Solar
What Can a 3 kW Solar System Run? Appliances and Limits
Short answer
A 3 kW solar inverter can run up to about 3,000 watts of appliances at the same time, so a typical home with lights, TV, fridge, laptops, Wi-Fi and a washing machine fits comfortably. Heavy heating loads such as a geyser, electric cooker, kettle and iron use a lot of power and are best run one at a time or avoided on a system of this size.
Typical appliance power (approximate)
| Appliance | Running watts | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| LED bulb | 5 to 15 W | Very low |
| TV (LED) | 50 to 150 W | |
| Fridge | 100 to 200 W | Start-up surge of 3 to 6 times |
| Laptop | 40 to 90 W | |
| Wi-Fi router | 10 to 20 W | |
| Washing machine | 400 to 800 W | Higher if heating water |
| Water pump | 500 to 1,000 W | High start-up surge |
| Microwave | 1,000 to 1,500 W | |
| Iron | 1,000 to 2,000 W | |
| Kettle | 1,500 to 2,500 W | |
| Electric geyser | 2,000 to 3,000 W | Better handled with solar water heating |
Check the label on your own appliances; figures vary by model.
Power vs energy
The inverter rating (kW) limits how much you can run at one moment. The panels and battery (kWh) decide how long you can run it. A 3 kW inverter with a small battery can run a fridge and lights all night but would flatten the battery quickly if you ran heating loads.
A sensible 3 kW home load
- Lights, TV, decoder, Wi-Fi, phone and laptop charging.
- Fridge or fridge-freezer.
- Washing machine at midday, when solar is strongest.
- A small pump, run on its own.
What to avoid on a system this size
- Running kettle, iron, microwave and geyser together.
- Large air conditioners, which need much more power.
- Welding machines and big motors.
Next step
Read what size solar system for my house or ask us for a load assessment.
Common questions
Can a 3 kW system run a fridge and TV?
Yes, easily, provided the battery or sunlight supports the energy used over time.
Can it run an air conditioner?
A small inverter-type unit may be possible, but air conditioners use a lot of energy. Size the system around it.
Is 3 kW the same as 3 kWh?
No. kW is power at a moment; kWh is energy over time. Batteries are rated in kWh.