How much solar and battery to run an induction cooktop in a off-grid cabin?
An induction cooktop draws a big surge the moment it heats. In a off-grid cabin in the UK it uses about 400 Wh a day. Wattonomy sizes the battery (10.24 kWh), the solar (415 W) and every cable around it to BS 7671, then hands you the wiring diagram and a shoppable parts list.
A real Wattonomy output — a UK off-grid cabin running an induction cooktop
System
48 V
Battery
10.24 kWh
Solar
415 W
Inverter
MP-II 48/3000
SmartSolar 100/201×
415W solar panel1×
Battery → inverter cable4×
Battery → inverter fuse1×
Wire & fuse sizes follow BS 7671 — each conductor carries its fuse and stays under a 3% voltage drop.
Built to BS 7671 standards
Gauge · fuse · volt-drop sized
Every spec sourced
Induction is a surge problem, not an energy one.
An induction hob pulls roughly 1,600 to 1,800 W the instant it heats. Size the inverter and cable for that surge or it cuts out mid-cook. Wattonomy sizes the bank, solar and every cable around it, to BS 7671.
What it takes to run an induction cooktop
Real numbers from a sized off-grid cabin build for the UK, not rules of thumb.
Daily energy
About 400 Wh a day for the induction cooktop itself, the figure everything else is sized from.
Battery
About 10.24 kWh of LiFePO4 (roughly 213 Ah at 48V) to carry it through the night and a cloudy day.
Solar to replace it
About 415 W of panel replaces a day’s use in fair sun; poor light or winter wants more, or a second charging source.
Inverter and surge
Sized to start the 1800 W surge cleanly: MultiPlus-II 48/3000, with cable to match, to BS 7671.
What you walk away with — free
A full system sized to run your induction cooktop — battery, solar and inverter
A real wiring diagram with cable gauges and fuses
Cable and fuse sizing with the voltage drop checked, to BS 7671
A shoppable parts list, every line traceable to a standard or datasheet
Building it for real? Unlock the build binder.
Free gets you a safe, correctly-sized design. The build binder gets you the documents to build it right — and prove it's right.
Printable wiring diagram, yours to keep & tape inside the build
Full parts list, every line sourced
The volt-drop & fusing calculation trail — the "why" behind every spec
The build binder is a one-time unlock — no subscription, no auto-renew.
Questions
How many watts does an induction cooktop use?
An induction cooktop runs at about 1600 W and can surge to roughly 1800 W on start-up, using around 400 Wh over a day. The inverter has to cover that surge, not just the running watts.
What size battery runs an induction cooktop in a off-grid cabin?
For this build Wattonomy sizes about 10.24 kWh (roughly 213 Ah at 48V) of LiFePO4 — enough to carry the induction cooktop plus your basics through the night and a cloudy day. Your exact number depends on how many days of backup you want.
How much solar do I need to run an induction cooktop?
About 415 W of panel replaces a day’s use in fair sun; poor light, winter or shade wants more, or a second charging source such as a DC-DC charger off the engine. The tool sizes it from your climate.
Is this sized to UK standards?
Yes. Every cable, fuse and busbar is sized to BS 7671 using mm², at the 12/24V DC and 230V AC typical of the UK systems. Nothing here is a rule of thumb.
The standards we build to
Plain version: these are the recognized rulebooks your design is sized against, so the numbers hold up to a surveyor, an inspector or an insurer.
BS 7671The UK IET Wiring Regulations for the 230 V side.
ISO 13297The international standard for small-craft electrical systems.
Wattonomy applies these standards in its calculations. It is not certified, sponsored or endorsed by ABYC, ISO, NFPA or Victron — it sizes your design to meet what they require, and shows the working.
Sized and checked to BS 7671. Last reviewed June 2026 — see the full methodology for the exact rules behind every number and how each design is validated.
Built by anABYC Certified Master Technician