Solar is becoming the number one solution for Nigerians tired of estimated bills, blackouts, and high fuel costs.
But while solar works beautifully, many people end up disappointed because of simple but costly mistakes.

If your solar system isn’t performing the way you expected, chances are you’re making one or more of these 10 mistakes.

Let’s break them down — and show you exactly how to avoid them.

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1. Buying Solar Without Proper Load Calculation

Most Nigerians buy solar blindly.
They don’t calculate how many watts they use at night or during the day.

The result?
The system gets overloaded and fails within months.

How to avoid this:

✔ Always calculate your load before buying anything
✔ Use the Globisun App to calculate your exact solar needs automatically

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2. Pairing Big Batteries With Small Solar Panels

This is one of the most common mistakes.

For example:

• 200Ah battery
• 200W – 300W panel

This will never charge fully, especially in rainy season.

How to avoid this:

✔ Match battery capacity with panel wattage
✔ Rule of thumb: Panel wattage should be at least 1.5× battery Ah

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3. Allowing Panels to Stay Dirty for Months

Nigeria’s weather (dust, harmattan, pollution) reduces solar efficiency drastically.

Dirty panels can lose 20–40% of their power.

How to avoid this:

✔ Clean panels every 2–4 weeks
✔ Clean weekly during harmattan

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4. Buying Cheap Charge Controllers and Inverters

Many go for the cheapest option — and pay for it later.

Cheap controllers:

• overcharge batteries
• undercharge batteries
• fail within months

Cheap inverters:

• waste battery power
• shut down unexpectedly

How to avoid this:

✔ Buy from reliable brands
✔ Choose MPPT controllers over PWM

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5. Running Heavy Appliances on Small Systems

Small solar systems can’t run:

• Freezers
• Air conditioners
• Water heaters
• Irons
• Blenders
• Pressing irons

People still try — and end up damaging the battery.

How to avoid this:

✔ Know what your inverter size can carry
✔ Don’t run heavy load on small systems

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6. Using Undersized or Poor-Quality Wiring

Thin wires cause:

• Voltage drop
• Low charging
• Heat
• Power loss
• Fire risks

How to avoid this:

✔ Use 4mm²–6mm² for panels
✔ Use 10mm²–16mm² from battery to inverter

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7. Installing Panels in the Wrong Direction

Many panels face east, west, or even flat.

This drastically reduces sunlight exposure.

How to avoid this:

✔ Face panels south (best for Nigeria)
✔ Tilt them between 10°–15°

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8. Ignoring Shading

Even small shade from:

• water tanks
• trees
• TV antennas
• neighbors’ walls

…can reduce output by up to 40%.

How to avoid this:

✔ Install panels where there is zero shading from 9am–4pm

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9. Over-discharging the Battery Every Night

Running your battery to empty kills its lifespan quickly.

Symptoms:

• Battery dying before morning
• Voltage dropping fast
• Inverter beeping constantly

How to avoid this:

✔ Reduce your night load
✔ Use inverter settings that prevent deep discharge
✔ Check battery health regularly

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10. Not Using a Solar Expert for Sizing or Installation

Wrong installation ruins even good equipment.

Common installer mistakes:

• Wrong cable sizing
• Wrong tilt angle
• Wrong connections
• Wrong protection devices
• Oversizing/undersizing systems

How to avoid this:

✔ Work with trained solar professionals
✔ Always request a site inspection
✔ Use apps like Globisun for sizing accuracy

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⭐ Final Thoughts

Solar works perfectly when done right.
But one mistake can cost you:

• reduced backup time
• burnt batteries
• wasted money
• system failure

Avoid these 10 mistakes and your solar will perform:
✔ longer
✔ stronger
✔ more efficiently
✔ and with lower maintenance cost