Learn the system before you buy, build, or upgrade.

Understanding the system types helps define your energy goals:

• Grid-Tie: Solar panels directly supplement grid power. Low cost, but shuts off during grid outages.
• Backup Only: Uses an inverter and batteries to provide power during grid failures (no solar panels).
• Hybrid: Combines panels and batteries. It powers your home, charges batteries, and provides backup during outages.

Speak to our engineers to determine the best architecture for your property.

System sizing is determined by your daily energy consumption and peak power demands.

• We analyze your monthly electricity bills to establish baseline usage.
• We calculate the total wattage of essential appliances (fridges, pumps, lighting) that must run simultaneously.
• We factor in roof space and solar irradiation to optimize panel placement.

Use our online estimate tool to get a preliminary system size and cost.

Engineering-led sizing means we size your system from actual load behavior, not guesswork or “standard package” estimates.

• What it means: We model your peak demand, daily consumption, usage timing, and site constraints before selecting inverter, battery, and panel sizes.
• Why it matters: Proper sizing prevents both undersized systems that trip during outages and oversized systems that inflate project cost unnecessarily.
• How Iselle implements it: Our engineers review bills, map appliances, assess roof space and shading, and apply technical safety margins before finalizing the design.

Read the full glossary note for a step-by-step breakdown of our sizing workflow.

Kilowatt-hours (kWh) measure the total energy capacity your battery can store and deliver.

• A 5kWh battery can deliver 1 kilowatt of power for 5 hours, or 5 kilowatts of power for 1 hour.
• Usable capacity is vital; premium Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries allow for deeper discharges than traditional options.

Calculate your storage needs in our pricing estimator.

Backup duration depends entirely on your connected loads and battery capacity.

• With essential loads only (lights, Wi-Fi, fridge, TVs), a standard 5kWh battery often provides a full evening of power.
• Running heavy loads like heating elements or pumps will rapidly deplete the battery.

Request a site survey so we can audit your specific home loads.

By default, most residential backup systems are wired to only power "essential circuits."

• High-draw appliances (ovens, large AC units, electric water heaters) are left on the non-essential side to prevent system overload.
• Full-home backup is achievable but requires significantly larger inverters and battery banks.

Explore our 3-Phase and heavy-duty packages for whole-home solutions.

The total capital expenditure for a solar installation varies based on several core components:

• Battery Capacity: Lithium storage usually represents the largest single cost in a hybrid system.
• Equipment Tier: Tier 1 global brands (like Deye and Victron) command a premium over unbranded hardware.
• Safety Infrastructure: Professional-grade AC/DC switchgear, surge suppression, and earthing properly account for a percentage of the total project.

Start building your system to see transparent component pricing.

Solar panels continue to generate electricity on overcast days, but at reduced efficiency.

• Modern mono-crystalline panels are designed to perform well even in diffuse light.
• During heavy clouds or rain, your hybrid system will automatically blend available solar energy with grid or battery power seamlessly.

Learn more about our Tier-1 hardware standards.

We avoid invasive rewiring whenever possible, but Consumer Unit (DB) modifications are often required.

• We need to physically separate your essential circuits from heavy loads to protect the inverter.
• Older properties with outdated enclosures may require a modern, compliant Distribution Board before we can safely install solar infrastructure.

Book a technical survey to have your current electrical board evaluated.

“Industrial-grade” refers to inverters built for stable output, high surge handling, and continuous duty under real-world operating conditions.

• What it means: Higher surge tolerance, stronger internal protections, better thermal design, and monitoring features than low-cost consumer units.
• Why it matters: Fridges, pumps, and motors can draw short startup surges that trip underspecified inverters even when average power looks fine.
• How Iselle implements it: We size inverters using peak and surge load data, then configure system protections and monitoring during commissioning.

Read the inverter basics guide for a deeper technical overview.

Grade A lithium cells are premium-spec battery cells with verified quality consistency, often used in long-life LFP storage systems.

• What it means: Better manufacturing consistency, matched cell performance, and predictable integration with a battery management system (BMS).
• Why it matters: Battery quality directly affects cycle life, safety, usable capacity, and long-term reliability.
• How Iselle implements it: We use vetted battery brands, set correct charge/discharge profiles, and commission battery-inverter communication properly.

Read the battery basics guide to understand capacity, cycle life, and longevity.

Tier 1 PV modules generally refer to panels from globally bankable manufacturers with strong production quality controls and established warranty support.

• What it means: Certified modules with consistent performance data, traceable documentation, and long-term output warranties.
• Why it matters: Panel quality affects degradation rate, weather durability, and the system’s lifetime energy yield.
• How Iselle implements it: We select modules based on site conditions, string design, and mounting requirements instead of lowest upfront price.

Read the PV basics guide for panel technology and performance fundamentals.

The Kenyan national grid frequently experiences voltage fluctuations, spikes, and transients.

• Without proper Automated Voltage Regulators (AVR) and surge arrestors, delicate inverter electronics can be instantly destroyed by a grid surge.
• Lightning strikes during rainy seasons also pose a severe risk to roof-mounted DC arrays without dedicated protection.
• How Iselle implements it: We specify AC/DC surge protection devices, integrate them at the right points in the system, and verify the protection path during commissioning.

Read how Iselle Africa approaches electrical safety.

Safety-First Protection means the protective hardware and wiring architecture are designed as core system components, not add-ons.

• What it means: We specify AC/DC surge protection, isolation points, grounding/earthing, and compliant DB integration as part of the engineering design.
• Why it matters: Kenya’s grid spikes, lightning activity, and wiring inconsistencies can damage inverters and appliances if protection is under-specified.
• How Iselle implements it: Engineers select protection devices, verify earthing, separate circuits where needed, and test protective pathways before handover.

Read the full glossary note for the protection checklist we use during installation and commissioning.

Solar pre-wire means preparing the building’s electrical pathways and solar-ready routing before the PV system is installed.

• What it means: Conduits, cable routes, DB allowances, and equipment locations are planned and installed during construction or renovation.
• Why it matters: It reduces future wall breaking, shortens retrofit time, and lowers total installation cost later.
• How Iselle implements it: We coordinate routes, isolate future solar spaces in the DB, and install labeled pathways sized for future expansion.

See our electrical integration service for solar-ready building work.

Earthing and grounding provide a safe path for fault current and help keep exposed metallic parts at safe voltage levels.

• What it means: Earth rods, bonding conductors, and proper connections that tie system components into a compliant protective network.
• Why it matters: Good earthing reduces shock risk, improves surge protection effectiveness, and supports inverter compliance requirements.
• How Iselle implements it: We install and bond earthing points, verify continuity/termination quality, and confirm protective grounding during testing.

Read the surge and earthing guide for the full protection stack.

DB (Distribution Board) separation involves splitting your home's circuits into two distinct groups.

• The first group connects directly to the inverter for battery backup (lights, sockets, security).
• The second group stays tied solely to the utility grid (water heaters, large ACs) so they don't overload and trip the system during an outage.

Ask our engineers how DB separation applies to your home.

Water heating via electrical elements demands massive amounts of energy that rapidly drains batteries.

• Thermal Solar Water Heaters (tubes or flat plate) convert the sun's energy directly into heat, completely bypassing your electrical system.
• This allows your PV array and batteries to be dedicated purely to powering your home appliances, ultimately keeping your solar system size and cost lower.

Discover our Solar Water Heating solutions.

For homes previously relying on traditional electric geysers, the impact is highly noticeable.

• In a typical residential property, water heating can account for up to 40% of the total monthly electricity bill.
• A properly sized thermal system typically offsets the majority of that load under normal usage conditions.

Add a solar water heater to your system quote.

Flat plate (pressurized) systems use a sealed collector panel and pressurized tank/plumbing configuration designed for modern household water pressure.

• What it means: A flat absorber plate captures solar heat through a glazed panel and transfers it into a pressurized hot-water system.
• Why it matters: It suits many modern homes, supports stable plumbing pressure, and offers durable day-to-day performance.
• How Iselle implements it: We size the system to demand, confirm roof structure and orientation, and install pressure/safety components for compliant operation.

Read the SWH comparison guide to compare flat plate and tube systems.

Evacuated tube systems use vacuum-insulated glass tubes to reduce heat loss and improve thermal performance in cooler or cloudy conditions.

• What it means: Each collector tube retains heat efficiently due to the vacuum insulation layer around the absorber.
• Why it matters: Better heat retention can improve hot-water output in high-altitude, colder, or lower-sun conditions.
• How Iselle implements it: We match tube systems to climate, usage, and plumbing requirements, then size storage and collector capacity for reliable delivery.

Read the SWH comparison guide for collector tradeoffs and use cases.

Our engineering team follows a structured protocol to ensure accuracy from day one.

• We initiate a brief discovery call to verify your usage parameters and architecture.
• If the project scope requires it, we dispatch a team for a comprehensive on-site technical and electrical audit.
• We formalize a final, no-obligation engineering proposal detailing exact system sizing securely.

Start the process today by reaching out to the team.

Documented commissioning is the formal testing and recorded handover process that proves your system was installed, verified, and accepted correctly.

• What it means: Commissioning includes technical tests, final settings verification, and documented results tied to your exact installation.
• Why it matters: Clear records support troubleshooting, warranty claims, maintenance planning, and future upgrades without guesswork.
• How Iselle implements it: We compile test outputs, checklists, diagrams, BoQ confirmations, and warranty documents into a structured handover pack.

Read the full glossary note to see what’s included in Iselle’s commissioning records.

A Detailed BoQ (Bill of Quantities) and proposal is the engineering and commercial document set that defines what will be installed and under what assumptions.

• What it means: A line-by-line breakdown of components, ratings, quantities, and project scope, paired with the recommended system design and pricing.
• Why it matters: It improves quote transparency, makes vendor comparisons fair, and reduces scope confusion or hidden substitutions later.
• How Iselle implements it: We build the proposal from site data, load analysis, and final design assumptions, then document key inclusions and exclusions.

Read the engineering-led sizing glossary note for how sizing decisions shape the proposal.

A Single-Line Diagram (SLD) is a simplified electrical schematic showing how the major components in your system connect and where protection devices sit.

• What it means: One-line symbols and labels represent panels, inverter, batteries, DB circuits, isolators, and protection paths.
• Why it matters: It improves installation accuracy, troubleshooting, maintenance handover, and future upgrades by documenting the intended architecture.
• How Iselle implements it: We produce an SLD from the approved design and align it to the installed configuration as part of the handover documentation.

Read the documented commissioning glossary note for how SLDs fit into final handover records.

This is the documented proof that the installation was checked step-by-step and that critical tests were performed before handover.

• What it means: Completion checklists plus recorded technical tests relevant to the installation, such as wiring/protection checks and commissioning measurements.
• Why it matters: It creates a safety and performance baseline for warranty support, troubleshooting, and future maintenance.
• How Iselle implements it: We use structured commissioning workflows, record final checks/results, and include them in the client handover package.

Read the documented commissioning glossary note for the broader commissioning process.

Warranty documents and the O&M (Operations & Maintenance) manual explain what is covered, how to operate the system correctly, and how to maintain performance over time.

• What it means: Manufacturer and system warranty references, plus operating guidance, care instructions, and support/handover notes.
• Why it matters: It helps clients avoid misuse, preserve warranty eligibility, and respond correctly when service is needed.
• How Iselle implements it: We organize warranty records and O&M guidance into the handover pack and walk clients through the key usage and support points.

Learn about Iselle after-sales support and long-term system care.

Transparency doesn't end when the installation finishes. You receive a complete handover package.

• A detailed Bill of Quantities (BoQ) confirming all installed components.
• A single-line electrical diagram mapping your specific system architecture.
• Stringent testing & commissioning results alongside an official warranty pack.

Learn about our commitment to long-term after-sales support.

Cloud synchronization means your system’s key telemetry is mirrored to a secure monitoring portal so support engineers can review performance remotely.

• What it means: Operational data such as voltage, current, state of charge, alarms, and yields is uploaded from supported devices to a cloud platform.
• Why it matters: It shortens diagnosis time, catches anomalies earlier, and reduces unnecessary site visits.
• How Iselle implements it: We configure vendor monitoring portals, validate communication during handover, and use the live data for ongoing health checks.

Predictive diagnostics means identifying abnormal patterns early so issues can be addressed before they become outages.

• What it means: Reviewing alarm trends, temperature behavior, battery balance, and yield deviations for warning signs.
• Why it matters: Early intervention protects equipment lifespan and minimizes downtime.
• How Iselle implements it: Engineers review monitoring alerts and trend data, then recommend remote adjustments or site action based on severity.

OTA (Over-The-Air) optimization means updating compatible device settings or firmware remotely through a secure monitoring connection.

• What it means: Remote tuning, firmware updates, and parameter changes without physically visiting site when the device supports it.
• Why it matters: It reduces service delays, lowers maintenance cost, and restores performance faster.
• How Iselle implements it: We verify firmware compatibility, apply changes remotely where appropriate, and re-check system behavior after deployment.

A critical outage is a priority event where the system is fully down or a safety-related condition prevents normal operation.

• What it means: Complete loss of service, shutdown due to fault, or a condition that may present electrical safety risk.
• Why it matters: It requires the fastest response to restore power and manage risk.
• How Iselle implements it: We classify the incident at intake, perform immediate remote checks where possible, and dispatch field support within the SLA window when site intervention is required.

A performance issue is a priority support case where the system is still operating but output or behavior is materially below expected performance.

• What it means: Reduced yield, recurring warnings, unstable sensor readings, or battery/inverter behavior outside normal patterns.
• Why it matters: If ignored, performance problems can become outages or shorten equipment life.
• How Iselle implements it: We review telemetry, compare against design expectations, then perform remote tuning or schedule corrective intervention.

General support covers lower-priority requests that do not indicate immediate safety risk or system outage.

• What it means: App access issues, dashboard questions, usage guidance, and non-urgent support requests.
• Why it matters: Clear support pathways keep minor issues from becoming frustrating or incorrectly escalated.
• How Iselle implements it: We log the request, provide guided support, and schedule follow-up or remote changes based on urgency and complexity.

Instant Signal is the first support step where the client reports a fault and the case is formally opened.

• What it means: A support message or call triggers ticket creation with key identifiers such as site/client details and device references.
• Why it matters: Fast, structured intake reduces delays and prevents diagnostic errors caused by missing information.
• How Iselle implements it: We capture issue symptoms, urgency, and equipment context early so engineers can classify the incident correctly.

Remote triage is the diagnostic stage where engineers inspect cloud data and device status to determine the most likely cause of the issue.

• What it means: Reviewing alarms, firmware status, communication health, and system behavior before deciding next actions.
• Why it matters: It resolves many issues faster and ensures site visits are targeted and necessary.
• How Iselle implements it: Engineers analyze the portal data, test safe remote actions where available, and escalate to field support only when needed.

Rapid deployment is the field-support phase where a technician is scheduled and dispatched within the applicable SLA window for site-critical issues.

• What it means: A planned on-site intervention with the right tools, parts, and fault context from remote triage.
• Why it matters: Prepared dispatch reduces repeat visits and shortens restoration time.
• How Iselle implements it: We use triage findings to scope the site visit, prioritize parts/logistics, and align response timing to the issue class.

Close-out is the final support step where the fix is verified and the case is documented as resolved.

• What it means: Validation of restored operation plus a summary of the fault, actions taken, and outcome.
• Why it matters: It creates a service history that supports future troubleshooting and accountability.
• How Iselle implements it: We re-check system behavior, confirm client resolution, and log the final report before closing the ticket.

Hotspot detection is a preventive inspection method that uses thermal checks to identify abnormal heating in electrical connections and equipment.

• What it means: Finding temperature anomalies caused by loose connections, overloads, or developing faults before visible failure.
• Why it matters: Overheating can degrade components, cause nuisance faults, or create fire risk if left unchecked.
• How Iselle implements it: During audits, we inspect critical points, flag abnormal readings, and recommend corrective tightening/repair or component replacement.

Firmware optimization is the controlled update and configuration review of inverter/BMS software to maintain compatibility, safety, and performance.

• What it means: Applying approved firmware versions and verifying key parameters (charging, protection, communication, operating modes).
• Why it matters: Outdated or incorrect firmware/settings can reduce efficiency, trigger false alarms, or create integration issues.
• How Iselle implements it: We validate device compatibility, apply updates safely, and confirm post-update performance through monitoring and checks.