In this guide
Short answer: an 800 W kit in full sun covers whatever your home draws up to about 800 W: typically the fridge, router, TV, laptop, lights and standby loads, with room left for a fan or part of a window AC. Over a sunny day it makes about 3 to 5 kWh, roughly 10 to 15% of an average US home's daily use. It can't run central AC, an oven or a dryer by itself, and it stops at night.
How the power gets to your appliances
You don't plug the fridge into the panel. The kit plugs into one outlet and feeds the home's wiring. Electricity takes the shortest path, so whatever is running in your home uses the solar first and tops up from the grid. If the kit makes more than the home uses, the extra flows out to the grid, usually without credit. See what is plug-in solar?
Appliance by appliance
| Appliance | Typical draw while running | Per day | 800 W kit in full sun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator (modern) | 100–250 W | 1–2 kWh | Fully covered |
| Wi-Fi router and modem | 10–20 W | 0.3–0.5 kWh | Fully covered |
| Laptop | 30–90 W | 0.2–0.6 kWh | Fully covered |
| TV (55" LED) | 60–150 W | 0.3–0.8 kWh | Fully covered |
| Standby loads (whole home) | 50–150 W | 1–3 kWh | Covered in the day |
| Ceiling or box fan | 30–100 W | Varies | Fully covered |
| Dehumidifier | 300–600 W | 3–6 kWh | Mostly covered |
| Window AC (small) | 500–900 W | 3–7 kWh | Mostly covered |
| Window AC (large) | 1,000–1,500 W | 6–12 kWh | About half |
| Washing machine (cold) | 400–1,400 W, short peaks | 0.3–1 kWh a load | Partly |
| Microwave, kettle, hair dryer | 1,000–1,800 W | Short bursts | Small share |
| Central AC | 3,000–5,000 W | 20–40 kWh | Small share |
| Electric oven or dryer | 2,000–5,000 W | Varies | Small share |
Draws are typical ranges; check the label on your own appliances or use a plug-in energy meter. The U.S. Department of Energy's appliance guide explains how to estimate yours.
How much of your bill that is
The average US home uses about 10,500 kWh a year, or roughly 29 kWh a day (EIA). A well-placed 800 W kit makes about 900 to 1,300 kWh a year in most states, so it covers roughly 5 to 12% of an average home's use. A small apartment using 15 kWh a day may see a bigger share. The dollar value depends on your rate: see how much balcony solar saves or try the calculator.
Get more from the same kit
- Run big loads at midday: dishwasher, washing machine and dehumidifier on timers between 11 am and 3 pm.
- Pre-cool in the afternoon: run a window AC while the sun is out instead of in the evening.
- Charge things in daylight: e-bikes, laptops, power tools.
- Consider a battery only if your home is empty all day: see plug-in solar with a battery.
If your home rarely uses more than 300 to 400 W during the day, an 800 W kit will export much of its power for free. A 400 W kit may give almost the same savings for half the price. See which size you need.
Frequently asked questions
Can balcony solar run a refrigerator?
Yes, in the sense that a running fridge (about 100 to 250 W) is easily covered by a 400 to 800 W kit on a sunny day. A modern fridge uses about 1 to 2 kWh a day, roughly what an 800 W kit makes in two to three sunny hours. At night the fridge runs on grid power as usual.
Can a plug-in solar kit run an air conditioner?
It can cover part of one. A window AC draws about 500 to 1,500 W, so an 800 W kit in full sun covers most of a small unit's running power. Central AC (3,000 W or more) is far beyond a kit; it will only shave a slice off its use.
Do I plug appliances into the solar panel?
No. The kit plugs into an outlet and feeds your home's wiring. Your appliances keep using their normal outlets and automatically draw the solar power first.
How many kWh does an 800 W kit make in a day?
About 3 to 5 kWh on a sunny summer day when well placed, 1 to 2 kWh in winter or on cloudy days, and about 2.5 to 3.5 kWh on average across the year in sunny states.
Update log
- Guide published.
Sources and official texts