Solar Powered Heater: Can Solar Generator Power A Heater

Yes, a solar generator can power a space heater or water heater perfectly fine. However, heaters typically consume a lot of power due to their heating elements, and you will need a solar generator with enough wattage capacity to power it.

Camping is a great way to unwind, get close to nature, and relax. However, even in natural settings, keeping yourself safe and healthy is important. In this regard, one must-have piece of equipment for camping is a space heater for your tent. Since remaining eco-friendly is important for every nature enthusiast, a solar-powered heater is the best option.

Solar-powered heater for camping is a safe and reliable way to keep you cozy without compromising environmental safety. You must get a solar-powered heater that is portable and easy to transport, is energy efficient, and can also work on batteries.

What Is A Solar Powered Heater

Solar-powered heaters use solar energy to warm air which is then flown into the tent or room you want to warm. A solar heater comprises solar panels, a duct system, and diffusers. Some heaters also have fans, while others depend on a natural ventilation system to distribute air.

Solar heaters might not work efficiently when the weather is cloudy, it's raining, or in winter when the sun is not bright enough. Also, the solar panels must face the sun in the right direction to collect maximum sunlight.

Solar Powered Heater VS. Solar Generator for Heater

Solar-Powered Heater

The solar-powered heater provides direct heating for your living space. It can be used for small rooms or tents while camping. The principle of solar heaters is that they collect cold air, collect it in a solar collector, and blow it back into the room after heating. Many factors can influence your choice of solar heaters. A review of the pros and cons may help you to decide better.

Pros

1. Solar-powered heatersare more environmentally friendly than traditional space heaters.
2. Cost-effective.
3. They do not produce any emissions, have less carbon footprint, and are noise free.
4. They help you save energy and money on your electricity bills.
5. Easy to install and operate.
6. Low maintenance.

Cons

1. They are only useful for small areas.
2. You cannot use solar heaters when the sun is not bright enough or at night.
3. They have only one use, i.e., heating.

Solar Generator for Heater

A solar generator collects the sun’s energy using portable solar panels and then stores it as electricity in a solar battery. Solar generators are a perfect off-grid energy option and a home-backup solution.

Can a solar generator power a heater? Yes, if you have a solar generator with enough specifications, you can use it to power a heater. The Jackery solar generator models 2000 Plus Kit (4kWh), 2000 Plus, and 1000 Plus are good options for running an electric space heater.

Pros

1. Provide a renewable source of energy.
2. Eco-friendly, no noise, reduces greenhouse gasses and carbon footprint.
3. Low maintenance.
4. Reliable and safe.
5. It can power multiple devices at a time because of multiple ports.
6. Pass-through charging allows charging and powering up devices at the same time.

Cons

The initial setup cost of a solar generator can be a put-off; however, Jackery solar generators are available in many specifications so that you can choose one within your budget.

How Many Watts Does A Heater Use

It is important to review some terms before calculating the wattage of an electric heater. So, let's dive in.

1. Volts (V): It measures the speed of electricity passing through a circuit.
2. Amps (A): It measures electrical current, i.e., the number of electrons flowing through an electric circuit.
3. Watts (W) and kilowatts (kW): Watts is the electricity consumption rate.

Watt = Volts x Amp

4. Kilowatt-hours (kWh): It is the electricity consumed over a period of time.

But how many watts does a space heater use?The electric heaters are available in various wattage ratings. It starts with 200 watts and goes up to 4,000 watts. The average heater used is 1500-1,600 watts. Low-wattage heaters, i.e., 200, 500, and 750 watts, are personal space heaters that you keep next to you to warm your personal space.

1,500 to 4,000-watt heaters can be used for heating rooms and tents while camping.

How Much Does It Cost to Power A Heater

The cost of running a heater depends on how long it is used per day, the wattage of the heater, and the average electricity rate. We have taken the average electricity rate of different states and calculated the cost per month and year. We are using an average use of 8 hours a day.

How Much Solar Power Does A Heater Need

A solar-powered electric heateror or off-grid water heater uses power, and the amount of power depends on the duration of use per day. Refer to the following table for calculating what specification of the solar generator can power your electric heater.

Jackery Solar Generator for Heater

Jackery can power heaters of different sizes and capacities.The Jackery has a series of solar generators that can power many different types of equipment, including refrigerators, water pumps, camping lights, electric heaters, TV, and many more. These efficient, portable, and noise-free generators come in different specifications so that you can choose one according to your requirements and budget. Here is a review of some solar generators.

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus Kit (4kWh)

The Jackery solar generator 2000 Plus Kit (4kWh) has a large battery capacity, which is enough power to support multiple devices and that too simultaneously. The power station features a pull rod, double wheels, and an ergonomic design to conveniently carry the charging solution to outdoor or remote locations. You can even use the solar-powered generator to power different types of electric heaters during power outages or blackouts. 

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus

The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus can be used outdoors for picnics and camping or indoors during power outages. It has enough power to charge different types of electric heaters and other household appliances for comfortable living. It's also expandable by nature, which means you can extend the battery capacity from 2kWh to 24kWh with the help of an additional Jackery Battery Pack 2000 Plus. 

Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus

The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus is a compact yet powerful solar-powered generator that can charge 99% of household or outdoor appliances, including electric heaters. You can use the solar generator during brief power outages or outdoor adventures like camping, road trips, and RV living. If you need more power, the battery capacity can be extended from 1.2kWh to 5kWh with the Jackery Battery Pack 1000 Plus.

The size of the solar generator required to run an electric heater depends on the heater's wattage and the generator's size. In the following table, we have summarized the expected working hours of each Jackery variant depending on heater size. It is important to note that the estimates are based on 85% of the generator capacity because of expected energy loss during operation.

Working time = Capacity Wh * 0.85 / operating wattage of your electric heater

Solar Powered Heater FAQ

1. What size of solar generator do I need to power a heater?

The size of a solar generator depends on your heater's wattage requirement and your solar generator's capacity. This formula dictates the working hours of your heater with any generator.

Working hours = capacity of the generator in Watt Hours / Wattage of your Heater

We also take the performance loss during operation, so if you take a 15% performance loss, then the formula goes like this;

Working hours = (Capacity of the generator in Watt Hours x 0.85) / Wattage of your Heater

If the heater consumes 800W and is charged with the help of the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus, the working hours will be 2.1 hours (2042.8Wh * 0.85 / 800W).

The table above in section 5 overviews the generator size required for your electric heater requirements.

Final Thoughts

A solar-powered heater is a must-have piece of equipment to heat your room or camping tent in chilled weather without compromising your eco-friendly principles. They come in various wattage requirements starting from 100 Watts and going up to 2000 to 4000 watts. Alternatively, you can power all your camping equipment using a solar generator which is a better option because it is multi-purpose and can power multiple devices simultaneously. We have discussed the Jackery solar generator series in detail above to make your purchase easy.

Answer to Comments:

Comment: How. Long will it heat a 8 by 20

Reply: Hey! A 1.5 kW heater will take nearly 25 minutes to heat the room from 10°C to 60°C, assuming no heat loss. However, this time might vary depending on the room's volume, heater size, temperature difference, and heat loss rate.

Comment: hi, I need a solar powered device to keep a heater continuously running at 60 degrees through the winter. It’s a storage container = 20′ × 8′. What can you recommend?

Reply: Hey! On average, if your heater consumes 1000W per hour, you may consider going ahead with the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus. It can supply electricity for 1.7H. It can be expanded to Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus Kit (12kWh) that will supply electricity for 10.4 hours.