Solar & battery sizing for a shed / workshop
An off-grid workshop running lights, a few power tools intermittently, and charging, away from mains power.
Open this shed / workshop setup in the calculator →
Example daily load
| Device | Power | Use | Energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| LED shop lights | 120 W | 4 h/day | 480 Wh |
| Tool charger | 90 W | 2 h/day | 180 Wh |
| Fan | 60 W | 3 h/day | 180 Wh |
| Radio | 15 W | 4 h/day | 60 Wh |
| Total | 900 Wh/day |
Sized system (AGM, 12V, 2 days autonomy)
Open this setup in the calculator — then adjust for your own devices →
Notes for a shed / workshop
These figures assume 4.0 peak sun hours and 2 day(s) of autonomy. If your location is cloudier, your usage is higher, or you want more buffer, increase autonomy or array size. The button above opens the full calculator pre-loaded with this shed / workshop setup, so you can change any device, voltage or chemistry and see the system resize instantly — the example is a starting point, not a prescription.
Frequently asked questions
How many batteries does a shed / workshop need?
For the example load of 900 Wh/day with 2 day(s) of autonomy on AGM at 12V, you need roughly 4.6 kWh of battery (384 Ah). Your actual needs depend on your devices and how many cloudy days you want to cover.
What size solar array for a shed / workshop?
About 326 W at 4.0 peak sun hours, to recharge the daily load. Cloudier locations or higher usage need more.
Looking for a definition or a quick answer? See the solar & battery glossary for terms used on this page, or the FAQ for common sizing questions.
Sources & standards
- NFPA 70 — National Electrical Code (NEC), Articles 690 & 705 — Governs PV source/output circuits (Art. 690) and interconnected power production sources (Art. 705) in the US.