₦airaland Forum

Your comment is based on outdated assumptions about what modern solar systems can do.

silibaba:
Solar is for light and little gadgets.

That may have been true 15 to 20 years ago. It certainly isn’t true today.
People are running entire homes on solar, including:
- Air conditioners
- Borehole pumps
- Refrigerators and deep freezers
- Washing machines
- Electric ovens
- Induction cookers
- Water heaters

The limiting factor isn’t that “solar can’t power them.” It’s whether the system was designed with enough inverter capacity, battery storage and solar panels.

silibaba:
Solar is not reliable during the rainy season.

A properly engineered solar system is designed around the worst solar months, not the best. Installers use historical solar irradiation data when sizing the battery bank and PV array. That’s why quality offgrid systems continue to work throughout the rainy season.

silibaba:
Can solar power factories?

Absolutely. Many factories around the world already operate partly or entirely on solar power. In Nigeria, numerous manufacturing companies have installed multi megawatt solar plants to reduce diesel consumption. Even telecom towers, which require extremely high uptime, are increasingly powered by solar-hybrid systems.
If solar couldn’t power industrial loads, there wouldn’t be utility-scale solar farms producing hundreds of megawatts and feeding national grids around the world.

twinskenny:
Today installations

6kva deye inverter

16kwh deye lithium battery'

8 no of 620w jinko panels

Installed at Lekki Lagos

Now this is a very clean installation.

eminemkayc:
Well there are pros and cons. Most of your points do not directly apply because if fuel prices increase, inflation, which is a mathematical function of fuel price variation, shall also increase proportionately, and when this happens, my interest increases to match my fueling costs. This happens all the time so it doesnt impact me. If inflation reduces, fuelling cost reduces and so do my interest in the money market, so i'm good. I stated clearly the benefits I enjoy. Inverter batteries do not last a life time either after cycles of charging and discharging they wear down and their staying power reduces. Therefore you would need to replace them once in about 6 years. At the time of battery replacement, the prevailing inflation would catch up with you as it shall eat into your pocket because if you had purchased the batteries for 1.5m for e.g، it will cost you more to replace them. That's if you can even get genuine batteries.
Meanwhile a honda generator bought six years earlier for 800k at today's price has not even reached a quarter of its half life and is still running smoothly.

My Honda is genuine and doesnt worry me in over ten years since 2016. You can't use a BuchiMIX blender for e.g with an inverter of equivalent power rating without slowly damaging its service life. You will kill the batteries with time. But I do that with my gen while other things are on like ox fans and all. Well this is why I got a ; genuine japanese product by the way, which was quite pricey as compared to other brands of the same rating at the time. more than twice the cost. Finally I didnt compare 3m with the cost of the gen in 2016. I compared it with the current cost which is about 800k. The balance will be invested in money market and the return, used in powering my gen with fuel and I am fine having the principal 2.2m after 60days which i can reinvest. Well my case is peculiar due to the kind of gen I use. A different gen wouldnt last this long and would have packed up since, if put under the same stress at which I put mine. So I don't see a need for an inverter for now. Note that my gen is calm and doesnt make noise. The decibel rating is way below 20db

I think we've actually narrowed down the discussion.
You are no longer arguing that generators are generally better than solar. You're now arguing that your particular setup works well for your particular circumstances, and I completely accept that.

However, there are still a few points worth clarifying.
Your investment argument assumes that money market returns will always outpace your energy costs. History doesn't support that. Fuel prices don't increase in a neat proportion to interest rates. There have been periods where real (inflation-adjusted) returns on money market instruments were negative. If petrol doubles while your returns don't keep pace after inflation and taxes, you're gradually consuming your capital in real terms, even if the nominal balance looks unchanged.

Secondly, you keep treating battery replacement as an unexpected cost, while fuel is somehow not.
Fuel is not an asset, it's a consumable. Once you buy ₦60k worth of petrol, that money is gone forever. A battery, on the other hand, is a capital asset that provides thousands of charge/discharge cycles over many years before it needs to be replaced.
Over a 10 year period, you've bought fuel literally hundreds of times. A solar owner may replace batteries once, depending on battery chemistry and usage.

Thirdly, modern LiFePo4 batteries are not the same as the old lead-acid batteries many Naija folks still associate with inverter systems. Quality LiFePo4 batteries are commonly rated for 4,000 to 8,000 cycles. Used once daily, that's well over 10 years of service before reaching around 80% of their original capacity. They don't simply "die" after six years.
Regarding high power appliances like blenders, that's not a limitation of solar, it's a limitation of undersized inverter systems. A properly designed inverter with sufficient surge capacity can comfortably power motors, pumps, compressors and blenders without "killing the batteries." The batteries simply supply DC energy, and the inverter determines how that energy is delivered to the load.

Finally, you said your Honda is very quiet. I believe you. Honda generators are exceptionally quiet.
But no matter how quiet it is, it still requires:
- buying petrol,
- transporting petrol,
- storing petrol,
- starting the engine,
- changing oil,
- replacing consumables,
- and emitting exhaust gases.

A solar system does none of those things. Your Honda is an excellent generator. It just isn't evidence that generators, as a class, have a lower lifetime cost of ownership than a well-engineered solar system.

eminemkayc:
I use a Honda 2.5kva generator purchased brand new in 2016 and I have been using it till this day. It's over ten years now and within this period I may only have called a technician not more than 10 times to only do what I can't typically do myself as I service it myself, which is just oil scheduled changes, or plug change after a very long time of rigorous usage. My Honda is quiet and very fuel efficient. It gives me about 1.3-1.4hr per Litre efficiency and it carries my deep freezer, 2Nos OX 130w industrial fans, 7Kg (350w) washing machine, etc. I will not switch to an inverter system as it's pointless having 3 sources of power in my home plus the huge cost of acquiring a comparatively equivalent quality inverter to my Honda generator. As i do not ever call technicians since the gen doesnt give me issues since 2016 and I've gotten good value for money, hitch free. Once there's no electricity (i'm on band A by the way), I switch on my 2.5kVa generator and it carries everything in my house and i'm fine. As for cost, its just fuel. I use about 15k max in a week which is about 60k in a month, i.e in a worst case scenario. To purchase the same Honda 2.5kva gen today will cost about 800k, i got mine in 2016 for 160k. If I am to get a good quality inverter system that would carry everything in my house, it'll cost me about 2.5m to 3m. If I have 3m and subtract 800k from it to get another Honda 2.5kVa generator,i.e assuming I do not have a generator presently, I can invest the balance 2.2m in a reliable money market that can give me good interest in 90days that I can use to offset the fueling cost for my gen while retaining the principal. Simple!!

Your experience with your Honda generator has been excellent, and I don't dispute that. Honda generators are among the most reliable ever built, so you've clearly gotten your money's worth.
However, a few assumptions in your comparison don't quite hold.

First, you're comparing a new ₦3 million premium solar system to an existing generator you bought for ₦160k ten years ago. That's not an apples-to-apples comparison.
The relevant comparison is:
- Someone buying a generator today for about ₦800k plus fuel and maintenance over the next 10 to 15 years.
- Someone installing a properly sized solar system today and paying almost nothing for energy after the initial investment.

Second, your biggest recurring expense isn't maintenance, it's fuel.
You stated you spend around ₦60k per month in a worst-case scenario. That's ₦720k per year.
In five years, you've spent ₦3.6 million on fuel alone.
In ten years, that's ₦7.2 million, assuming fuel prices never increase, which, in Nigeria, is a very optimistic assumption.
Now compare that with a solar owner whose energy cost after installation is practically zero.

Third, the investment argument isn't as straightforward as it sounds.
Yes, investing the ₦2.2 million difference could generate returns. But you're assuming:
- interest rates remain high,
- inflation doesn't erode those returns,
- fuel prices don't continue rising,
- and your investment consistently outpaces your increasing fuel costs.
That's a lot of assumptions.
Meanwhile, the solar owner is effectively earning a "return" every day by not having to buy petrol. Every litre of fuel not purchased is money kept in their pocket.

Fourth, there's the convenience factor.
A solar system doesn't require:
- buying fuel,
- transporting fuel,
- storing petrol,
- engine noise,
- oil changes,
- warming up the engine,
- or manually starting it every time PHCN takes light.
The power is simply there, automatically.

For someone building a power system from scratch today, especially with rising fuel prices, quality LiFePo4 batteries, and cheaper solar panels than a few years ago, the economics favour solar.

buygala:
Since this is a Nigerian forum, I will tailor my response to the Nigerian reality where there is little or no standard and quality enforcement for anything, including Solar set-ups

In the first world countries, Solar is far better than generators ceteris paribus, but in Nigeria, Solar set-ups are a quality gamble and unreasonably expensive

So as far as Nigeria is concerned, Generators are far more cost efficient and more reliable...

In Nigeria, the cost of a good generator is far cheaper than the cost of a solar set up that can supply power equal to such generator ...and there are very quiet and fuel efficient generators these days...

On will think Solar is cheaper until it is time to replace batteries, solar panels, or the inverter spoils...or worst case, the solar set-up puts gbese on the owner by catching fire and burning the house down

Last but not the least, Solar people (especially those who are off-grid) will still on Gen this period because of the frequent rain ..No sun, very little or no power for them

Your post is based on misconceptions rather than facts.
There is no credible data supporting the claim that generators are more cost-effective than solar for an average Naija household over the long term. In fact, the opposite is true.

Let’s use a typical Naija home consuming about 300 kWh per month.
A generator producing that much electricity would consume roughly 300 litres of petrol (or more, depending on the generator and loading). At ₦1,300 per litre, that’s approximately ₦390k every single month on fuel alone. That excludes engine oil, spark plugs, air filters, servicing, repairs, and eventual engine replacement.
Now compare that with a properly designed solar system. After the initial investment, your sunlight is completely free. Modern LiFePO4 batteries typically last 10 to 15 years, quality solar panels carry 25 to 30 year performance warranties, and reputable hybrid inverters commonly last 10 years or more when correctly installed.

People often mention battery replacement as if generator owners never replace engines, alternators, AVR boards, carburettors, starters, recoil assemblies, or spend money on endless servicing. Every machine has maintenance costs. The difference is that generator owners pay for fuel every single day, while solar owners don’t.
Regarding your fire argument, poor installation can make any electrical system dangerous. Houses have caught fire from generators due to petrol storage, fuel spills, carbon monoxide poisoning, poor wiring, and overloaded extension cables. That’s not an argument against generators; it’s an argument for using qualified installers and quality components. The same applies to solar.

Your statement that “solar people will still use generators during the rainy season” also misunderstands how modern systems work. A properly sized offgrid solar system is designed using the worst solar months of the year, not the best. Good installers size the PV array and battery bank based on seasonal irradiation data. Yes, there may be several consecutive cloudy days when a backup generator is useful, but that’s exactly what it is, a backup, not the primary source of electricity.

The problem in Naija isn’t that solar is inferior. The problem is that many people buy the cheapest components available and hire unqualified installers. When someone installs a 3 kVA inverter with two old batteries and expects to power three air conditioners, naturally they’ll conclude that solar doesn’t work.
Quality solar isn’t cheap, but neither is buying petrol every week for the next 10 years.

If generators were truly more economical, businesses that carefully analyse operating costs wouldn’t be replacing them with solar hybrid systems across the country. They do it because the numbers make sense.

Jesus is coming back again! Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. REPENT!!

The young man has fallen. Rise up and restart the count bro. No retreat no surrender!

There are so many hidden posts. What's going on?

Very sexy! I need to take this automation business seriously!!
I am interested in your YAML file. I'm in your DM...

GloryJoyeux:
Final Setup

Programmed Home Assistant using YAML for various automation, and created sensors from mqtt stream from SA. InfluxDB for the database. It also shows live individual power consumption of each device in the house through smart plugs, HA integration and custom auto-entities.

Leave solar for now, you've got bigger problems already

BigDickProblems:
Good day guys,

I have 350k set aside for solar installation, and I intend to use it for 2 laptops, 2 Fans and my gadgets. That's all. I don't mind just a solar panel and one battery.

Kindly advise me if this is feasible. If yes, Where can I get this stuff. Thanks.

49 Triangles... Hold my beer

bigtt76:
How are they comfortable staying with you without plans to look for their apartment? 😂...I won't be that comfortable, though, as I would feel guilty about not contributing to the rent or running the house even without being prompted. People are wired differently, though 😂 I hope their knacking does not disturb your sleep, though 🫣🤭🤣🤣

casualobserver:
Why a breaker allowed current above its rating for 5 minutes still doesn’t.

That said I can understand a hypothetical scenario where a switch is rated for say 30A, a breaker for 50A and current of 45A flows and causes a fire at the switch and the breaker doesn’t trip because it is within the limit of the current passing through, allowing the current to continue to do damage. I can’t wrap my head around a current of 60A flowing in this hypothetical scenario and the breaker 50A remaining live long enough for damage to be done at the 30A switch.

There are different types of MCBs, and they each have a specific Trip Curve.
Type B and C, the ones we typically use at home takes about 5 seconds to trip when 5 times it's rated current passes thru it.

Fuses on the other hand will break at it's rated current.
Fuses are fast acting, while MCBs will be giving you final warning for several days before grudginly taking action.

Nice one... but check the bolded again. A typical 30L water heater takes about 15 to 20 minutes to reach the setpoint.

adrusa:
And even then my system would have shut down because my pumping machine drawing about 2KW and my water heater drawing about 1.5KW still came on at 4:00AM and 5:00AM respectively. Pump for 25 minutes and heater for 90 minutes. Voltage would have gone down low enough to trip the inverter.

If you are not using lithium batteries, you can not appreciate its resilience.

brightk:
quite understandable. i need your ideas on this... Assuming i have a hybrid inverter whose maximum mppt input it 4kw and i oversize my panels to 7 kilowatt incase of cloudy days.. Does it mean that my hybrid inverter will clip the power to 4kw only during sunny days?

Yes, the max solar power will be clipped at 4000w.

FEGEITOK:
...I found out I could buy at Lagos prices in Abuja and not have to pay for transportation and wait for them to be delivered.

Link me up with the Abuja connect, as i want to get more Jinko panels. Thanks.

Hello guys,
Anyone sell a wifi MCB? Anything from 10A and above.

Endtime tinz

TechGeek777:
We are indeed in a perilous time.

I was here o!
History must be made today...

Guys, Is there anyone with a 1000 amps Victron Lynx Shunt - VE.CAN?

Enjoy...

brightk:
hello everyone where can i get original canadian solar panels.... is there a sole distributor here in Nigeria? not alaba sticker panels ooo.....

samir101ng:
Another top rated dealer of Canadian Solar Panels and Axpert range of inverters. You can be assured of getting quality products.

Gennex Technologies
Head Office
Plot 25, Adebisi Ogunnuyi Crescent, off Oladimeji Alo Street, Ikate, Lekki, Lagos
Front Office: 012934490
Hotline Sales
08171936361, 08179462854
WhatsApp: +2348171936361, +2348179462854
Hotline Quotation
08091023062
https://shop.gennextechnologies.com/

1HP inverter aircon and 2 Led bulbs will consume around 500w*9hrs = 4.5kWh.

A 3kVA 24Vdc Hybrid inverter and
280Ah 24Vdc diy Lithium bank will do the trick.
Total cost less than N1m.

AshipaEk0:
Please recommend a setup design for me.

Beginner.

Solar Panels may not be possible this time (due to location and cost) but would prefer a system where adding panels would be easy later.


Max Load:

Lights = 150 watts total (all won't be on at once)

Fans: 60 x 3 = 180 W total (not all at once)

1 HP Split AC (TUNDRA) = can't find rating. Spec sheet says 5.7A Max

1 TV. = 120 W Max

1 Decoders, 1 TV Box = 30 Watts

1 Laptop. = 65 Watts

Obligatory phones charging

Around 500Watts excluding AC



1 Deep Freezer ***** ( I think this will only run at daytime if I install solar)

Major requirement:
Power AC and 2 security lights only through the night. 9 hours

I got that picture from one of my contacts... I hope to attend the next one.

zeestone99:
Baba give us update na.

Trying to locate Niyi…

samir101ng:
As in eh. Was planning to attend from Abuja but my plans changed. It will be good to see others attend.

Niyi na one of them

samir101ng:
If una only know the amount of regulators & players in this forum eh !!

Dem full here boku.

I no go name names sha

@samir101ng, You're doing the Lord's work. Many thanks for your rich well researched posts.

AC and DC breakers in same DB.

olopan:
Can anyone check and see what's wrong in this installation picture?

If you slip and fall/lean on that Victron inverter, that's a serious incident waiting to happen
Do you have air vents in that box to allow airflow through the unit from down - up ?

NiyiOmoIyunade:
See below some older pre cleanup pics of the system...

I'll check my mail.
No, I no longer use them as I can program the Quattro to switch based on all sorts of condition.

netotse:
@Barezzi
Sent you an email, been meaning to reach out to ask about your setup, do you still use the voltage controlled switches?

How mush?
I am finally ready to embrace Lithium.

earthrealm:
I hv brand new eve 280ah cells for sale.
250amp 48v 16s daly smart bms with bluetooth dongle. If you are ready to put in some work, get your hands dirty build a case and assemble the pack
you can save yourself some extra money , .

I could help you top balance the cells b4 sending out