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Here’s a full guide on How to Choose the Right Inverter Capacity for your home.
There was a time I bought an inverter that I was very excited about. I felt I had finally escaped the stress of power failure. But after a few days, I noticed something annoying. Each time I switched on my fridge and TV together, the inverter would suddenly go off. At first, I thought it was faulty. Later, I found out the painful truth. I bought the wrong inverter capacity.
This is one mistake many Nigerians make. And I don’t blame them. Inverter capacity can be confusing, especially if you are hearing terms like VA, watts, load, battery size, surge power, and all that. Many sellers don’t even explain it well. They just want to sell what they have.
In this guide, we will explain everything you need to know about choosing the right inverter capacity. If you are planning to buy an inverter for your house, shop, office, or small business in Nigeria, this will save you money, stress, and regret.
What Are Inverter Capacity ?
Inverter capacity simply means how much power an inverter can handle at once.
Think of an inverter like a bucket. If the bucket is small, it can only carry a small amount of water. If you pour too much water, it will overflow. Same thing with an inverter. If you connect too many appliances that are bigger than what the inverter can handle, it will shut down or get damaged.
Inverter capacity is usually written in VA. That is Volt Ampere. Some people confuse it with watts, but they are not exactly the same thing. I will explain that shortly.
So when you see an inverter labeled 1kVA, 2kVA, 3.5kVA, or 5kVA, it is telling you how much electrical load it can carry.
Importance Of Choosing the Right Inverter Capacity
Choosing the right inverter capacity is not something you should rush or guess. If you choose wrongly, you will face one or more of these problems.
• Your inverter will trip off anytime you use certain appliances
• Your batteries will drain very fast
• Your inverter may get damaged
• You will waste money buying another inverter
• You won’t enjoy the comfort you planned for
In Nigeria, where power supply is not stable, your inverter is supposed to be your backup peace of mind. But if the capacity is wrong, it becomes another headache.
That is why it is better to understand this properly before buying.
Understanding VA and Watts
This is where many people get confused.
Most home appliances are rated in watts. For example, your TV may be 120 watts. Your fan may be 75 watts. Your fridge may be 150 watts.
But inverters are rated in VA.
So how do you match the two?
Here is the simple explanation.
Watts is the real power an appliance uses to work.
VA is the total power the inverter supplies.
Because of power loss and efficiency issues, VA is usually higher than watts.
In Nigeria, a simple rule many installers use is this.
1 VA is roughly equal to 0.6 watts to 0.8 watts depending on the inverter.
To make it very easy and safe, many people use this formula.
Total watts ÷ 0.7 = Required inverter VA
List All the Appliances You Want to Power
Before you choose any inverter capacity, you must first know what you want to power with it.
This is the most important step.
Sit down and write out all the appliances you want to use when there is no NEPA light.
Not what you might use. What you really want to use.
For example.
• Television
• Standing fan
• Ceiling fan
• Laptop
• Phone charger
• Decoder
• WiFi router
• Energy saving bulbs
• Refrigerator
• Deep freezer
• Water pump
You don’t have to power everything in your house. Many people only want basic comfort like light, fan, TV, and phone charging.
Some people want fridge and freezer.
Some want to power their shop equipment.
Your needs will determine your inverter size.
Check the Watt Rating of Each Appliance
After listing the appliances, the next step is to know how many watts each one uses.
Most appliances have a label at the back or under them that shows their power rating in watts.
If you don’t see it, you can search online. Just type the appliance name and add watt consumption.
For example.
• LED TV 32 inches uses about 60 to 100 watts
• Standing fan uses about 70 to 100 watts
• Ceiling fan uses about 60 to 90 watts
• Laptop uses about 45 to 90 watts
• Decoder uses about 15 to 30 watts
• WiFi router uses about 10 to 20 watts
• LED bulb uses about 5 to 12 watts
• Refrigerator uses about 120 to 200 watts
• Deep freezer uses about 150 to 300 watts
These are average values. Yours may be slightly higher or lower.
Add Up the Total Watt Consumption
Now add all the watts together.
Let us use an example of a small Nigerian home.
• LED TV 100 watts
• Decoder 20 watts
• Standing fan 80 watts
• Laptop 60 watts
• WiFi router 15 watts
• 6 LED bulbs at 10 watts each equals 60 watts
Total watts equals 335 watts.
This is the total load you want to power at the same time.
Convert the Total Watts to VA
Now let us convert the watts to VA so we know the inverter capacity.
Using the simple formula.
Total watts ÷ 0.7
335 ÷ 0.7 = about 478 VA
So in this case, a 1kVA inverter will be more than enough.
Why not buy exactly 500VA? Because you always need extra space. Never buy an inverter that is exactly equal to your load. Always give room for future appliances and safety.
That is why a 1kVA inverter is recommended here.
Common Inverter Capacities and What They Can Power
Let me break this down in a very practical Nigerian way.
500VA Inverter
This is very small.
It can power.
• Few LED bulbs
• Phone charging
• WiFi router
It is not good for TV, fan, or fridge.
1kVA Inverter
This is good for very light use.
It can power.
• LED TV
• Decoder
• Fan
• Laptop
• Lights
• Router
It is good for students, single rooms, and people who only want basic comfort.
1.5kVA Inverter
This is one of the most popular sizes in Nigeria.
It can power.
• TV
• Fan
• Decoder
• Lights
• Laptop
• Router
• Small fridge with caution
It is good for small families and mini flats.
2kVA Inverter
This is better and more flexible.
It can power.
• TV
• Multiple fans
• Lights
• Laptop
• Router
• Refrigerator
• Small freezer
It is good for full flats and people who want more comfort.
3.5kVA Inverter
This is for bigger homes and offices.
It can power.
• TV
• Fans
• Lights
• Fridge
• Freezer
• Washing machine
• Water pump with care
It is good for people who don’t want to think too much about load.
5kVA Inverter
This is heavy duty.
It can power almost everything in a normal Nigerian home except very heavy industrial machines.
It is good for large houses, offices, and businesses.
Understand Surge Power Before Choosing
Some appliances do not just consume power normally. They need extra power to start.
This is called surge power.
Appliances like fridge, freezer, water pump, and air conditioner need more power at startup.
For example, a fridge that uses 150 watts may need up to 600 watts just to start.
If your inverter capacity is too small, it will trip each time the fridge tries to start.
That is why many people complain that their inverter cannot carry their fridge even though the math says it should.
So when choosing inverter capacity, always consider surge power.
If you plan to use any appliance with a motor, go for a higher inverter capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What inverter capacity is best for a Nigerian home?
It depends on your appliances. For most homes, 2kVA to 3.5kVA is a good balance.
Can a 1kVA inverter carry a fridge?
Most times no. Fridges need high surge power.
Is higher inverter capacity better?
Yes, but only if you can support it with enough batteries.
Does inverter capacity affect fuel or electricity bill?
No. It only affects how much load you can carry.
Read Also: How Much Can Solar Power Save You Monthly?
Conclusion
Choosing the right inverter capacity is not hard once you understand the basics. You don’t need to be an engineer. You just need to know your appliances, add their power, and give yourself some breathing space. In Nigeria, where light can disappear anytime, a properly chosen inverter can change your daily comfort. Take your time. Do it right. And you will enjoy peace of mind.
