A 6kW solar system can produce up to 25 kWh of electricity a day. If your energy needs are not high, it is an excellent investment in which you can recover your money within a few years.
Let’s discuss whether this system will be suitable for you.
How big is a 6kW system?
Typically, a 6kW system uses an inverter with a maximum output power of 5kW, and has enough panels to generate 6.6kW of electricity.
Generally speaking, each panel is rated at around 330W, and so the total number of panels in the system is 20, which totals to 6600W or 6.6kW.
Inverter size smaller than total panels?
Is it a concern that the inverter rating of 5kW is smaller than the total power of all the panels combined? Will the inverter “blow up”?
These are valid questions.
To put it simply, no. This is not a concern.
Only in ideal conditions will your panels generate its maximum capacity in electricity. Generally, all the following factors add to a non ideal environment:
- Angle of installation
- Shading
- Weather
- Sun orientation
- Cloud
- Humidity
- Temperature
As a result, your panels will very rarely generate its maximum capacity.
How Do I Know if the 6kW System is Ideal for Me?
If you have a budget for any solar system size, it would be best if you chose one that will give you the maximum benefit without wastage. Think about the following factors before concluding on a 6kW system
Your Power Consumption
A 6kW solar system usually produces around 15kWh a day.
If your home consumes significantly less power than this (<8kWh), then perhaps a solar system may not be worth it for you, as your return on investment will be far greater.
If you are consuming between 8kWh and 15kWh, then a 6kW solar system would be ideal for you.
If you are consuming higher than 15kWh, then a 10kW system may be more suitable. If you are consuming even higher than that, eg. 25kWh, then perhaps a 13kW system may be more suitable.
How do you tell how much electricity you’re using? You can check on your bill.
Your Electricity Bill
Your bill will definitely show you how much energy you’re consuming on a daily basis. However, if you don’t have your bill handy, perhaps you know off the top of your head how much you’re paying for your bills?
Generally speaking, if you pay less than $80 a month on electricity, solar may not be worth it for you.
But if you pay $80 to $150, a 6kW system would be ideal.
6kW is for a household that does not consume much electricity. If the following description fits you, then you will benefit from a 6kW system.
- Your home consists of two or three occupants
- You hardly use air conditioning
- Your heating is done more with gas than electricity.
- Your oven is not used frequently used
- Your clothes are hung out to dry rather than using an electric dryer
Your Budget
Each home has different, and each installation is different. Depending on your state, and when you are getting solar installed, your rebates may be different.
A general rule of thumb is the cost of the full installation including the inverter is $1/w.
So a 6kW system will cost you about $5000 - $7000.
However, costs are coming down quickly.
Your roof space
Even if all the factors above lead you to believe you need a 6kW system or larger, the amount of roof space on your home will heavily dictate whether you can fit it all.
Each panel is around 1762mm x 994mm, which is 1.75m2
So to fit 20, your roof will need at least 35m2.
Not only that, they should ideally be north facing and have minimal shading from nearby trees.
How Much Can You Save With a 6kW Solar System?
Your savings will depend on your power consumption.
A household with low energy usage paying a maximum amount of $1700 a year without solar may have its entire power requirement covered by the solar system.
A household with a medium energy usage consuming between 15 to 25kWh a day will likely pay about $2200 without solar.
With solar, such families can save more than $1800 reducing their electricity bill to under $400 a year. A high energy-consuming household, like one consuming over 25 kWh and paying about $2700 a year without solar, can get its electricity bill reduced to around $800 when it installs a 6kW solar system. Hence such a household can save about $1900 a year.
The table below shows an estimated energy consumption, electricity bills, and savings of different types of households.
Product Packages
There are three different packages available for a 6kW solar panel. The significant difference in the packages is the choice of the panel and the inverter.
We have put together these packages for you based on years of experience and plenty of feedback from our clients.
The lower cost options have fewer features and are generally lesser known brand. However, it does not mean they are lower in terms of quality. All these packages will work just fine for you.
- Quality on Budget package
- Mid Range package
- High-End package.
Quality on a Budget
Quality on a Budget is for families who want to save without losing too much on quality. Although its output power is lower than those of other packages, it is still good enough for the desired result. Also, the durability may not be as much as that of other packages, but they are guaranteed to last for many years.
Solar Panel - Longi Solar LNG-LR6-600PH-350M_35-v1
Inverter - Goodwe GW-GW5000D-NS
Mid Range
The Mid Range Package uses Suntech solar panel and Sungrow inverter. The solar panel has a maximum output power of 350 W. Hence it will require about 18 panels to produce 6kW power. Both Suntech and Sungrow are well known in the industry to be quality and effective. Mid Range package is more expensive than the Quality-on-Budget package, but not as much as the High-End package.
Mid Range package is for users who want top-quality but cannot afford our High-End package. If you buy this package, you will be spending more than you would have spent on our Quality on Budget package, but you can be assured of value for your money.
Solar Panel - Suntech STP 350S-B60/Wnhb
Inverter - Sungrow SGR – SG5K – D - Premium
High End
The High-End package is the most expensive. It includes a Q-Cells panel and a Fronius inverter. The solar panel has a maximum output power of 350 W. Therefore, you will need about 18 of these panels to produce 6kW.
This package is for individuals who value quality and desire a durable product. It may cost more than other packages, but it is also of the best quality.
Solar Panel - Qcell Q Maxx – G2-350
Inverter - Fronius Primo 5.0.1 INT
Solar Panel Packages Compared
Inverter Packages Compared
Get a Quote
You can request a quote for any of our packages. All you need to do is to select your system size, choose your preferred package, then fill in your information and click on "Get price."
Within one business day, we will send a quote to your email address. You can also choose to customize your system by clicking on "Build your own."
Here you will have the option to choose your preferred panel brand and inverter brand.
