At Premium Electricians Zimbabwe, we design and install solar PV systems that provide clean, reliable power for homes, offices, and industrial sites across Zimbabwe, including Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare, and other major towns.
With ZESA load-shedding now part of daily life, solar energy isn’t just a trend — it’s a practical solution for lowering bills, protecting equipment, and keeping lights on during power cuts.
We handle everything from site assessment and system sizing to inverter and battery integration, ensuring your setup is efficient, compliant, and built for the long term.
What a solar PV system actually does
Solar panels make DC power from sunlight. An inverter turns that into AC power your property can use. During the day, solar runs your essentials first; extra power can charge batteries.
At night or during an outage, the inverter supplies those essentials from the batteries. If you also have a generator, we integrate a clean changeover/ATS so everything works together without back-feeding ZETDC.
Who it’s for (and what it powers well)
Most clients want their lights, Wi-Fi/routers, TV, laptops/PCs, fridges/freezers, security/NVR, gate & alarm systems, POS/office gear running reliably.
Big heat loads (geyser, stove/oven, kettles, heaters, welders) are usually kept off solar/battery backup or given a separate plan (e.g., gas geyser, solar geyser, generator for occasional heavy use).
We’ll help you pick a realistic “essentials list” so your system feels generous but doesn’t struggle.
System types (choose your path)
Hybrid solar + batteries (most popular): Panels power daytime loads and charge batteries; batteries run evenings and outages.
Solar-only (grid-tied without batteries): Panels cut daytime bills, but you’ll still rely on grid/generator at night and during outages.
Battery-first (ready for future panels): Start with inverter + batteries; add panels later when budget allows.
We’ll design around how you use power, your roof space, and your budget.
Design & sizing (our simple, no-guessing method)
List essentials & peak power. We total your must-run loads and check starting surges (fridges, pumps).
Pick backup hours. How long should batteries cover in the evening or during cuts?
Size batteries. We select lithium (LiFePO₄) capacity to meet those hours with headroom.
Match inverter. We choose an inverter that handles peak + surge comfortably (no “complaining” at supper time).
Size panels. Enough PV to run daytime essentials and recharge batteries without babying the system.
DB, SPDs, isolators, earthing. We make sure protection is solid so trips and surges don’t spoil the party.
Panels & roof options
We work with quality Tier-1 panels sized to your roof and sun path. On tiles, we use proper mounting rails and flashing; on IBR/Chromadek, purpose-made brackets; on flat roofs, tilt frames.
We avoid shade where possible (trees, neighbouring walls, water tanks). If a small area is partly shaded, we design strings to minimise loss and position the inverter and DC isolators where they’re safe, ventilated and accessible.
Inverters & batteries (why lithium wins)
Lithium (LiFePO₄) batteries are the sweet spot for Zimbabwean homes and SMEs: deeper usable capacity, fast recharge, long life.
Lead-acid can work for very light, occasional use, but frequent load-shedding is tough on them. For inverters, hybrid models let you blend solar, grid and generator neatly. We’ll set priorities so solar carries daytime, then batteries, then generator only when needed.
Safety & compliance (the parts you can’t see—but feel)
A great system isn’t just panels and a pretty inverter. It’s also:
DC isolators at the array and inverter, correctly rated for PV.
AC isolator and a clean changeover/ATS where a generator is present.
Surge protection devices (SPDs) on both DC and AC sides to ride out power-return spikes and storms.
Solid earthing & bonding so faults go safely to ground.
Neat DB board integration so protection trips only when it should, and never from sloppy wiring.
We install all of this as standard, label clearly, and test before handover.
Using solar with a generator or existing inverter
Already have an inverter + batteries? We’ll add panels and set smart priorities so solar carries the daytime, charges batteries, and the generator is a last resort.
With generators we confirm frequency/voltage stability, configure charging limits, and keep transfers smooth so nothing trips or back-feeds the utility side.
Monitoring & living with your system
You’ll get app or display access to see production, battery state and usage. A quick glance tells you when to be power-wise (e.g., avoid running a high-draw tool while batteries are low and clouds roll in).
Dust off panels now and then if you’re in a dusty area; we can add a light maintenance plan if you prefer.
Prepaid meter & ZETDC readiness
On your side, we ensure the meter box and isolators are neat, labelling is clear, and there’s no possibility of back-feeding utility lines. If the prepaid meter itself acts up, we’ll test and prove your installation first, then guide next steps with the utility.
Three-phase properties and small industry
Shops, workshops and small factories often need three-phase support. We can back up key single-phase circuits or design a three-phase solution, then balance phases, protect motors and label panels so staff know what to do during load-shedding.
Installation day: what to expect
We arrive early, isolate safely and protect work areas. Mounting and wiring are kept neat in trunking, penetrations are sealed, and equipment is placed where it’s ventilated and accessible.
After wiring, we commission: simulate grid fail/return, check charging, and verify SPDs, earthing and RCD/RCBO behaviour. Finally, we do a simple handover—how the system works, what not to plug in, and when to WhatsApp us.
Areas we cover in Zimbabwe
Harare, Bulawayo, Chitungwiza, Mutare, Gweru, Masvingo, Kwekwe, Kadoma, Chinhoyi, Marondera, Bindura, Norton, Ruwa, Nyanga, Victoria Falls—and other towns.
FAQs
How many panels do I need?
It depends on your daytime loads and how much battery charging you want. A modest home might start around 6–10 panels; larger homes or shops use more. We’ll size it from your appliances and roof.
Will solar run my geyser or stove?
Not on batteries—those loads are heavy. If you want to offset geyser costs, consider a solar geyser or time-of-day heating; for cooking, gas is usually smarter than draining batteries.
How long will batteries last at night?
It depends on capacity and what you keep on. One mid-sized lithium battery often covers a typical evening; more batteries cover longer cuts. We design to your target hours with buffer.
Can I add more panels or batteries later?
Yes. We design with future growth in mind—room in the board, spare breaker space, and an inverter that can expand if that’s the plan.
Do I need surge protection?
In Zimbabwe, yes. Power-return spikes after load-shedding are common. SPDs and solid earthing protect TVs, routers, fridges, gate motors and NVRs.
Can you issue a certificate?
Where scope requires it, we test to standards and can arrange a Compliance Certificate (CoC).