Frequently Asked Questions

No! Naijolt requires no registration. Just visit the calculator, enter your appliances and preferences, and get your free results instantly. Premium reports are unlocked via a one-time payment—no account needed.

Our calculations use industry-standard formulas based on your location's peak sun hours, appliance wattages, and backup preferences. While accurate for planning purposes, actual system performance varies based on installation quality, panel orientation, shading, and weather. Always consult a licensed installer for final specifications.

Absolutely! Naijolt supports all 36 Nigerian states plus the FCT with location-specific solar irradiance data. Whether you're in Sokoto, Kano, Abuja, Port Harcourt, or any other state, we calculate your system size based on your area's average peak sun hours.

Your calculation is automatically saved in your browser while you browse. You can share your free results instantly via WhatsApp to send specs directly to vendors. Premium report buyers also get a permanent shareable link (magic link) that works across devices, plus a downloadable PDF.

Yes! Naijolt is designed mobile-first for Nigerian users on 3G connections. Over 70% of our users access the calculator from mobile devices, and we optimise for fast loading and easy input on small screens.

The free results give you your system size (inverter, batteries, panels) and a price range estimate. The Premium Report (₦4,900) adds a full bill of materials, brand recommendations, 10 questions to ask your installer, 5 red flags to watch for, a 5-year cost analysis, techno-economic projections, system wiring diagrams, and a downloadable PDF. There is also a Corporate tier (₦29,900) with multi-profile load analysis, generator vs solar comparison, and board-ready formatting.

Use the contact form on our Contact page to send us a message—we respond within 48 hours.

Lithium batteries (LiFePO4) are more expensive upfront but last longer (8-10 years vs 3-5 years), have deeper discharge capacity (80% vs 50%), and require less maintenance. Tubular batteries are cheaper initially but need regular topping with distilled water and have shorter lifespan. Lithium is better long-term value; tubular is better for tight budgets. Our Premium Report includes a full 5-year cost comparison between both types.

Peak sun hours measure the equivalent hours per day when sunlight intensity is at 1000W/m² (optimal for solar panels). For example, Lagos has about 4.5 peak sun hours, meaning panels receive the equivalent of 4.5 hours of full-strength sunlight per day. Sokoto (6 hours) gets more sun than Lagos, affecting system sizing.

Daily load = sum of (Appliance Watts × Hours Used Per Day × Quantity) for all appliances. Example: 2 standing fans (75W each) running 8 hours = 2 × 75 × 8 = 1,200Wh = 1.2kWh. Naijolt does this calculation automatically when you select appliances.

Inverter size (in kVA) is based on your peak load—the maximum wattage you'll use at once. Add up all appliances you might run simultaneously, multiply by 1.25 (safety factor), and divide by 0.8 (power factor). Naijolt rounds up to standard sizes: 1kVA, 2kVA, 3.5kVA, 5kVA, 7.5kVA, or 10kVA.

Panel count = (Daily Load × 1.25) ÷ (Peak Sun Hours × Panel Wattage). The 1.25 factor accounts for system losses (dirt, wiring, inverter efficiency). Naijolt assumes 300W panels and your location's peak sun hours to calculate panel requirements.

Yes. Naijolt supports inverter-only (grid backup) sizing. If you only need battery backup for power outages without solar charging, you can configure the calculator accordingly and get inverter + battery recommendations without panels.

Our component prices are updated regularly from market research across Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt vendors and stored in a live database, so you always see current figures. They're indicative estimates—NOT binding quotes. Actual prices vary by vendor, location, installation complexity, brand preferences, and current naira exchange rates. Always get 3+ vendor quotes before purchasing.

Vendors may quote higher/lower based on: (1) Brand quality (Chinese vs European equipment), (2) Installation complexity (roof access, wiring runs), (3) Profit margins, (4) Add-ons (monitoring, maintenance contracts), (5) Bulk discounts. Use Naijolt's range as a baseline to verify vendor quotes are reasonable.

No. We don't sell equipment or take commissions on sales. Naijolt is a free, neutral sizing and pricing tool. We do maintain a vendor directory where verified solar installers are listed by state so you can find and contact them directly via WhatsApp—but we don't favour any specific vendor.

After you get your results, Naijolt shows verified solar vendors in your state. Each vendor listing includes the brands they supply and a direct WhatsApp link so you can share your system specs and request a quote. You can also submit a lead form with your details and a vendor will contact you within 24 hours.

Not always. Cheapest may mean low-quality components, poor installation, or hidden costs. Compare: (1) Equipment brands/warranties, (2) Installer credentials/reviews, (3) Workmanship guarantees, (4) After-sales support. A ₦1.2M system with 5-year warranty beats a ₦900K system that fails in 2 years. The Premium Report includes 10 key questions to ask installers and 5 red flags to watch for.

When you select your NERC tariff band (A through E), Naijolt uses the corresponding rate per kWh to calculate how much you currently spend on grid electricity. This feeds into our techno-economic analysis showing monthly savings, payback period, and return on investment when switching to solar.

The Standard report includes: a full Bill of Materials with quantities and price ranges, brand recommendations for every component, 10 critical questions to ask installers, 5 red flags every buyer should watch for, a 5-year cost analysis (lithium vs tubular), techno-economic projections (payback, ROI, savings), system connection and wiring diagrams, and a downloadable PDF. You also get a permanent magic link to access your report from any device.

Everything in the Standard report, plus: multi-profile load analysis (e.g. separate loads for "Office Block 08:00–18:00" and "Night Security 18:00–06:00"), generator vs solar cost comparison, a 3-year capital expenditure model, your company name on the report header, load profile charts, and board-ready PDF formatting suitable for executive presentations.

Payment is processed securely via Paystack. After clicking "Unlock Premium Report" on your results page, you complete a one-time card payment. Your report is unlocked instantly and also delivered to your email with a permanent access link.

Yes. After payment, you receive a magic link via email that works on any device—phone, tablet, or desktop. You can also copy the link directly from the results page to share or bookmark it.

Visit the "Join as a Vendor" page to register. The standard listing costs a one-time fee of ₦10,000 and includes your business name, state, brands supplied, and a direct WhatsApp contact link visible to buyers in your area.

The Verified tier (₦25,000) gives your listing a trust badge, priority placement above standard listings, and increased visibility. It signals to buyers that your business has been vetted by Naijolt.

For ₦8,000/month, your listing appears at the very top of results for your state, above both verified and standard vendors. A maximum of 2 featured spots are available per state to keep it valuable.

When a buyer in your state submits a lead form with their system specs and WhatsApp number, you receive a notification with their full requirements. You can then contact them directly to provide a quote.

We include 20+ common Nigerian appliances: inverter ACs, standing fans, fridges (Hisense, LG, Samsung), TVs, decoders, laptops, phone chargers, pressing irons, water pumps, microwaves, and more. You can also add custom appliances with manual wattage input.

Our peak sun hours data is averaged over the year, accounting for seasonal variation. However, we recommend oversizing panels by 25% (already built into calculations) to handle less sunny periods. Battery backup hours setting also helps bridge cloudy days.

Not yet. The current version focuses on off-grid (standalone) and inverter-only backup systems, which are most common in Nigeria due to unreliable grid power. Full hybrid system support (automatic grid switching with net metering) is planned for a future update.

System voltage is automatically selected based on your battery capacity requirements. Smaller systems use 12V or 24V, while larger systems use 48V for more efficient power delivery and reduced cable losses. The Premium Report wiring diagrams show the exact series/parallel battery configuration for your system.