Clothes dryer with solar panels: how many panels you need
The dryer is one of the highest-draw appliances at home. With solar it's free if you run it at midday. How much it pulls and how many panels cover it.
A conventional dryer pulls 2500-3500 W for 1-2 hours per load. One of the priciest appliances to run. Also one of the easiest to shift to solar hours.
Consumption by dryer type
Vented (resistance): 3000-3500 W, 1.5 h cycle = 5 kWh per load. Condensing: 2500-3000 W, 2 h = 5 kWh. Heat pump: 800-1200 W, 2-3 h = 2 kWh. Heat pump is 60% more efficient.
How many panels to power it
Heat pump dryer (1.2 kW): 4 panels of 410 W = 1.6 kWp. Conventional (3 kW): 8 panels. Critical: ALWAYS run at midday with sun. At night on battery: brutal punishment.
The timer trick
Best move: dryer with built-in timer that starts at 1 PM. Load it the night before. Sun arrives, dryer starts on its own. Zero effort, max self-consumption.
ROI: worth upgrading to heat pump?
Heat pump dryer: $700-1200. Conventional: $400-600. Gap $400-600. Power savings 60% × 200 cycles/year × $0.30/kWh = ~$180/year. Payback 3-4 years. Yes, worth it.
Alternative: clothesline
Balcony sun dries clothes in 3-4 hours in summer. Zero kWh. Works in winter too with sun and breeze. The dryer is for rainy days or emergencies. Combined with solar = unbeatable.
Compare with washer on solar and solar heat pump.
Want to know how much energy your appliances use? Calculate it here.
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