Nigeria's power situation is like that annoying mosquito buzzing around your ear at night and can't seem to kill —it’s been a persistent problem for decades. Whether you're working from home, running a small business, or just trying to keep the lights on, unreliable electricity is a daily battle. The last thing you want is to be scammed when trying to set up an alternative power supply, whether it’s an inverter, a solar system, or a generator.
So how do you make sure you get what you pay for? The answer lies in calculating your exact power needs. This way, you won't overpay for something that won't meet your needs or, worse, underpay and be left in the dark.
In this article, you’ll learn:
By the end of this guide, you’ll have the knowledge you need to confidently choose the best alternative power solution for your home or business.
No, this isn't rocket science. But it’s close.
Grab a pen and paper—or, better yet, use your smartphone calculator—and let’s figure out how much power your home or office actually consumes.
Every appliance in your home has a power rating, measured in watts (W). These little numbers can usually be found on the label at the back of your gadgets or in their manuals. Now, jot down everything you use regularly: fridge, TV, AC, fan, laptops, lights… you get the gist.
Here's an example:
Now, add these up. For this example, we’re looking at 485W. But wait! This is where many people go wrong. It’s not just about the total wattage; it’s about how long you use each appliance daily. Let’s do a quick breakdown:
Now multiply the wattage by the hours of usage:
Total daily consumption = 5,530Wh (or 5.53kWh).
If you use a prepaid meter, you can also get your total consumption through your meter. Just keep an eye out daily on your meter.
If only things were as simple as adding numbers together, right? But life—and power needs—are a bit more complex. You’ve got to consider your peak power demand.
Think of it like rush hour traffic in Lagos. There are times when the road is free, but during rush hour, everyone and their mother are trying to get somewhere, and the road gets congested. The same thing happens with electricity in your home. When you’re using many appliances at the same time, your power demand peaks.
To avoid your alternate power supply failing when you need it the most, plan for these peak times. Add up the wattage of everything that might be on simultaneously. For instance, running your fridge, TV, fan, and lights together gives you:
Total peak demand = 425W.
Here’s where it gets interesting. Based on your peak power demand, you’ll need an inverter or generator that can handle that load. But that’s not all. You also want a system that can power your appliances for the duration you need, without running out of juice too quickly.
For instance, if your total daily consumption is 5.53kWh and you want your inverter to last for 24 hours, you’ll need an inverter system with at least a 5.53kWh battery capacity. And for your peak demand of 425W, a 500W inverter (to allow some wiggle room) should be your minimum.
Don’t let anyone sell you a “big man inverter” if your power needs are only enough to run a keke. Go for what you need, not what sounds impressive at parties.
Solar power is all the rage these days, and for good reason. Nigeria’s sun is not shy, and tapping into it makes sense. But solar isn’t just about slapping a few panels on your roof and calling it a day. You need to calculate how much solar energy you can generate based on your location and the size of your solar panels.
For example, in most parts of Nigeria, you get about 5 peak sunlight hours per day. This means a 200W solar panel will generate around 1,000Wh per day (200W x 5h). If you want to meet your daily consumption of 5.53kWh, you’d need at least 6 solar panels of 200W each (6 x 1,000Wh = 6,000Wh). Of course, this doesn’t account for cloudy days, so it’s wise to have a battery backup or a hybrid system (solar + grid or generator).
Now that you’ve armed yourself with numbers, let’s talk about the most Nigerian part of this entire journey—avoiding scams. Don’t fall for sweet-talking salesmen promising systems that will run your entire house with just one battery. Ask for specifics: What’s the battery capacity? What’s the inverter’s rating? How many solar panels do you really need?
Pro tip: Don’t be shy to ask for testimonials or customer reviews. If someone sold Mr. A an inverter that barely powers his TV for 30 minutes, you might want to take your money elsewhere. Also, make sure you’re getting genuine products—there are a lot of counterfeits out there.
When it comes to alternate power supply options in Nigeria, knowledge is power—literally. By calculating your exact power needs, you can make informed decisions and avoid the pitfalls that have trapped many before you.
So, next time someone tries to sell you a power system, you can confidently say, “I know my numbers, thank you very much!” And trust me, that’s a level of power (pun intended) that you’ll be grateful for.