A list of appliances isn’t enough for an accurate solar quote. Learn the 3 key questions about daily use, runtime and simultaneous loads that determine the right system size.
A lot of people assume getting a solar quotation is straightforward. They send an installer a list of appliances; one air conditioner, two televisions, three fans, a refrigerator, a freezer, and a water pump—and expect an accurate system recommendation. The issue is that these appliances are only a small fragment of the whole picture.
Two homes can own almost the same appliances and still need completely different solar systems. The difference isn't the house but in how electricity is used inside it. Before asking for a quotation, there are three questions worth answering.
1. Which appliances do you use every day?
Walk through your house and think about yesterday instead of what you own. Your refrigerator probably ran all day. Your television may have been on for a few hours. But what about the pressing iron, microwave or blender? If they weren't used, they contributed nothing to yesterday's electricity demand.
A solar system should be designed around your daily routine, and not every appliance you've ever plugged into a socket.
2. How long do you use them?
Owning an air conditioner doesn't automatically mean you need a large solar system. Someone who cools a bedroom for an hour before sleeping has very different electricity needs from someone who leaves the AC running until morning. The same applies to televisions, fans and other household appliances. How long they stay on often matters more than the fact that you own them.
This is one of the reasons two families with similar homes can receive very different solar quotations.
3. Which appliances run at the same time?
This is where many people underestimate their electricity demand. An electric kettle only runs for a few minutes. A water pump might run for twenty or more. An air conditioner could stay on for hours. Individually, none of those have any big effects.
What matters is whether they're running together. Boiling water while the pump is filling the overhead tank and the air conditioner is cooling the living room creates a very different demand than using each appliance separately. A good installer needs to understand those patterns before recommending a system.
A solar quotation should reflect the way your household actually uses electricity rather than appliance checklist alone. That's why two neighbours with almost identical homes can receive completely different recommendations. One family may spend most of the day out and use very little electricity until evening. The other may have people at home all day, with appliances running from morning until night.
The best solar system is the one that's designed around the way you live. Run your load assessment today using our calculator before you make any decisions.
Fabian Omini
Energy Analyst
Fabian Omini is an energy analyst with a keen interest in translating complex energy and finance topics into clear, accessible narratives for everyday Africans.
