There are numerous brands and models of solar panels and inverters on the market for those looking to escape load-shedding, but only a handful come highly recommended by the experts.
Quote comparison platform Procompare asked the professional solar installation companies listed on its platform to recommend the best solar panels and inverters for their customers.
Using this information, it came up with two of the most highly recommended options for either device as well as four good alternative inverters and panels.
The installers recommended Tier 1 solar panels, which is the designation of the highest quality panels produced by industry-leading manufacturers with over five years of experience in solar technology and production.
“Tier 1 designation indicates that the brand is trusted by insurance and loan provider companies,” The Sol Energy’s Amit Kharb explained.
As a general rule of thumb, the larger the panel, the better the value for money in terms of the rand-per-watt spent, Procompare said.
IC Solar’s Ben Joubert said one of the best-selling options at this point in time are 550W panels from JA Solar.
This panel features 144 monocrystalline cells with an efficiency of around 21.7%.
Its current typical market price from installers on Procompare is R2,590, although MyBroadband also found units online from other stores selling for around R2,000.
Procompare’s installers said that using solar panels larger than 550W presented challenges due to their increased weight and size, making them difficult to handle and transport to roofs of multi-story buildings.
“Smaller panels, ranging from 300W to 460W, are easier to install on roofs with intricate designs,” Procompare explained.
In addition, using fewer but larger panels might decrease the power generated per square meter.
Solid alternatives to the 550W JA Solar panel include the Canadian Solar 545W Mono, Jinko Solar 460w Mono, JA Solar 460w Mono, and the Trina Solar 545w Mono.
CmaC Power Solutions Colin Mackay said his company generally offered a 4-, 6-, or 8-panel system, which provided a good starting point while allowing for growth.
“This equates to a 2.2kWp, 3.3kWp, or 4.4kWp system when using 550W panels and offers a daily average output of 10kWh (4 panels) to 20kWh (8 panels) depending on orientation,” Mackay said.
“Note that the average suburban house uses around 35kWh per day.”
Mackay said the system’s size can be increased depending on customer requirements in terms of power consumption and budget.
Ideal inverter size and brands
Most of the Procompare’s experts recommended installing a fully hybrid on-grid inverter rather than an off-grid inverter.
This will allow for the ideal mixing of multiple sources of power — including solar, grid, batteries, and fuel generators — as well as feeding electricity back into the grid for billing credits.
Nicholas Smit of Camelphat Energy & Solar Solutions recommended that the average household get an 8kW inverter over a 5kW one.
“This is because a 5kW inverter is often pushed to its limits in a 3-bedroom home, especially during morning routines when appliances like kettles, toasters, and air fryers are commonly used,” Smit said.
Kharb also advised choosing an inverter which supports changing settings online for additional convenience.
“This feature proves beneficial during load shedding, as you can preserve battery charge for up to two hours or extend it to four and six hours online,” Kharb said.
The SunSynk 8kW 48V hybrid inverter offers sufficient capacity and excellent software.
Other recommended inverters to consider were the Deye 5kW 48V, LuxPower SNA5000 5kw 48V, Victron Multiplus 3kW 24V, and MegaRevo 8kW 48V.
“The final choice always depends on the characteristics of the property, your needs and means,” Procompare said.
The installers did not advise on the best battery types, brands or sizes.
Based on previous feedback from solar installers, a 5kWh or 10kWh battery is suitable for most households’ needs.
In light of the high levels of load-shedding experienced in recent years, a lithium-ion battery is a much better investment than a lead-acid type, due to much higher lifecycles and a greater depth-of-discharge.
Battery brands that solar companies have often recommended to MyBroadband in the past include:
- BYD
- Dyness
- Freedom Won
- HinaESS
- Hubble
- Livoltek
- Pylontech
- Shoto
- Tesla
- Volta
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