Before increasing capacity, check your load profile, usable roof area, and electrical connection.
- DemandReview when power is used
- RoofCheck the usable layout
- DesignMatch panels and inverter
Confirm what the package capacity refers to
A quotation described as 10 kW may have a 10 kW inverter paired with a panel array of a different size. Ask for both the DC panel capacity and the AC inverter rating. These are related design choices, but they are not interchangeable labels.
As a simple example, twenty 500 W panels total 10 kW of rated module capacity. Actual panel quantity depends on the chosen module. This example is not a layout recommendation; the electrical design and physical dimensions still need checking.
Do not size the roof from panel area alone
A useful drawing shows panels alongside the water tank, parapet walls, access routes, and other equipment. Ask where maintenance staff will walk and whether drains remain accessible. Roof work that looks straightforward from a satellite image can be quite different at a site visit.
Before agreeing to an elevated structure, ask how the mounting approach and roof condition will be assessed. Structural suitability is a design question, not something that can be established from a standard package advert. Put required civil or roof repairs in the quotation.
Check how generation matches your schedule
An office with occupied daytime hours and a house empty until evening have different use patterns. Ask the proposal to explain expected on-site use and any surplus generation separately. If export is part of the plan, confirm the connection and billing terms that apply to your property.
For a business, include weekends, seasonal closures, and changes in operating hours. For a home, include summer cooling demand and future appliances. A feasibility report should make these assumptions visible so that you can correct anything that does not match your routine.
Specify backup independently
If you want batteries, list the essential loads and desired backup duration. Ask the installer to check both battery energy capacity and output power. A large solar array does not automatically make a small battery capable of running every appliance.
Request a final scope with the panel layout, equipment models, protection and earthing work, commissioning checks, and handover documents. RENS can use a free site survey to establish these details before recommending a 10 kW configuration or another system size.
About this guide
RENS guides explain solar planning and the questions to ask before installation. General guidance and illustrative examples do not replace equipment instructions, current local rules or a site-specific design.
Spot something that needs updating? Email the RENS team with the guide title and the detail to check.
Sources & further reading
References supplied with this guide. Check the latest rules before making a decision. Overseas consumer guides explain general principles; Pakistan’s connection rules and your equipment instructions take precedence.
Make it specific to your site.
Bring your questions to a free site survey. We’ll discuss your needs and prepare a proposed solution with a feasibility report.
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