Real power numbers
| State | Gen 3 draw |
|---|---|
| Idle / light use | ~50–75W |
| Normal streaming / working | ~75–100W |
| Cold-weather heater (snow melt) | 150–180W+ |
| Startup spike | brief, above steady draw |
Call it ~90W average in mild conditions. The catch is the heater: in cold, wet, or snowy weather the dish self-heats and draw can nearly double. If you size only for the average, your link browns out exactly when you need it.
Daily energy & battery sizing
At ~90W around the clock, Gen 3 uses roughly 2.2 kWh per day. So:
- A 5 kWh LiFePO₄ bank (like a 48V 100Ah) carries the dish about 2 days with no charging — before you even count other loads.
- In a cold climate, budget 3–4 kWh/day to cover heater cycles.
- Sum every load on the plant (router, radios) — the dish is rarely the only thing on the battery.
Solar sizing rule of thumb
To net ~2.2 kWh/day from solar you generally want 600–800W of panel in good sun (more in cloudy or northern latitudes, and extra for heater-heavy winters). Pair it with a charge controller sized to your battery and enough battery to ride multi-day cloud.
FAQ
How many watts does a Starlink Gen 3 use?
Roughly 75–100W in normal use, 50–75W idle, and 150–180W+ when the snow-melt heater runs.
How much battery to run Gen 3 overnight?
At ~90W average it's about 2.2 kWh/day. A 5 kWh LiFePO₄ battery covers ~2 days without sun; size up for cold climates.
Related guides
- Power Starlink From a Battery — main guide
- Starlink Mini on 12V
- Starlink 4 off-grid on PoE
- Starlink vs a local WISP or fiber
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