Get Off the Eskom Power Grid – Solar and Inverter Guide for South Africa

Hybrid Inverters – Core of an Off-Grid System

• Scalable power: Link up to 6 hybrid inverters to supply about 30KVA for larger homes or factories.   
• Single-home setup: Most households run well on one 5KVA hybrid inverter.   
• Shop now: Search for "hybrid inverters" on this site. 

Solar Power for Homes and Factories

Solar panels combined with deep cycle batteries deliver reliable daytime power for residential and commercial use and reduce reliance on Eskom.

Power in a Box – Battery Centres

Battery centres (inverter and battery in one unit) provide clean, quiet, portable backup power for TVs and lights, typically offering 4+ hours of runtime.   

• No installation required and easy to move.   
• Solar input lets you charge via panels during the day.   
• Search for "Battery centres" on this site. 

Deep Cycle Batteries – Long-Life Storage

Solar Panel Payback Period

Typical break-even for a solar installation is around 7 years, considering ongoing tariff increases. The value of uninterrupted power during load shedding further improves the return.

Inverter Sizing – What You Can Run During Load Shedding

1200VA / 720W inverter + 1x 12V 100Ah battery   

• Ideal for a single LED/LCD TV and a few lights.   
• Use pure sine wave for sensitive loads. Avoid running fridges on modified sine wave.

2400VA / 1440W inverter + 2x 12V 100Ah batteries  

• Runs a TV, lights, and small devices comfortably.   
• A 200W fridge is possible on pure sine wave inverters.

3000VA / 2400W pure sine wave inverter

• Supports a fridge, TVs, a few lights, and small appliances (kettle or toaster, one at a time).

5000VA / 4000W pure sine wave inverter   

• Powers an entire small house excluding oven and geyser.   
• Units can be paralleled to expand capacity for larger households. 

High-Power Inverters: 5000W / 8000VA and 8000W   

• Great value for big homes or light commercial use.   
• Often cheaper and faster to install than multi-inverter parallel setups. 

Parallel Inverters – Earth Leakage and Wiring Tips   

• Connect both communication and current-sharing cables exactly as per the manual
• Update firmware on all inverters to the same version.
• Do not bond inverter output neutral to input neutral. Keep output and input wiring isolated as specified.

Typical South African Install Path 

Homeowners often start with a Hybrid 5000VA inverter for the main house and a 3000VA hybrid for outbuildings (flatlets, entertainment areas, staff quarters, garages). As budget allows, they add solar panels to keep batteries charged during the day, steadily reducing reliance on Eskom.

Are Inverters Reliable?

Yes - when properly sized, cooled, and installed. High-power inverters (3000VA+) should be installed by a qualified electrician.   

• Install in a cool, well-ventilated space (garages often need ceiling and insulation to lower heat).
• Avoid constant heavy loads to prevent overheating and premature fan failure.
• Use a power monitor (e.g., Efergy by Ellies) to measure consumption before investing. 

High-Load Appliances to Watch

Not recommended on a single household inverter unless you have very high capacity or multiple units:   

• Geysers (around 3000W)   
• Pool pumps (around 1100W, long run times)   
• Tumble dryers, dishwashers, washing machines 

Short-term compatible on single-inverter setups (use sparingly):   

• Hair dryers   
• Irons 

Consider separating the pool pump onto its own smaller inverter to reduce strain on the main household system.

Keyword Help – What to Search On This Site

• "Hybrid inverters"   
• "Battery centres"   
• "Deep cycle batteries"   
• "Solar panels"   
• "Pure sine wave inverter"   
• "Off-grid solar kit South Africa"

Quick Checklist Before You Buy   

• Audit your daily power usage with a monitoring device.   
• Choose a pure sine wave inverter for fridges and sensitive electronics.   
• Size batteries for the desired backup hours at typical load.   
• Plan ventilation and cooling for inverter and batteries.   
• Add solar panels to keep batteries charged during the day.