"How many panels for 5kVA?" is one of the most searched solar questions in Nigeria, and you will see wildly different answers. Here is how to get it right.
Quick answer table
| Inverter | 450W panels | 550W panels | 600W panels | Total solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3kVA | 5–6 | 4–5 | 4 | 2.2–2.7kW |
| 5kVA | 7–10 | 6–8 | 5–8 | 3–4.8kW |
| 6kVA | 10–11 | 8–9 | 7–8 | 4.2–5kW |
| 10kVA | 14–18 | 11–15 | 10–14 | 6–8.4kW |
Our own packages use 600W panels: four on the 3kVA Starter and eight on the 6kVA Family package. See prices.
Why the inverter size does not decide the panel count
The inverter's kVA tells you how much power it can deliver to your appliances at once. The number of panels should be decided by how much energy you use per day and how much sun you get:
Panels (kW) = Daily energy (kWh) ÷ 0.8 losses ÷ Peak sun hours
For a home using 10kWh a day in Port Harcourt (about 4.5 peak sun hours on average, less in the rainy season):
10 ÷ 0.8 ÷ 4.5 = 2.8kW on average
Size for rainy season (≈3.5 sun hours): 10 ÷ 0.8 ÷ 3.5 ≈ 3.6kW
That is six 600W panels, which fits comfortably on a 5kVA inverter. The full method is in how much solar do I need, or let the calculator do it.
The inverter limits you must respect
Every inverter datasheet lists:
- Maximum PV input power (for example 5,500W or 6,500W on many 5kVA units)
- Maximum PV open-circuit voltage (often 450V to 500V)
- MPPT voltage range (the window where it harvests best)
Wire too many panels in series and the voltage on a cool morning can exceed the limit and destroy the charge controller. Too few in series and the voltage sits below the MPPT range and the inverter harvests poorly. This is why panel count is a design job, not a guess.
Rainy season changes everything
In July, Port Harcourt can go days with heavy cloud. A system with "just enough" panels for dry-season sun will leave the battery half-empty for weeks, which shortens battery life. We size for rainy-season sunshine and, where the roof allows, add a little headroom. More on that in does solar work in the rainy season.
Roof space
A 600W panel is about 2.3m × 1.1m. Six of them need about 16 square metres of clear, unshaded roof. Duplexes and upstairs buildings often have parapets and water tanks that cast shade, so we map the roof before deciding layout.
Panel quality matters as much as quantity
Ten cheap panels that lose 20% in three years are worse than eight good ones. Check for a positive power tolerance, IEC certification and a 25-year performance warranty. Here is how to spot fake panels.
