Inverter battery backup for South Africa: how much energy does a load-shedding slot need?

For a typical backup slot, battery sizing starts with the energy used by essential loads. Inverter power and compressor start-up demand are separate checks, especially if a fridge or freezer shares the circuit.

Two hours at an average 300 W uses 600 Wh before losses and battery reserves. Actual runtime depends on usable capacity and system losses. Grid-connected PV and battery projects also need to consider the local distributor’s requirements.