When I first went off grid, I remember a neighbor asking me if I needed an old-fashioned washboard to scrub my clothes. Actually, I did for the first few years, until I finally built my solar system up enough to power an energy-efficient laundry machine.
A small, energy efficient washing machine can run on a single, 300W solar panel, but only during the middle of the day during peak sun hours. If your washing machine is older, you may need a second solar panel – or to invest in a newer, more efficient model.
If you want to run your washing machine whenever you want, youʻll either need a pretty large battery bank or a back up generator that can charge your system while the washing machine runs. The generator is the cheaper option.
What else do you need to know about running a washing machine on solar power, read on to find out.
Related: Solar power needs to be converted to run a washing machine, and the best way to do that is with an Outback Power Inverter. Known as the best in the industry, Iʻve had my Outback Power Inverter for over 15 years without it ever failing on me. Trust your power needs to Outback.
Outback Power Inverter
How Many Solar Panels Should You Have To Run A Washing Machine?
Washing machines are becoming much more energy efficient. While older models might pull 500w to complete a load, newer models can easily wash a 5lb load of laundry for under 200w. This means you might need only one solar panel to run your washing machine.
There are a lot of factors to consider here. You will need to do some of your own calculations to see what works best for your particular situation; the type of washing machine you have (particularly if it is energy efficient and how many watts it requires to run a regular cycle) and how much solar energy you actually receive.
You also need to know the capacity of the washing machine and how many loads you typically require in a week.
Keep in mind that washing machines usually have cycles that are 15 – 30 minutes long. It’s pretty rare to have a wash that takes a full hour, although wattage is calculated in hours.
Also, washing machines do not draw a consistent amount of electricity; water-filling generally takes under 12 watts, but the wash and spin cycles can require significantly more.
If you do not have a hot water heater that works purely on gas and instead will require electricity to heat up water, you will either have to size your system accordingly or simply disconnect the hot water and not use it when you wash your clothes.
Learn more about off grid appliances. I wrote this post going over all sorts of appliances that work great for an off grid lifestyle. Be sure to check it out if you havenʻt already.
Does My Inverter Need To Be A Certain Size To Run A Washing Machine?
I would suggest having an inverter that has at least a 1000W capacity to run a washing machine. If you’re powering other items at the same time, aim for an inverter that has 2000w or 3000w capacity, just to be on the safe side.
My favorite is the 3000 Watt Outback Inverter, which is the one I use on my home and has never failed me yet.
There are a few reasons for needing an inverter of this size:
- Most inverters don’t provide the maximum capacity in one go; they are designed to provide power at 25% or 50% capacity. This means that if your washing machine pulls 300 watts, you’re pushing the limits of a 800-watt inverter, because you need to calculate half (or even a quarter) of its capacity for one ‘surge’ of power.
- Modern washing machines often use technology and little internal computers to operate. Therefore, your inverter should have sine wave inverter capacity. Smaller inverters may not offer this feature, and cheap generators might damage the washing machine’s computer.
- Washing machines don’t use the same amount of energy all the time: wash, spin and rinse cycles use different wattages. A spin cycle only lasts 3-5 minutes, but it requires a surge of watts to complete the task. A good rule to follow is to use an inverter that has more than double the maximum capacity your washing machine requires.
For example, if your washing machine uses 200w, even if the wash cycle itself
only uses 85, the spin cycle needs 200w. Even though it’s only for a few minutes, you still need an inverter with double that – at least 400 watts.
Instead of pushing your inverter to capacity, go for a 1000w (or higher) inverter, just to be safe, remembering that many inverters run on 50% or less capacity.
When To Run A Washing Machine When Living Off Grid
Run your washing machine during full-sun hours, particularly in the late morning. One, you want to take advantage of the sun for your solar panels, and two, you also want the full sun for drying your clothes.
I also try to get the maximum use out of my washes; I save up clothes over a period of days and ensure I wash a ¾ -full load every time. For my machine, I don’t stuff the machine to maximum capacity, because that actually requires much more energy than doing a slightly smaller load.
Make sure you know your own machine and are aware if it has load size options, eco-functions or other choices to further increase the machines efficiency and decrease power consumption.
What Types Of Washing Machines Are Best For Off Grid Systems
There are actually a lot of options for washing machines for off-grid use: Solar, Manual and highly energy efficient. While I share a bit about them below, I dove deeper into laundry options for the off grid homestead in this post. I highly recommend it.
Manual Washing Machines
Manual machines are operated by hand-cranks, pedals or by cycling (get in a workout while you wash!). A well-known favorite manual washing system is the Lavario Hand Washer. It’s a great price and does its job without requiring any form of electricity.
However, it does mean youʻll have to use your energy to wash the clothes and it only does small loads of laundry.
Not a bad option for one person, but it isn’t convenient for a family.
Solar Washing Machines
There are also solar washing machines, designed to work only with solar energy. While I like the concept, I personally don’t use one. Most solar washing machines only offer a 1 or 2 year warranty: compared to 10 or 15 years on other, high-efficiency machines for approximately the same price, I just don’t see how solar washing machines are a good deal.
If the machine breaks, it’s not easy to get a technician who can fix it, and obtaining replacement parts here in Hawai’i is even harder.
From friends’ feedback and reviews, I have learned that the batteries on solar machines can wear out if the machines are used 3x a week, or more frequently.
Also, if you already have a decent solar set up, then you can use a regular washing machine, anyway, making the need for a solar machine (with a short warranty, difficulty-to-repair and the short-lifespan of the batteries) pretty much unnecessary.
Energy-efficient machines
For me, it made more sense to get a great, energy-efficient washing machine: I knew that repairs and replacement parts would be easier to get, given my location. I also felt assured with a good 10-year warranty, and knew that I could easily set it up with my existing solar system.
Here are the best washing machines with awesome energy-efficient ratings:
Giantex Washing Machines (both the Portable Mini, or Twin Tub Washer)
Both are around $200 and can be plugged directly into a solar generator or inverter. I like that they use much less water than a regular washing machine and you can set up the drain to expel into the garden (as long as you use the right detergent). Both machines have a capacity for 13 lbs or more, which is more than enough for my family to do laundry a few times a week.
The drawback is that with the dual tubs, I have to move the soaking wet, washed clothes from the wash tub into the next compartment to complete a spin cycle. It’s how the machine uses much less energy, but it is a bit annoying.
The awesome part? These machines use less than 200w to complete a wash, the machine requires no setup and you don’t have to worry about messing with hot water features.
Magic Chef Portable Top Load Washer
This little guy uses less than 80w to complete a full wash! It saves on water, too, for the best all-around option for small (1-2 person) homesteads. It can handle loads a little over 6 lbs, and works only with cold water.
I really like this machine, unfortunately it’s a bit small for a family and
not as easy to drain the water into my garden as the Giantex machines.
Comfee Portable Washing Machine
This one is on the more expensive side, at $365 for a 11-lb capacity machine. However, it is one of the most highly-efficient washing machines for what it can do: this washer has 6 wash cycles, a drain pump you can set up to drain to your garden or into a bucket. It uses only 63w to run a full wash cycle, making it a great option for larger families who need to do large loads frequently.
GE Conventional Top Loader Washing Machine
This is the washing machine that I use. I went into Home Depot, found the best washing machine with the lowest energy star rating. It turned out to be just a standard GE washing machine. No bells and whistles, no digital dials, just pure function.
This machine does take more energy than the others mentioned here, but not much. I have no problem running it off of two 300 watt solar panels during the middle of the day, with power to spare.
Another bonus with this machine is that it is easy to fix. You can find parts easily and fix them yourself following how to videos on Youtube.
Gain more time in your off grid life, get a washing machine. It saved me hours every week.
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