PV Gap

Doris Said:

How many solar panels would it take to power say a refrigerator, a/c, and stove?

We Answered:

That is a good and not so simple to answer question.
Well....
For one Lennox (AC) is currently advertising a system that will run its AC from solar power.

There are serveral systems that power up even the larger water-heater, what is (if you do not go for a more economic and alot "greener" tankless system), one of the biggest standby energy eaters there is.
However, this is not quiet as it works.....Your solar panels will produce their energy all day long, and mostly there is nobody home. Now after you got all your units and battery's charged you produce X-amount of extra electricity....what (by Law required) will be purchased by your local power company.

Now, it gets dark in the evening and you get silch, nada, nothing on solar power, however tuff **** (excuse my french) you and your family is home and you need electricity....well remember, while you have been at work, your solar panel sold power to the power plant, well you do not get a buck a pound or so, you actually do net get any molla ( money) at all, but what you get is a credit and a preferred power rate that will make your head spin.

Maybe this will help in your consideration, please do not get me wrong I believe in green power and I am very pro green building reducing trash and so forth.....I did grow up with it in Europe....however unless your house is like mine on a fast streaming creek to power a turbine and you produce all the solar power you can to sell it (a good size turbine will run your home, AC and all) you will not beat the system