Solar & inverter
guide for SA.

What size inverter do I need for my home?

The right size depends on which appliances you want to run simultaneously during load shedding. Add up their running wattage and multiply by 1.25 for a safety margin. A typical home running a fridge, lights, router, TV, and laptop needs a 3kW inverter. Adding a kettle or microwave pushes that to 5kW. Use our Inverter & Battery Calculator to get a personalised recommendation.

Is solar worth it in South Africa in 2026?

For most homeowners, yes. With Eskom's tariff now at 271c/kWh (up 8.76% from April 2026) and load shedding persisting, the payback period for a mid-size solar system has dropped to 5–8 years for most households. A basic 3kW inverter + 5.12kWh battery setup costs R20,000–R35,000 and can eliminate the impact of Stage 2–4 load shedding entirely.

What is the difference between a hybrid inverter and a pure inverter?

A pure (off-grid) inverter runs only on battery. A hybrid inverter can draw from solar panels, the battery, and the Eskom grid — switching between them automatically. Most SA homeowners install hybrid inverters so they can use solar during the day, store surplus in batteries, and fall back to Eskom at night. This is the most cost-effective setup for staying on-grid while cutting your bill.

How many solar panels do I need to charge my battery bank?

South Africa averages about 5 peak sun hours per day. A 550W panel generates roughly 2kWh per day (at 75% system efficiency). So a 5kWh battery bank needs approximately 3 panels to fully recharge after a Stage 4 outage (4 hours). More panels mean faster recharging and greater Eskom savings.