Solar Powered Heater: Can Solar Generator Power A Heater

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 Pro, 1500 Pro, and 1000 Pro 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.
7. 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.

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 Solar Power Does A Heater Need

A solar-powered electric 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

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 Jackery generators.

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro

The Jackery solar generator 2000 Pro has a 2,160 Wh capacity with 2,200W AC power and 4,400W peak power. This is enough power to support multiple devices and that too simultaneously. It has dual battery protection and four temperature core detectors, making it very easy to use and safe for your appliances.

Jackery Solar Generator 1500 Pro

The Jackery solar generator 1500 Pro has a 1512Wh capacity with 1800 running wattage. You can use this generator in outdoor setups like picnics, camping, and indoors during power outages. The Jackery solar generator 1500 Pro has a Dual PD100W design with three 1800W AC charging ports, two USB-C charging ports, and one car charger.

Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro

The Jackery solar generator 1000 Pro has a 1002 Wh capacity. It has an integrated battery system that monitors and protects the battery life and safeguards your devices from voltage fluctuations. The LED display shows you the voltage, battery power, and other stats making the operation easy.

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

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

It 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

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.