Pakistan has a huge freelance and remote workforce. For them, load shedding isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s lost income. A client meeting drops, a large upload fails, or a deadline slips. A small solar backup setup solves most of this.
- Laptop or PC, monitor, router and a fan is a small load.
- A 1.2 to 3kW hybrid with a lithium battery covers it well.
- Fast transfer time keeps the PC from restarting.
- Put the router and ONT on the backup circuit too.
How much power does a home office need?
| Device | Typical power |
|---|---|
| Laptop | 45 to 90W |
| Desktop PC (office use) | 100 to 250W |
| Gaming or editing PC | 300 to 600W+ |
| Monitor | 20 to 40W |
| Router and fibre ONT | 15 to 30W |
| Ceiling fan | 40 to 80W |
| LED lights | 10 to 20W each |
A typical laptop setup with router, fan and lights uses well under 300W. A desktop setup might use 400 to 500W.
A simple setup that works
- Inverter: a 1.2 to 3kW hybrid, see our small inverter guide.
- Battery: a 5kWh lithium battery gives many hours for a home office load.
- Panels: a few panels to recharge the battery during the day and run the office on solar.
Don’t forget the internet
A common mistake: the PC stays on during load shedding, but the router is on a non-backup socket, so the internet drops anyway. Make sure your router, fibre ONT and any switch are on the backup circuit. If your ISP’s street equipment goes down during outages, a mobile data backup helps.
Transfer time
Desktop PCs can restart if the power switch-over takes too long. Look for an inverter with a fast transfer time, and set it to UPS mode for computer loads if your inverter has that option. Laptops don’t care, their own batteries cover the gap.
Growing later
Starting with a small hybrid inverter for the office, you can later move the fridge and more fans onto it, or upgrade to a bigger system for the whole house. Choose an inverter with some extra capacity if you think you’ll grow.
Check your exact needs with the load calculator.
Working from home?
Tell us what’s on your desk and your load shedding hours. We’ll suggest a compact setup.