Solar Backup & Electrical Guides

How a changeover switches your building between the grid, a generator and backup power safely, and why it must never back-feed the grid.

Collector, tank and circulation: how sunlight becomes hot water in your shower.

Flat plate or evacuated tube, pressurised or gravity: which type suits your home or building.

Why storms and power returns kill cameras, gate controllers and recorders, and how surge protection and earthing prevent it.

How export limiting works, what you need, and how it keeps you clear of EPRA's dumping charge.

Watts, hours and depth of discharge: the simple maths behind how big your batteries and inverter need to be.

Good lighting is one of the cheapest deterrents. Solar lights work well if they get sun and are sized for the job.

What the new EPRA rule on unauthorised solar exports means for homes and businesses, and how to check your inverter.

Pick the voltage and colour, size the power supply above the strip's watts, and use a profile for neat results.

Do not overload extension leads. Check the rating, avoid daisy-chaining and replace damaged cables.

How to report a blackout to Kenya Power, and how to stop the return surge damaging your electronics.

Size limits, how export credits work, and the steps to export solar to Kenya Power legally.

Keeping CCTV, fences, gates, access control and the router running when the power goes, and why it's cheaper than backing up a whole building.

From the roof survey to the first hot shower: how a solar water heater is installed.

Sizing and designing large solar hot water systems for institutions.

A rechargeable lamp or emergency light keeps a shop open and a home safe through short outages.

Typical appliance wattages and what each inverter size can realistically run.

A small UPS keeps the router, POS and phone charger alive through short outages, so you do not lose sales.

Add up the watts of what you plug in and pick a UPS rated well above it; the runtime follows from the battery.

Choose by lumens (brightness), the right cap and a colour that suits the room, from a known brand.

Panel lights give even, glare-free light for offices; tube lights are a simple upgrade for shops and workshops.

Light the entrances and dark corners with weatherproof lights, and aim them to help your cameras.

Choose a rechargeable torch with a runtime that covers your night and a charging method that works in an outage.

The four inverter brands Kenyans search most, and the specs that actually decide which one fits.

Usable capacity, lifespan and real cost per cycle: which battery type suits your backup.

Which solar system keeps the lights (and cameras) on when KPLC goes off? On-grid, hybrid and off-grid compared.

How each controller works, when the cheaper PWM is fine, and how to size one.

Free sun vs efficient electricity: comparing the two main alternatives to electric geysers.

Size, collector, pressure, tank and warranty: the checklist for a system that lasts.

How tube collectors work, what drives the price, and when they're the right choice.

Is it the battery, the load or the charging? How to tell and what to do.

Overload, low battery, grid or overheating: what the beeping means and what to do.

Find the load that trips it, handle motor start-up surges, and size correctly.

Dips, surges and spikes: protect fridges, TVs, computers and CCTV.

Wiring, transfer mode, battery cut-off: why backup fails at the moment you need it.

Overload, earth leakage or faulty appliance: find what trips your power.

PV input, breakers, charger settings, battery type: find where charging stops.

Dust, shade, heat and failed strings: why output drops and what to do.

No hot water, lukewarm water, leaks or low pressure: what usually causes it.

On battery, overload, or 'replace battery': read the beep and protect your equipment.

Keeping CCTV, fences and gates running when the power goes.

Real solar backup components, compared.

Hybrid solar kit: components, specifications and installation.