The Power Transformation of a Phone Repair Shop in Ibadan
The Protagonist and His Struggle
32-year-old Oluwaseun Adeyem runs a phone repair shop on a street in Ibadan, Nigeria. The shop has been open for six years and has established a solid local reputation. However, for the past two years, Olu faced a nearly insurmountable problem: an unreliable power supply.
Power outages were a frequent problem. While Ibadan's electricity supply is relatively good by Nigerian standards, Olu's repair shop, which handles precision electronics, experienced three to five outages daily. Each outage posed risks such as interrupted flashing that could brick phones, mid-soldering failures damaging circuit boards, and sudden temperature drops in heat guns causing BGA rework failures.
Olu tried multiple solutions. Small gasoline generators were too noisy for customer interactions, cost around 45,000 Naira per month in fuel, and their unstable voltage had once damaged a motherboard.
Standard UPS units only provided 15 to 20 minutes of backup, could not support high-power devices such as heat guns, and required battery replacement twice a year. These challenges at one point made Olu consider closing the shop and seeking employment with a larger company.
The Turning Point: Discovering PowMr
In October 2025, a friend visiting from Lagos recommended a solar solution after seeing the shop struggling with frequent outages. The friend shared his positive experience with a PowMr solar system, highlighting its pure sine wave output, which is safe for precision electronics, and its near-instant switching time, which prevents interruptions during sensitive operations.
Olu researched PowMr products and chose the POW-HVM3.2H-24V inverter and 12V 100Ah lithium battery due to several key features:
- 3000W rated output provides sufficient power for the simultaneous operation of heat guns, soldering irons, charging stations, and lighting.
- Pure sine wave output protects delicate circuit boards from damage.
- Built-in 80A MPPT controller allows direct solar power supply during the daytime, which reduces battery cycling.
- Support for LiFePO4 batteries with over 3000 charge cycles provides long-term reliability for more than a decade.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Inverter Specifications | |
| Product Name | PowMr POW-HVM3.2H-24V |
| Model | POW-HVM3.2H-24V |
| Rated Output Power | 3000W / 3000VA |
| AC Output Voltage | 230V AC, 50Hz |
| Output Waveform | Pure Sine Wave |
| DC System Voltage | 24V |
| Max Charging Current (Solar + AC) | 80A |
| Max PV Input Voltage | 500V (Open Circuit Voltage) |
| Max PV Input Power | 3000W |
| Battery Specifications | |
| Product Name | PowMr POW-100AH-12.8V |
| Battery Model | POW-100AH-12.8V |
| Battery Type | LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) |
| Nominal Voltage | 12.8V per unit |
| Capacity | 100Ah per unit |
| Configuration | 2 units in series (25.6V system) |
| Recommended Depth of Discharge | 80% |
| Cell Grade | A-grade cells |
| Max Expandable Configuration | Up to 4S4P |
| Total Energy Storage | 2.56 kWh |
System Installation and Configuration
To address these challenges, a solar power system was installed by a local professional team and completed within one day. The system consists of:
- One PowMr POW-HVM3.2H-24V inverter rated at 3000 W
- Two 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 batteries connected in series to form a 24V battery bank with a total capacity of 2.4 kWh
- Six 450 W monocrystalline solar panels connected in parallel, providing a total solar capacity of 2.7 kW
Load Analysis
The shop’s electricity demand is driven by both core repair equipment and supporting loads. Daily energy consumption is summarized below.
| Equipment | Power (W) | Daily Usage (h) | Energy (kWh/day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat gun | 500 | 3 | 1.5 |
| Soldering iron | 60 | 6 | 0.36 |
| 10-port USB charging/testing station | 120 | 8 | 0.96 |
| LED shop lighting | 100 | 10 | 1 |
| Ceiling fans (2 units) | 150 | 10 | 1.5 |
| Total | — | — | 5.32kWh |
The average operating load during business hours is approximately 500W, with core repair equipment consuming about half of the total daily energy. The remaining energy supports lighting, ventilation, and other essential functions.
Power Supply Strategy and Reliability
The system is configured with a solar-first power priority. When sunlight is available, solar energy directly supplies the shop’s loads. If solar generation is insufficient, grid power supplements the system to avoid unnecessary battery discharge.
Serving as the final backup, the 2.4 kWh LiFePO4 battery bank provides about 1.92 kWh of usable energy at an 80% depth of discharge, ensuring continuous operation during grid outages and short-term power fluctuations.
With the 2700w solar panel system, the battery can be fully recharged in fewer than five effective sunlight hours, even while supplying daytime loads.
Under typical conditions, the system is capable of maintaining normal business operations during grid outages without disrupting essential repair work. Grid power is mainly required during extended periods of cloudy or rainy weather.
From Power Reliability to Business Confidence
For Olu and many technicians working in similar environments, reliable electricity is more than a convenience. It defines whether precision work can be completed safely and on time.
With a stable, solar-first power system in place, daily operations are no longer shaped by unpredictable outages, and sensitive repair tasks can proceed without interruption.
This transformation shows how a properly configured solar and storage solution goes beyond keeping the lights on. It protects equipment, stabilizes income, and restores confidence in day-to-day operations.
In regions where grid reliability remains uncertain, dependable power becomes a quiet but decisive advantage for small technical businesses.