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“You are right, it drops to about 6 to 9 watts after a half an hour for some reason.”
Photo Credit: iStock
A homeowner dealing with months of renovation still needed internet at the property for security cameras, a doorbell, and digital deadlocks. With only one 200-watt solar panel on hand, the challenge was finding the cheapest possible way to keep those systems online.
The question came from a Reddit post by a homeowner whose main house was still offline after a “housefire, whole house rewire, renovation.” During that stretch, they were deciding whether to power an Xfinity router or switch to a 4G LTE hotspot so the workshop, garage, and other outbuildings could stay covered by security systems.
Replies urged them to think in watt-hours, not just panel size. As one commenter put it, “20W for even 10 hours overnight is 200Wh,” and that still leaves the problem of a 200-watt panel producing far less than its label suggests once charging losses, storage losses, and cloudy conditions are factored in.
The homeowner checked the load more closely and found the router wasn’t drawing as much power as they’d first assumed. “You are right, it drops to about 6 to 9 watts after a half an hour for some reason,” they wrote, while also noting elsewhere that their VTOMAN power bank appeared to use another 4 watts for “the inverter or fans.”
That made the setup look more feasible, though only with an efficient configuration. Homeowners considering a larger setup can use EasyHome to see pricing and savings from vetted installers in their area.
This was a narrow backup-power problem, not an attempt to run a whole home or major appliances from one panel. The discussion focused on keeping a few essential connected devices alive for months while regular utility service was unavailable, a much more realistic job for a compact battery bank and a single panel.
Work at the site was continuing with “an impressive, quiet Ryobi” generator, the homeowner said, but that did not solve the need for remote monitoring during the rewiring. 
The most consistent advice was to cut power demand wherever possible. One commenter wrote, “A hotspot pulls maybe 3-5w vs 15-20 for the Xfinity box.” Others pointed out that many routers can run directly from a 12-volt battery to avoid inverter losses, and another commenter suggested asking the utility company about temporary power for the workshop and garage during construction.
With energy prices through the roof, there’s never been a better time to go solar — and EasyHome can help you find the best prices from the best installers in your area.
EasyHome takes the guesswork and headaches out of energy upgrades by showing you estimated savings from a network of vetted local partners. To get started, just enter your ZIP and share a few details about your home — seeing your estimate is really that easy.
Rather than keep the cable gateway running, the homeowner ultimately shifted to the lower-draw option. In an update, they said they switched to “a 4g LTE usb-c powered hotspot, Mint mobile for data, and 192Wh cheapo solar power bank” and paired it with their one 200-watt panel while pausing Xfinity service.
For homeowners comparing a short-term workaround with a long-term upgrade, EasyHome‘s free explorer tool can show local pricing and projected savings from vetted installers. EasyHome can also help readers explore backup battery options, noting that pairing solar with a battery lets homeowners maximize savings and keep the power on when the grid goes down.
Looking beyond the stopgap fix, the homeowner said they were “planning a full solar set up for the garage and workshop soon” and wanted it “fully disconnected from the house/grid.”
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© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

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