Will solar run your cabin? Here's what works — and what won't.
A weekend cabin is where the well pump, the fridge, and a cloudy weekend quietly break a system that looked fine on paper. Here's the honest verdict on a typical cabin load — and the exact system that holds up.
What works — and what won't — for a typical weekend cabins
Based on a realistic load list (led light, wifi router, mini fridge, coffee maker, well pump (½ hp), box fan, washing machine (he)). Here's where setups like this actually trip up — the part the wattage math doesn't show.
A submersible well pump can trip an inverter that's sized for its running watts
A ½ HP pump runs at ~750W but its motor draws 3–5× that for a split second on every start (locked-rotor inrush) — a 2,000–3,500W spike. Plenty of 2,000W inverters shut down on it even though the running number looks fine.
Fix: Use a low-frequency (transformer-based) inverter rated 3,000W+, or fit the pump with a soft starter / CSCR control box. Pure sine only.
Fridges and freezers surge hard and never turn off
Compressors pull 3–5× their running watts to start, and because they cycle 24/7 they quietly dominate your daily watt-hours — especially in summer heat. Modified-sine power makes them buzz and shortens compressor life.
Fix: Pure-sine inverter, and size the battery for the all-day cycling load. In hot climates add ~30% to the fridge's estimated draw.
The system that actually covers it
Sized for this load at 4.5 peak sun hours/day and 2 days of autonomy.
The full bill of materials
Not your exact setup? Adjust it in the planner
We'll pre-load this weekend cabins list — add or remove appliances and the verdict + sizing update for you.