Pick the appliance you want to run on solar and see exactly how many extra panels and how much extra cost it adds.
Running the appliance during peak sun hours instead of morning/evening reduces how much extra capacity — or battery — you actually need.
Further reading: How Many Solar Panels Do You Actually Need? A Complete 2026 Guide
Different appliances stress a solar system differently. A pool pump or water heater can often be scheduled to run entirely during peak sun hours, so it barely needs extra panels beyond your baseline system. An air conditioner or well pump that runs on demand — including at night — needs either extra panel capacity to bank energy ahead of time, or battery storage to cover the after-dark portion.
Central AC: ~3,000-4,000W · Window/split AC: ~700-1,200W · Pool pump: ~1,000-2,000W · Electric water heater: ~3,000-4,500W · Well pump: ~500-1,000W · Washer & dryer combined: ~2,500-3,500W. These are typical ranges — check your appliance's nameplate for an exact figure and enter it directly above.
For appliances used mostly after sunset (like an evening AC load), battery storage is often more efficient than oversizing the array — check the Battery Size Calculator for that path.
No — use the Solar Panel Calculator for your whole-home baseline system, then add this appliance's extra capacity on top if it's a new addition beyond your current usage.