Leekabod Electronics Is Your One-stop Shop for Everything Electronic, From The Latest Gadgets and Gizmos to the Essential Appliances.
Our Contact Numbers Are: +263 78 431 3713, +263 78 957 3484, +263 71 409 0819
Leekabod Electronics Is Your One-stop Shop for Everything Electronic, From The Latest Gadgets and Gizmos to the Essential Appliances.
Our Contact Numbers Are: +263 78 431 3713, +263 78 957 3484, +263 71 409 0819
Our Contact Numbers Are: +263 78 431 3713, +263 78 957 3484, +263 71 409 0819
It’s one of the most rewarding investments you’ll ever make.
But before you get caught up in brands and components, there is one question that stands above all others, the answer to which will determine the success and satisfaction of your entire solar journey: "What size solar system do I actually need?"
This is, without a doubt, the most critical question an aspiring solar owner must answer. Get it wrong, and you face a world of frustration. An undersized system will constantly trip and fail to meet your needs, while an oversized one is a waste of your hard-earned money on capacity you’ll never use.
This is, without a doubt, the most critical question an aspiring solar owner must answer. Get it wrong, and you face a world of frustration. An undersized system will constantly trip and fail to meet your needs, while an oversized one is a waste of your hard-earned money on capacity you’ll never use.
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| Guide to Calculating Your Perfect Solar System |
As Zimbabwe's leading solar system experts, we at Leekabod Electronics believe in empowering our clients with knowledge. This guide will walk you through the exact process we use to design a perfectly tailored system, ensuring you invest wisely in a solution that fits your life like a glove.
Before you can think about equipment, you must first understand your own energy consumption. This is the bedrock of a successful solar system design.
Your first task is to make a comprehensive list of every single appliance and device you want to power with your solar system. Be thorough. Walk through your home or business, room by room, and list everything.
Here’s a sample list with typical power consumption (wattage) to get you started:
Pro Tip: You can find the exact wattage of your appliances on the sticker or plate on the back or bottom of the device.
Look at your list and identify the appliances you would realistically need to run simultaneously. For example, in the evening, you might have lights, the TV, the fridge, and be charging phones all at once.
Calculation: Add up the wattage of these items.
Example: 10 Lights (100W) + TV (150W) + Fridge (200W) + Wi-Fi (15W) = 465 Watts.
This tells you the minimum continuous power your inverter needs to provide.
Important Note on Starting Loads: Appliances with motors, like fridges and pumps, require a large surge of power to start up (sometimes 3-5 times their running wattage). A good inverter can handle this, but it’s crucial to size it with a buffer. We recommend choosing an inverter that is at least 25% larger than your calculated peak load.
For this, you need to estimate how many hours per day each appliance on your list will run.
Calculation: `[Appliance Wattage] x [Hours of Daily Use] = Daily Energy Consumption (Watt-hours or Wh)`
Example:
* TV (150W) for 5 hours = 750 Wh
* Fridge (200W) runs for about 8 hours a day (it cycles on and off) = 1600 Wh
* 10 Lights (100W total) for 6 hours = 600 Wh
Total Daily Energy Need = 750 + 1600 + 600 = 2,950 Watt-hours (or 2.95 kWh)
This number is the absolute key to sizing your battery bank. A larger daily energy need requires a larger battery bank to get you through the night.
Your solar panels are the engine that generates all your power. The array must be large enough to run your home during the day and fully recharge your batteries.
In Zimbabwe, we are blessed with an average of about 5 to 6 "peak sun hours" per day. We can use this to get a good estimate.
Calculation: `[Total Daily Energy Need (Wh)] / [Peak Sun Hours] = Required Solar Panel Wattage`
Example: 2,950 Wh / 5 hours = 590 Watts of solar panels.
To be safe and account for cloudy days and system inefficiencies, we would recommend installing a slightly larger array, for instance, 600W - 700W.
These calculations will give you a fantastic ballpark figure and empower you during your search. However, they are not a substitute for a professional site assessment and design.
An expert from Leekabod Electronics will not only refine these calculations but will also factor in critical variables like:
* Your roof's orientation and potential shading issues.
* System efficiency losses (no system is 100% efficient).
* The ideal depth of discharge for your chosen batteries to maximize their lifespan.
* Your plans for future expansion.
Don't leave your most important investment to guesswork. Let our expertise be your guide.
Ready to design the perfect solar system for your home or business? Contact us today for a professional, no-obligation consultation.
Visit us today at 𝟭𝟲 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱, 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲, 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲 or contact us on:
📞 +263 78 431 3713 | +263 71 409 0819 | 078 957 3484
🌐 www.leekabod.co.zw
📧 leekabodelectronics@gmail.com
Leekabod Electronics: Powering Your Life, Brighter!
Step 1: The Foundation - Your Energy Audit
Before you can think about equipment, you must first understand your own energy consumption. This is the bedrock of a successful solar system design.
Create Your Appliance List
Your first task is to make a comprehensive list of every single appliance and device you want to power with your solar system. Be thorough. Walk through your home or business, room by room, and list everything.
Here’s a sample list with typical power consumption (wattage) to get you started:
| Appliance | Average Power (Watts) |
|---|---|
| LED Light Bulb | 10W |
| Wi-Fi Router | 15W |
| Laptop | 65W |
| 55" LED TV & Decoder | 150W |
| Desktop Computer | 250W |
| Upright Fan | 100W |
| Modern Fridge/Freezer | 200W - 400W |
| Small Deep Freezer | 150W |
| Borehole/Booster Pump | 750W - 1,500W |
| Microwave | 1,200W |
| Kettle | 2,000W |
Pro Tip: You can find the exact wattage of your appliances on the sticker or plate on the back or bottom of the device.
Step 2: Calculating Your Load - The Key to Sizing Your Inverter
The inverter is the engine of your system, and its size (measured in kVA or kW) determines how many appliances it can run at the same time.Calculate Your Peak Load
Look at your list and identify the appliances you would realistically need to run simultaneously. For example, in the evening, you might have lights, the TV, the fridge, and be charging phones all at once.
Calculation: Add up the wattage of these items.
Example: 10 Lights (100W) + TV (150W) + Fridge (200W) + Wi-Fi (15W) = 465 Watts.
This tells you the minimum continuous power your inverter needs to provide.
Important Note on Starting Loads: Appliances with motors, like fridges and pumps, require a large surge of power to start up (sometimes 3-5 times their running wattage). A good inverter can handle this, but it’s crucial to size it with a buffer. We recommend choosing an inverter that is at least 25% larger than your calculated peak load.
Step 3: Calculating Your Energy Needs - The Key to Sizing Your Batteries
Your battery bank is your energy reservoir. Its size determines how long you can run your appliances when the sun isn't shining.Calculate Your Daily Energy Consumption (Watt-hours)
For this, you need to estimate how many hours per day each appliance on your list will run.
Calculation: `[Appliance Wattage] x [Hours of Daily Use] = Daily Energy Consumption (Watt-hours or Wh)`
Example:
* TV (150W) for 5 hours = 750 Wh
* Fridge (200W) runs for about 8 hours a day (it cycles on and off) = 1600 Wh
* 10 Lights (100W total) for 6 hours = 600 Wh
Total Daily Energy Need = 750 + 1600 + 600 = 2,950 Watt-hours (or 2.95 kWh)
This number is the absolute key to sizing your battery bank. A larger daily energy need requires a larger battery bank to get you through the night.
Step 4: Calculating Your Power Generator - The Key to Sizing Your Panels
Your solar panels are the engine that generates all your power. The array must be large enough to run your home during the day and fully recharge your batteries.
Sizing Your Solar Array
In Zimbabwe, we are blessed with an average of about 5 to 6 "peak sun hours" per day. We can use this to get a good estimate.
Calculation: `[Total Daily Energy Need (Wh)] / [Peak Sun Hours] = Required Solar Panel Wattage`
Example: 2,950 Wh / 5 hours = 590 Watts of solar panels.
To be safe and account for cloudy days and system inefficiencies, we would recommend installing a slightly larger array, for instance, 600W - 700W.
The Final Step: Consulting the Experts
These calculations will give you a fantastic ballpark figure and empower you during your search. However, they are not a substitute for a professional site assessment and design.
An expert from Leekabod Electronics will not only refine these calculations but will also factor in critical variables like:
* Your roof's orientation and potential shading issues.
* System efficiency losses (no system is 100% efficient).
* The ideal depth of discharge for your chosen batteries to maximize their lifespan.
* Your plans for future expansion.
Don't leave your most important investment to guesswork. Let our expertise be your guide.
Ready to design the perfect solar system for your home or business? Contact us today for a professional, no-obligation consultation.
Visit us today at 𝟭𝟲 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱, 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲, 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲 or contact us on:
📞 +263 78 431 3713 | +263 71 409 0819 | 078 957 3484
🌐 www.leekabod.co.zw
📧 leekabodelectronics@gmail.com
Leekabod Electronics: Powering Your Life, Brighter!
Leekabod Electronics Is Your One-stop Shop for Everything Electronic, From The Latest Gadgets and Gizmos to the Essential Appliances.
Our Contact Numbers Are: +263 78 431 3713, +263 78 957 3484, +263 71 409 0819
