Big Frog Mountain Solar Power Resource
Big Frog Mountain BFM
Sun Energy

Power Consumption Reference Guide

In order to design an alternative energy system you'll have to first determine your estimated electrical needs. Use the chart below to estimate the wattage of appliances your not sure of. Knowing how much energy you intend to use is the starting point for any system design. Needless to say, you definitely should use only the most efficient appliances and use them in the most efficient manner in order to keep your initial costs down.

The size (and cost) of any renewable energy system depends on:

1) The amount of power required (in watts).
2) The amount of time the power is required (in hours).
3) The amount of sun hours available (insolation) at your location.

You can control the first two items!

Go through your average day in your mind and determine what electrical items you use and how many HOURS they will be used on an average.  Use the Power Consumption Reference Guide below for estimating wattage requirements for many appliances.  For a more accurate estimate, read the label or owners manual for power rating on your appliance or use one of the clamp-on type amp-meters.  If an appliance is rated in amps, multiply amps by operating voltage (120 or 240) to find watts.

An Example List for an average day
Please note your actual power consumption useage will vary

Activity Item Watts Hours Watt/Hours
Showering Blow dryer 1000 .1 100
Breakfast Blender 300 .05 15
Refrigeration Refrig 12cf DC 70 18 (avg) 1260
TV 19in color 85 3 255
Internet Computer 200 2 400
Entertainment CD Stereo 35 3 105
Dinner Microwave 1000 .2 200
Reading Compact Fluorescent Light 16 3 48
Daily Total

Watt Hours/Day =

7675 w/hrs

Remember these are estimated averages. Your appliances may differ greatly. Please check your own equipment.

Appliance Type Watts/Hour Appliance Type Watts/Hour
Coffee pot (10 cup) 1200 VCR -Off/Play 10/27
Coffee pot (4 cup) 650 CD Player 35
Toaster 1050 Stereo 10-300
Popcorn popper 250 Clock Radio 2
Blender 300 AM/FM car tape 8+
Microwave 600-1500 Satellite dish 30+
Waffle iron 1200 CB radio 5
Hot plate 1200 Electric clock 3
Frying pan 1200 Dishwasher 1200-1500
Sink waste disposal 450 Sewing machine 100
Washing machine
- automatic
- manual

920
300+
Vacuum cleaner
- upright
- hand

300-1100
100
Clothes dryer
- electric
- gas heated

4000
300-400
Radio telephone
- receive
- transmit

5
40-150
Iron 1000 Furnace blower 300-1000
Garage door opener 350 Ceiling fan 10-50
Table fan 10-250 Electric blanket 200
Blow dryer 1000+ Shaver 15
Waterpik 100 Electric mower 1500
Computer
- laptop
- pc
- printer-inkjet/laserjet/dotmatrix

20-50
80-220
50/600/180
TV
- 25" color
- 19" color TV or monitor
- 12" b&w

150
70-140
20
Lights
- 100w incandescent
- 25w compact fluor.
- 50w DC incandescent
- 40w DC halogen
- 20w DC compact fluor.

100
28
50
40
22
Compact fluorescent
incandescent equivalents
- 40watt equiv.
- 60watt equiv.
- 75watt equiv.
- 100watt equiv.


11
16
20
30
Hedge trimmer 450 Weed eater 500
1/4" drill 250+ 9" disc sander 1200
1/2" drill 450+ 3" belt sander 625-1000
1" drill 800 12" chain saw 1100-2400
7 1/4" circ. saw 1200+ 14" band saw 1100-1800
8 1/4" circ. saw 1800 Typewriter 80-200
Air conditioner (energy hogs)
- room
- central

1000+
2000-5000
Refrig/freezer
- 20cf (15 hours)
- 16cf (13 hours)

540
475
Sunfrost (figure running 7hrs/day typically)
- 16cf DC
- 12cf DC

112
70
Freezer (figure running 10hrs/day typically)
- 14cf ff (15)
- 14cf (14)

440
350

Always be sure and check www.energystar.gov for current HVAC and appliance efficiency data.

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ENERGY STAR qualified products use less energy than conventional products. And money isn't all you're saving by purchasing products that use less energy, you're also helping to save the environment. As an ENERGY STAR partner, Big Frog Mountain is proud to offer you products with the ENERGY STAR label. For more information, visit www.energystar.gov


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Chattanooga, Tennessee 37415
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