The short answer: you need 4–5 solar panels and a 3kW–5kW inverter to comfortably run a 1 ton AC plus basic home loads. Here is the complete sizing guide — panels, inverter, battery, and full installed price.
A 1 ton inverter AC in Pakistan draws 700–900 watts when cooling (less at startup with modern inverter technology). But you don't just run an AC — you also have a fridge, fans, lights, and a water pump running simultaneously. That combined load is typically 1.5–2kW.
| Load Item | Running Power | Hours/Day | Daily Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Ton Inverter AC Your Main Load | 700–900W | 8 hrs | 5.6–7.2 kWh |
| Refrigerator | 100–150W avg | 24 hrs | 2.4–3.6 kWh |
| LED Lights (5 rooms) | 75W | 5 hrs | 0.4 kWh |
| Ceiling Fans (3) | 210W | 10 hrs | 2.1 kWh |
| Water Pump (0.5 HP) | 400W | 0.5 hrs | 0.2 kWh |
| Total Daily Load | ~1.5–2kW average | 10–13 kWh/day | |
A 5-panel (3.25kW) system generates approximately 16–18 kWh on a good summer day in Faisalabad — comfortably covering all the above loads and charging a battery for evening use.
| System Configuration | Panels | Inverter | Battery | Installed Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum — 1 AC only (no other loads) Day use only, grid power at night | 3 × 650W = 1.95kW | GoodWe 3kW | None | Rs. 280,000–350,000 |
| Practical — 1 AC + basic home loads AC + fridge + fans + lights | 4 × 650W = 2.6kW | Solis 3.6kW | None | Rs. 380,000–480,000 |
| Recommended — with load shedding backup Best Value 4–6 hrs backup at night or during load shed | 5 × 650W = 3.25kW | Solis 5kW Hybrid | Dyness 5kWh | Rs. 570,000–680,000 |
| Future-ready — expandable to 1.5 ton Same inverter can later accept 8+ panels | 6 × 650W = 3.9kW | Solis 6kW Hybrid | Dyness 5kWh | Rs. 650,000–796,900 |
All prices include LONGi HiMo X10 panels, IP66 inverter, LiFePO4 battery, GI mounting, DC/AC cables, DB box, MCBs, changeovers, and full installation in Faisalabad & Punjab. Call for exact quote.
Technically runs a 1 ton AC during peak sun. But leaves no headroom for clouds, dust on panels, or a fridge running simultaneously. On overcast days or when panels are dusty, the AC may draw from the grid. No battery = no protection against load shedding.
Extra panel capacity handles clouds and dust without pulling from grid. 5kW inverter is expandable — add more panels later for a 1.5 ton AC. Battery covers evening and load shedding hours. Most Saigal Solar customers in Faisalabad choose this configuration.
Smallest hybrid inverter available. Compatible with affordable 24V batteries. Good choice if you have 1 AC only and a tight budget. IP65 rated. Available at Saigal Solar. Limitation: limited expandability compared to 48V systems.
IP66 rated — better protection against dust and moisture than IP65. 48V battery port works with the full Dyness and Pylontech range. Can accept up to 10kW of panels — future-proof for adding a 1.5 ton AC later. 5-year warranty. Official Solis distributor supply.
Same price as 5kW but handles more panels and more simultaneous load. If you plan to add a second AC or more panels in year 2, start with 6kW inverter from day one. Our Starter Package is built on this inverter.
Cheap inverters sold without an IP rating (or IP21) are not suitable for Pakistan's conditions. They overheat in summer heat, derate output by 20–30%, and fail within 2–3 years. An IP66 inverter costs more upfront but saves money over its lifetime.
Running a 1 ton AC 8 hours/day = ~220 units/month in summer. At Rs. 50/unit (high slab), that is Rs. 11,000/month from your AC alone. Over a summer of 6 months: Rs. 66,000 just for the AC.
A 3kW–5kW solar system covers your AC and most other daytime loads. Estimated saving: Rs. 8,000–15,000/month (depending on system size and your tariff slab). Annual saving: Rs. 96,000–180,000. Payback: 3–4 years.
Use our free design tool — select 4 or 5 panels, choose your inverter, add a battery if you want backup. See the full itemised cost in under 60 seconds.
⚡ Open the Solar Design Tool — FreeBarely. A 2kW system (3 × 650W panels) produces just enough to run a 1 ton AC at full load — but nothing else. Any cloud cover or dirty panels will cause the AC to pull from the grid. We recommend at least 3kW of panels for a 1 ton AC-only system and 5kW if you also want to run a fridge and fans.
In Pakistan with 8–12 hours of daily load shedding, a hybrid inverter with battery is strongly recommended. An on-grid (grid-tie) inverter shuts down during load shedding — you get no power. A hybrid inverter + battery keeps your AC running even when WAPDA cuts power.
Yes, solar panels work year-round. In winter, Faisalabad gets 4–5 peak sun hours per day (vs 5.5–6.5 in summer). A 5-panel system will produce 400–500 units in a winter month — your 1 ton AC in winter uses much less than in summer, so the balance is even better.
A small 3kW–5kW system is installed in 1 day. This includes roof mounting, cabling, inverter and battery connection, safety equipment, testing, and commissioning. We document the installation and provide a full system handover.
| AC Size | Running Power | Panels Needed | Inverter Size | Installed Price (with battery) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Ton AC This Page | 700–900W | 4–5 panels | 3kW–5kW | Rs. 570K–680K |
| 1.5 Ton AC | 1,100–1,400W | 6–8 panels | 5kW–6kW | Rs. 700K–900K |
| 2 Ton AC | 1,500–1,800W | 8–10 panels | 6kW–8kW | Rs. 850K–1,100K |
| 3 Ton AC | 2,200–2,700W | 10–14 panels | 8kW–10kW | Rs. 1,200K–1,600K |