Solar & UPS
How Many Solar Panels Do You Need to Run a 1.5 Ton AC?
About five or six 550 W panels run a 1.5 ton inverter AC through a sunny day. The method for any AC size, plus the inverter and what it takes at night.
4 min read
Inverter, battery and solar problems, explained simply.
When the power goes out, your backup system is doing the hardest work it ever does. These guides help you work out what is actually wrong, what is normal, and what you can safely check yourself.
Browse all guidesStart with a symptom
- How Many Solar Panels Do You Need to Run a 1.5 Ton AC?
- Which Battery Is Best for a Home UPS? Tubular, Dry (AGM/Gel) or Lithium
- Home Battery Backup Without Solar: Does It Make Sense?
- On-Grid vs Off-Grid vs Hybrid Solar: Which System Do You Need?
- How to Increase UPS Backup Time: 8 Changes That Actually Work
- How Long Does a UPS or Inverter Battery Last?
Work it out with your own numbers
All calculatorsCalculatorInverter Battery Backup Time CalculatorReal hours of backup from your batteries at your load, not the sticker maths.CalculatorInverter, Battery & Power Station Size CalculatorFrom the appliances you need to the inverter, surge rating and battery to buy.CalculatorSolar Panel Tilt Angle CalculatorThe best angle and direction for your panels, anywhere in the world.CalculatorBattery to Inverter Cable & Fuse Size CalculatorCable thickness and DC fuse between battery and inverter, in mm² and AWG.CalculatorSolar Payback CalculatorYears until solar pays for itself, in your currency and at your tariff.CalculatorGenerator vs Battery Backup Running Cost CalculatorMonthly cost of a generator against a UPS or power station for your outages.
Play: keep the lights on through the night
All gamesWhere the problem is
Inverter Problems
Beeping, clicking, overload, overheating and other UPS and inverter faults explained.
Read guidesBattery Issues
Backup time, charging, water top-ups, battery life and choosing a battery.
Read guidesSolar & UPS
Load sizing, solar systems, UPS vs inverter and choosing the right backup.
Read guidesPower Stations
Portable power stations: sizing, fridges, CPAP, solar charging.
Read guidesOutage Prep
Checklists and seasonal guides for storms, load shedding and winter.
Read guidesLatest guides
Which Battery Is Best for a Home UPS? Tubular, Dry (AGM/Gel) or Lithium
Battery Issues5 min
Home Battery Backup Without Solar: Does It Make Sense?
Solar & UPS4 min
On-Grid vs Off-Grid vs Hybrid Solar: Which System Do You Need?
Solar & UPS4 min
How to Increase UPS Backup Time: 8 Changes That Actually Work
Battery Issues4 min
How Long Does a UPS or Inverter Battery Last?
Battery Issues4 min
UPS vs Inverter: What Is the Difference, and Which Do You Need?
Solar & UPS4 min
About Pak Power Guide
Pak Power Guide explains home backup power in plain language: the UPS or inverter and its batteries, portable power stations, and solar. It started with the home inverters that carry households through load shedding in Pakistan, and now covers backup power wherever the lights go out, from daily scheduled cuts in South Asia to storm and winter outages in North America and Europe.
Every guide starts from a real symptom or question, gives the answer first, and then the numbers to check your own system: charging voltages, standby draw, surge ratings, cycle life and peak sun hours.
Browse by topic
- Inverter Problems: a UPS that beeps, clicks or shows overload, overheating, and what a desktop PC or fridge will tolerate.
- Battery Issues: short backup, a battery that drains overnight or will not charge, water top-ups, and which battery to buy.
- Solar & UPS: what an inverter can run, UPS vs inverter, on-grid vs hybrid solar, and UPS vs generator vs solar.
- Power Stations: what size you need, running a fridge or CPAP, and charging from solar.
- Outage Prep: printable checklists, load shedding, and storm and winter outages.
Work it out with your own numbers. The free calculators give real backup time, inverter and battery size, cable and fuse size, solar panel angle and solar payback, in any currency. Unfamiliar terms are defined in the glossary.
Safety first. Battery, inverter and wiring work can be dangerous. If you notice a burning smell, sparks, hot wires or switches, a swollen battery, or repeated tripping, stop using the system and call a qualified electrician.