Solar is everywhere now — and so is bad information about it. Before you spend (or decide not to), here are the myths that still trip up South African homeowners.
Myth 1: "Solar keeps me powered in load-shedding"
Only with a battery. A grid-tied-only system shuts down during an outage for safety — you need a hybrid inverter and battery to keep running. This is the single most common misunderstanding.
Myth 2: "Panels don't work on cloudy days"
They do — at reduced output. Panels generate from daylight, not only direct sun. Over a year, Johannesburg's sunshine makes solar very productive.
Myth 3: "It's too expensive to be worth it"
With Eskom tariffs rising above inflation, a well-sized system typically pays back in 4–6 years and saves for 20+. Start smaller and expand, and prioritise self-use over feed-in.
Myth 4: "Solar needs constant maintenance"
No — mainly periodic cleaning and an annual check. No moving parts in the panels.
Myths 5–7, briefly
"You can go fully off-grid cheaply" — possible but costly; hybrid is usually better value. "Any installer will do" — compliance and design matter hugely. "Batteries don't last" — modern lithium lasts 8–12 years.
Decide with facts
We design honest, correctly-sized systems and explain the trade-offs. See solar power or get real numbers for your home.