What size solar generator for off-grid cabin?
Check, uncheck or adjust the typical device list below — watts, startup surge and battery size update instantly. Numbers come from U.S. DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer spec sheets, not marketing copy.
1. Check what you need to power
Refrigeration & Freezers
- 1
Kitchen
Heating, Cooling & Fans
Water & Pumps
Laundry & Cleaning
Electronics & Office
Medical Devices
Power Tools & Outdoor
Lighting
- 5
2. Your sizing
3. Best cross-brand matches
No single portable power station covers this load — look at expandable systems (e.g., EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 + extra battery, Anker SOLIX F3800 expansion packs) or a fixed home battery instead.
Static answer (crawlable summary)
Typical device list: Pellet Stove (PelPro PP130 class)×1, Hydronic Circulator Pump (Taco 007 class)×1, Submersible Well Pump (3/4 HP, 240V)×1, Freezer (chest, ~15 cu ft)×1, Refrigerator (freezerless, ~16 cu ft)×1, LED Bulb (60W equivalent)×5, Induction Cooktop (portable single burner)×1, Router + Modem×1, Starlink Standard (Gen 3)×1.
| Continuous load | 4,080 W |
|---|---|
| Startup peak | 11,880 W (driven by 1× Submersible Well Pump (3/4 HP, 240V)) |
| Daily energy use | 11,105 Wh |
| Recommended capacity | 13,890 Wh (25% margin included) |
| Minimum inverter | 4,490 W continuous |
Frequently asked questions
What size solar generator for off-grid cabin?
For a typical setup (pellet stove (pelpro pp130 class), hydronic circulator pump (taco 007 class), submersible well pump (3/4 hp, 240v), freezer (chest, ~15 cu ft) and refrigerator (freezerless, ~16 cu ft)), you need at least 4,080W of continuous power. The single biggest moment is startup: when 1× submersible well pump (3/4 hp, 240v) kicks on, the momentary draw peaks at 11,880W. For overnight runtime we recommend at least 13,890Wh of battery capacity (your devices use about 11,105Wh per day, plus a 25% margin).
Which power stations can handle this?
Look for a station whose surge rating covers 11,880W and whose capacity is at least 13,890Wh.
Why is the startup surge higher than the running watts?
Motor-driven devices (fridge compressors, well pumps, air conditioners) draw 2-5× their running power for a split second at startup — measured as locked-rotor amps (LRA). A generator that only meets the running load will trip or stall when the biggest motor starts. Our data sources: U.S. DOE Energy Saver, ENERGY STAR certified product database, and manufacturer spec sheets (Franklin Electric, Goodman, Zoeller).