solar System for Tiny Houses

As we wrap up, it’s worth noting that a 5kW solar system can provide ample energy for your tiny house, especially if you’re not running heavy appliances like air conditioning. With an average daily output of around 20 to 25 kWh, a 5kW system can easily cover the typical energy needs of a tiny home, which often hovers around 300 to 500 kWh per month.