System Philosophy & Architecture
About PowerLab
PowerLab was created to provide transparent, deterministic engineering calculation tools for clean energy planning. We believe anyone planning an off-grid cabin, home battery backup, rooftop solar array, or EV charging setup benefits from reproducible calculations with visible physical loss models.
The 4 Connected Energy Pillars
Model location-aware solar insolation using NSRDB solar climate data and NREL PVWatts V8 proxy methodology, optimize roof pitch and seasonal tilt angles, and size array capacities.
Explore Solar Tools →Calculate runtime under real loads, model Peukert discharge effects, size whole-home LiFePO4 banks, and configure server UPS runtimes.
Explore Battery Tools →Audit household appliance wattages, calculate continuous vs. surge inrush power, and model monthly electric utility tariffs.
Explore Home Energy →Determine charging speeds across Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast Charging, calculate home charging costs, and model gas savings.
Explore EV Tools →Our Engineering Philosophy
- Deterministic Pure TypeScript Engines: No stochastic AI hallucinations or unrepeatable estimates. Every engine produces deterministic, verifiable outputs for given calculation inputs.
- Visible Physical Loss Models: We explicitly model representative physical losses and operational parameters (such as inverter standby tare draw, AC/DC conversion efficiencies, conductor voltage drop, and chemistry-specific depth-of-discharge design thresholds). Actual losses vary with equipment specifications, operating temperature, system voltage, and conductor sizing.
- No User Account Database: PowerLab does not require user accounts, logins, or server database storage for calculation inputs. Website usage and performance metrics are measured via Google Analytics.
- Client-Side Calculation Processing: Core calculation logic executes directly in your browser. Your Energy Profile and scenarios remain stored locally on your device in
localStorage.
Who PowerLab Is Built For
Sizing whole-home backup batteries, calculating blackout runtimes, and planning rooftop solar arrays without pushy sales reps.
Configuring 12V / 24V LiFePO4 battery banks, portable power stations, and 12V DC compressor fridge duty cycles.
Rapid screening and benchmark calculations for seasonal tilt angles, NEC continuous load sizing references, inverter clipping, and battery capacity conversions. (Calculations assist with engineering estimates; permitted construction designs require applicable local codes and qualified professionals.)
Comparing Level 1 vs Level 2 home charging install requirements, modeling charging electricity bills, and estimating fuel cost savings.
Transparency & Governance
PowerLab provides transparent methodology, engineering references, and open documentation. Review calculation methods on our Engineering Methodology page, inspect reference standards on our Standards Matrix, browse definitions in our Engineering Glossary, consult our Terms of Service, or read our Privacy Policy.
External profiles & reviews: Trustpilot Review Page • SaaSHub Profile • SourceForge Project