Guides · Inverters and solar
Hout Bay and Llandudno sit side by side on the Atlantic side of the Cape Peninsula, and we work in both. According to Wikipedia, Hout Bay is a seaside and harbour town in a valley of the Cape Peninsula, surrounded by mountains to the north, east and west, and part of the City of Cape Town metro area. Llandudno is a separate seaside suburb over the Suikerbossie pass, with about 200 houses. For owners of homes like these, an inverter and battery is mostly about keeping lights, fridge, Wi-Fi and security running when the power goes off. Because the equipment is wired into the distribution board, it also comes with paperwork that the wiring alone does not cover.
What the City asks for
The City of Cape Town says that, since 1 October 2023, all new solar PV and battery systems are treated as grid-tied. In its words, they must use City-approved inverters, have professional sign-off and be authorised before switching on. The City also says you need to apply for authorisation to install an embedded generation system, such as rooftop solar PV. That applies to an inverter and battery system, not only to panels.
- Approved inverters only. The City publishes an approved PV inverter list. Check the model against it before you buy.
- Professional sign-off. The City requires professional sign-off on the installation.
- Authorised before it is switched on. The system may not simply be switched on once it is wired in.
Standby-only systems are no longer accepted
The City states that it is no longer accepting applications for standby and off-grid systems. Systems that were already authorised remain valid, and applications made before October 2023 are still processed. If you are quoted for a battery backup that is meant to stay outside the City's process, ask why. A new system should expect to go through the grid-tied route.
Hout Bay and Llandudno: what to think about on site
- A big spread of homes. Wikipedia says Hout Bay has much middle-income housing as well as multi-million rand mansions, luxurious holiday homes and some small wine estates. That range of houses is a reason we do not price from the suburb. The size of the system follows what you want to keep running, so we look at the board and the circuits first.
- Mountain and valley sites. Wikipedia describes Hout Bay as a valley ringed by mountains. In our view that makes roof orientation, the cable run from roof to inverter and the position of the battery worth walking through on the visit, not guessing from a photo.
- Holiday homes. A holiday home may stand empty for weeks. Tell us if the fridge, alarm or gate must stay on while nobody is there, because that decides which circuits the inverter carries.
- Boreholes and pumps. If you have a borehole or pool pump, tell us early, because it changes what the inverter must carry.
Llandudno
Wikipedia says the valley was declared a township and named Llandudno on 26 September 1903, after the seaside resort in North Wales, and describes it as having some of the most expensive residential property in South Africa. It also says the suburb has no shops or commercial activities, so we agree the scope in writing before we come out. We work in Llandudno from our Fish Hoek office.
Selling a house with an inverter
If you are selling, keep the paperwork together: the City's authorisation for the system, your installer's documents and the electrical certificate. Our guide to the electrical certificate in Constantia, Tokai and Bergvliet explains what is checked at transfer, and the same approach applies in Hout Bay. If you cannot find the documents, ask your installer first.
Our guide to what an inverter and battery cost explains what drives the price, and our guide to servicing an installed system covers what comes after. If you are mainly after plumbing, see our guide to water pressure and burst pipes in Hout Bay.
Where we work
We work in Hout Bay, Llandudno, Camps Bay, Constantia and across the Southern Suburbs and South Peninsula. For anything that isn't an emergency, WhatsApp us on 074 490 3100 or email enquiries@lightningfast.co.za. Office hours are Monday to Friday 07:30 to 17:30 and Saturday 08:00 to 13:00. We do not have a long list of completed inverter installations to point to, so we would rather say that plainly and show you the written quote and scope first.
Common questions
Do I have to get City of Cape Town authorisation for an inverter and battery?
The City says all new solar PV and battery systems are treated as grid-tied and must use City-approved inverters, have professional sign-off and be authorised before switching on.
Can I install a standby-only battery system in Hout Bay or Llandudno?
The City says it is no longer accepting applications for standby and off-grid systems. Systems already authorised remain valid.
Do you do inverter, battery and solar work in Hout Bay and Llandudno?
Yes, we do inverter and battery work, and we also install solar panels. We give you a written quote and scope before starting.