# The Uganda Solar Buyer's Checklist **Edition:** 2026 · **Published by:** NilePhase Energy · **Version:** 1.0 A printable, vendor-neutral checklist for anyone buying a solar system in Uganda — homes, SMEs, clinics, farms, and commercial sites. Use it on every quote you receive, including ours. If a quote does not pass it, walk away. --- ## How to use this document 1. Print it, or open it on your phone next to the installer. 2. Tick each box as the installer satisfies it. Write the answer in the margin. 3. If more than four boxes are blank when the installer hands back the quote, that is not the installer for you. --- ## Section 1 — Load Assessment (before quoting) A real installer measures or calculates your load before pricing anything. - [ ] Installer asked for the last 3 Yaka top-up amounts, or measured average daily kWh. - [ ] Installer built a written load list — every appliance, hours/day, watts. - [ ] Installer identified your **peak simultaneous load** (worst-case watts). - [ ] Installer confirmed your backup duration target in hours after sunset. - [ ] Installer confirmed your roof orientation and identified any shading. - [ ] Installer measured or estimated the available roof area (square metres). **My numbers:** - Average daily consumption: ______ kWh - Peak simultaneous load: ______ W - Backup duration target: ______ hours - Available unshaded roof area: ______ m² --- ## Section 2 — System Sizing The numbers in Section 1 should produce specific equipment sizes. - [ ] PV array size proposed: ______ kW (rule of thumb: daily kWh × 1.3 ÷ 5) - [ ] Inverter continuous rating proposed: ______ kW (must exceed peak load) - [ ] Battery usable capacity proposed: ______ kWh (covers backup hours × evening load) - [ ] System architecture confirmed (off-grid / hybrid / grid-tied — usually hybrid in Uganda) --- ## Section 3 — Equipment Specification The quote must name brand + model + quantity for every major component. ### Panels - [ ] Brand: __________________ (Tier-1 only — Longi, JA Solar, Trina, Jinko, Canadian Solar) - [ ] Model: __________________ - [ ] Quantity: ______ × ______ W - [ ] Product warranty: ______ years (10–12 expected) - [ ] Performance warranty: ______ years (25 expected, ≥80% at year 25) - [ ] Installer agrees to provide serial numbers on commissioning ### Inverter - [ ] Brand: __________________ (Deye / Victron / SMA / Growatt are well-supported in Uganda) - [ ] Model: __________________ - [ ] Continuous rating: ______ kW - [ ] Surge rating: ______ kW - [ ] Hybrid (battery-capable)? Y / N - [ ] Generator input + ATS support? Y / N - [ ] Manufacturer warranty: ______ years (5–10 expected) ### Batteries - [ ] Chemistry: LiFePO4 / Lead-acid (LiFePO4 strongly preferred in 2026) - [ ] Brand: __________________ (Pylontech / BYD / Dyness / Growatt are common) - [ ] Model: __________________ - [ ] Total nominal capacity: ______ kWh - [ ] Usable capacity (DoD %): ______ kWh - [ ] Cycle life at quoted DoD: ______ cycles - [ ] Warranty: ______ years OR ______ cycles ### Protection & earthing — DO NOT SKIP - [ ] DC isolators between panels and inverter? Y / N - [ ] AC breakers correctly rated? Y / N - [ ] DC surge arrestor specified? Y / N - [ ] AC surge arrestor specified? Y / N - [ ] Dedicated earth electrode quoted? Y / N - [ ] Installer will measure earth resistance on commissioning (target <5 Ω)? Y / N - [ ] Lightning protection (commercial only)? Y / N If five or more of the above are "N", this is the corner being cut to win on price. --- ## Section 4 — Installer Vetting (the 12 Questions) - [ ] 1. ERA registration number provided: __________________ - [ ] 2. Written load assessment provided before quote - [ ] 3. Quote itemised: brand, model, quantity, unit price for every line - [ ] 4. Earthing standard stated; earth resistance measured on commissioning - [ ] 5. Workmanship warranty in writing: ______ months (12 minimum) - [ ] 6. Will provide written settings sheet at handover - [ ] 7. Three reference clients from last 12 months provided - [ ] 8. Will commission system under load and produce a commissioning report - [ ] 9. Year-1 callback policy in writing: __________________ - [ ] 10. Panel + battery serial numbers verifiable with manufacturer - [ ] 11. System is expandable for future load growth - [ ] 12. Named contact + response time for faults: __________________ --- ## Section 5 — Commercial Terms - [ ] Itemised quote total: UGX __________________ - [ ] Payment milestones (e.g. 50% on order / 40% on delivery / 10% on commissioning) - [ ] Lead time from signed contract to commissioning: ______ days (7–14 typical residential) - [ ] Currency lock period if any imported equipment (FX risk) - [ ] Site preparation works included? Y / N (concrete bases, conduit, etc.) - [ ] Roof penetrations sealed and warrantied? Y / N - [ ] Decommissioning of any old equipment included? Y / N - [ ] Removal of packaging and waste included? Y / N --- ## Section 6 — On Installation Day - [ ] Equipment unboxed in your presence - [ ] Serial numbers photographed and logged - [ ] DC and AC labelling visible and correct - [ ] Panel tilt and orientation matches quote - [ ] No exposed DC cables / no domestic-grade wiring on the DC side - [ ] Earth electrode driven to depth; resistance measured and recorded: ______ Ω - [ ] Photographs taken of every electrical connection before they're closed up --- ## Section 7 — Commissioning Sign-Off You should leave this conversation with paper, not just a working light. - [ ] System tested under realistic load - [ ] Generator integration tested (if applicable) - [ ] Written settings sheet provided, listing every inverter parameter - [ ] Single-line diagram provided - [ ] Bill of materials (BOM) with serial numbers provided - [ ] All warranty cards / certificates provided - [ ] Monitoring app installed and shown working - [ ] Shutdown procedure demonstrated - [ ] Quarterly maintenance schedule provided --- ## Section 8 — Inverter Settings Sheet (template) Have your installer fill this in **on site**. If they refuse, the inverter is on factory defaults and your batteries will die early. | Parameter | Value | Unit | |---|---|---| | Battery type | | (LiFePO4 / Lead-acid) | | Battery nominal voltage | | V | | Battery total capacity | | Ah / kWh | | Bulk / absorption voltage | | V | | Float voltage | | V | | Low-voltage cut-off (inverter) | | V | | Low-voltage cut-off (load shed) | | V | | Max charge current | | A | | Max discharge current | | A | | Generator priority on/off | | | | Grid charging enabled? | | Y / N | | Time-of-use schedule? | | | | Firmware version | | | | Commissioned by (name + signature) | | | | Date | | | --- ## Section 9 — First-Year Maintenance Calendar Mark these dates on your phone calendar before the installer leaves site. - **Month 1** — visual check, monitoring data review. - **Month 3** — first quarterly: panel clean, terminal torque, error log review. - **Month 6** — second quarterly + battery balance check (free callback from a good installer). - **Month 9** — third quarterly: panel clean, monitoring trend review. - **Month 12** — full annual: electrical inspection, earth resistance retest, firmware update, battery capacity test, surge arrestor check (free callback from a good installer). --- ## Section 10 — When Something Goes Wrong Keep these numbers visible at the inverter location. - Installer name: __________________ - Installer phone: __________________ - Installer WhatsApp: __________________ - Inverter brand support hotline: __________________ - NilePhase Energy (independent second opinion): **+256 740 128 889** · nilephaseenergy@gmail.com --- ## Red flags — walk away if you see these 1. No written load list before pricing. 2. Quote is a single line ("Solar system — UGX X"). 3. "Tier-1" or "branded" panels without a model number. 4. No mention of earthing, isolators, or surge arrestors. 5. "Lifetime warranty" with nothing in writing. 6. Installer can't or won't name three reference clients. 7. Refuses to commission under load. 8. Refuses to provide a settings sheet. 9. Cash-only, no receipt, no contract. 10. Price is more than 30% below the bands in our 2026 guide. The corner being cut is one you will pay for in year three. --- ## About this checklist This document is published free of charge by **NilePhase Energy** under a "use it on anyone, including us" promise. We would rather you bought from a competitor with a clean checklist than from us with a dirty one — because every failed solar system in Uganda makes the next sale harder for everyone. If you would like a quote that passes every box on this list, we will give you one within 24 hours. **NilePhase Energy** · Engineering-led solar across Uganda **Phone / WhatsApp:** +256 740 128 889 **Email:** nilephaseenergy@gmail.com **Web:** https://nilephase.com *Version 1.0 · April 2026. We update this document as the Ugandan market changes — check the website for the latest edition.*