Solar Panels for Tiny Houses: Your Quick-start Guide

Are you looking to go off grid with efficient, durable solar panels for your tiny house? Solar power energy is the most accessible electricity source on the planet, particularly in Australia! 

Solar power will not only power your THOW’s core energy uses, which include lighting, cooling, and heating, just as in a typical home, you will also get to enjoy the comfort of your fridge, hot water, and cooking without having to worry about a  power bill. 

An investment in solar energy yields more than just saving on your ongoing power costs. Solar power energy offers you the freedom to park your tiny house on wheels anywhere without the need to rely on a mains power connection. 

Proper planning at the beginning of your tiny solar project will certainly save you time and money in the long term. There are critical factors to consider to guarantee that your solar power system meets your THOW power goals. 

Our 5-minute Tiny Houses Aus Solar Panel guide highlights the essential factors to consider before incorporating solar power energy into your tiny lifestyle.

Solar Panels for Tiny Houses 

Solar Energy Installation Process 

The very first step in installing solar panels on your tiny house is determining how much electricity you require. For an effective solar installation process, consider the following steps:

1. Conduct an energy audit to determine how much energy is sufficient for your tiny household.
2. Calculate how many solar panels are enough for your tiny household energy needs.
3. Determine how much roof space is required.

Conduct an Energy Audit — How Many Solar Panels Are Ideal for Your Tiny House?

Tiny houses are ideal candidates for solar power due to their compact size and low power requirements. 

Depending on the season, your location, and the amount of energy you consume, your tiny house may require more or less square meters of solar panels. 

Your level of power consumption will be determined by how many people live in the house, what those people do in the house on a regular basis and what other appliances you do and don’t have in the tiny house. 

For example, if you have a wood heater installed in your tiny house, you will find that your power needs remain fairly consistent all year round whereas if you don’t have a wood heater installed and you live in one of the colder states (Hello Melbourne, Adelaide and Tassie!) you will most likely need to use an electric heater in the colder months and this can hugely increase your power use (To around quadruple what it usually is!).

Some appliances are also far more energy-intensive than others. If you’re looking to go fully off-grid it is worth investigating options that will reduce your power consumption load such as using a gas-powered oven rather than an electric one. Each appliance should state its level of energy consumption on it. You can look at these amounts and then do the maths to figure out roughly what your consumption will be on an ongoing basis.

So what’s a typical amount of power consumption?
Whilst the amount will vary quite a bit based on the above factors, a typical tiny house, without the need for an electric heater, with one person living in it will tend to use around 30-45 kilowatt-hours per month. 

How many solar panels are enough for your tiny household energy needs?

Solar panels are the self-sufficient, off-grid features responsible for capturing the sun’s energy in the form of watts. They are available in various sizes, corresponding to their harvesting ability, i.e. smaller panels can only capture a smaller amount. Panels may be combined or added to the grid as your energy needs evolve.

Most solar panel capacities available fit within the range of 190 watts up to 330 watts. The more watts your individual panels can capture, the fewer solar panels you will need all up. The bigger the dimensions of a solar panel, the more watts it can capture.

There are 1000 watts in a kilowatt and energy consumption over time is measured in kilowatt-hours.
Kilowatt-hours are what you’re actually charged for when you look at your mains power bill. 

Continuing on from the example above. If you live in a tiny house that uses on average around 30-kilowatt hours per month or 1-kilowatt hour per day, you need a solar power system that can generate at least 1 kilowatt (1000 watts per day).

If your solar panels have the capacity to capture 250 watts each then you would need 4 of these panels to generate 1000 watts in optimal conditions. 

Of course, not every day produces optimal conditions and the efficacy of your solar panels will vary hugely depending on where you live and how your house is positioned. This is why it’s important to talk to a specialist to figure out how many solar panels you need to make sure you don’t run out of electricity with an off-grid setup. 

How to Calculate the Tiny House Roof Space for Solar Panels

The average tiny house is around 7.5m long by 2.5m wide. With these dimensions (assuming a flat roof) you have around 18 square metres available for solar panels.

With a 250-watt solar panel measuring on average around 1m x 1.5m you could easily fit at least 8 solar panels on your roof which should be more than enough to meet your energy requirements (and quite possibly too much — again, check in with an expert).

You do also have the option of grounding your solar panels or installing them on a second trailer as well. That way, you can move or turn the solar panels to maximize their exposure to sunlight.

A qualified solar energy contractor should work with you from the concept design through to the installation and testing of the solar panels. If you consider installing solar panels in Australia, consult a solar panel expert in your local area to discover how much roof space you will require for solar panels and whether grounding is necessary. 

The Cost of Installing Solar Panels on your Tiny House

Once you have figured out the number of solar panels required to power your tiny home and life, the next consideration is to calculate costs. 

Solar energy companies offer a variety of solar energy options for tiny homeowners. Small solar panel systems cost as low as $6500 while larger installations cost upwards of $20,000.

The total costs of your solar power system depend not only on how many solar panels you require but also the battery and inverter requirements. 

The Role of Batteries and Inverters in THOW Solar Installation

A solar inverter’s job is to convert the direct current from the sun’s rays to electric currents that can be utilised by household appliances. When selecting an inverter, ensure it is suited for off-grid use. The batteries will subsequently use the produced energy to charge and power the residence. 

When selecting off-grid batteries, there are several aspects to consider — the most important are the two types of batteries available. Technology has advanced significantly to allow for the use of Lithium batteries, which are lighter and smaller than the previous AGM (lead-acid) batteries.

Lead-acid batteries have lower upfront costs however they often produce less useful energy at greater discharge rates. Lithium batteries deliver 100 percent of their specified capacity and tend to be more cost-effective over the life of the setup. 

Can you install Solar Panels on Metal Roofs?

Whilst most normal homes have a tiled roof, tiny homes tend to have roofs made of metal materials and tiny homeowners often wonder if solar panels can safely be installed on a metal roof. 

The answer is yes solar panels can absolutely be installed on a metal roof. If you have a metal roof consult a solar installer in your area and have a chat with them about your requirements.

Conclusion

Off-grid living while using renewable energy is exceedingly feasible if you are a tiny homeowner. Solar energy offers the most cost-effective answer to your Tiny House power needs over the long term as a clean, green electricity source and it offers you the freedom to park your time home ANYWHERE! 

Now that you’re equipped with the guide to install solar panels for your tiny house, it’s time to switch to an off-grid tiny house lifestyle! Don’t forget to consult a reliable solar installation expert today! 

More Tiny Houses Aus Posts

Now that you know what to consider when getting solar panels for tiny houses. Are you ready to read more about having a tiny home? Check out these great posts!

1. Take a look at this Vibrant Tiny House in the Dandenong Ranges!
2. What is a THOW? Click to find out.
3. Here’s what you need to know about the Top 5 Tiny House Insurance Companies in Australia!