Path-Q Solar
How long could a battery run my refrigerator, lights, internet, and medical equipment?
Answer
Runtime depends on the battery’s usable energy, inverter power, each load’s actual consumption and starting surge, reserve settings, conversion losses, and whether solar can recharge during the outage. Estimate each load’s energy use over the intended period, add the loads together, and compare that demand with usable battery energy and power limits.
Key points
- Usable kilowatt-hours determine approximate duration; kilowatts determine whether loads can run simultaneously.
- Refrigerators cycle rather than drawing their maximum continuously, but startup surges matter.
- Medical equipment may require continuous power and may have strict backup requirements.
- Reserve settings and battery efficiency reduce energy available to household loads.
What it depends on
- Measured or manufacturer-rated load consumption
- Battery usable capacity and continuous/surge power
- Inverter and transfer equipment
- Solar recharge during the outage and load-priority settings
Risks and trade-offs
- Nameplate estimates can overstate or understate real runtime.
- Adding high-power loads can trip the system or sharply shorten duration.
- Medical equipment should have an appropriate backup plan independent of optimistic runtime estimates.
Information you may need
- Battery usable kWh and power ratings
- Appliance and medical-equipment wattage or measured energy use
- Desired outage duration
- Backup configuration and reserve settings
Your next step
What to do next
List and measure the intended loads, then ask an installer for a runtime calculation that includes startup power, losses, reserves, and a no-solar-recharge scenario.
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