200-litre solar heater — how many people does it serve?

200 litres is the most-asked-about capacity in the Egyptian market, and that's a sensible starting point: most flats and mid-sized homes fall in that range. But the real question isn't "is 200 L good?" — it's "is 200 L enough for my home?"

The indicative figure from the catalogue

Per the approved Nobel catalogue, the Apollon 200 L is aimed at a household of 4 to 5 people, running on a single collector of 2.6 square metres. The same capacity is also available in Hyperion, Aelios and Solfos.

That figure is indicative, not a rule. Two households with the same number of people can need different capacities — the next section explains why.

200 L is the right choice when…

• Household size is around 4 to 5.
• One or two bathrooms, used sequentially rather than simultaneously (one person showers after another, not at the same time).
• Kitchen and laundry hot-water use is normal, not heavy.
• Available roof space is limited — a single collector needs less area.

And it falls short when…

• Two bathrooms run at the same time in the morning. This is the most common reason a capacity that looks right on paper turns out wrong in practice: simultaneous peak demand drains the stored volume quickly and the water cools mid-shower.
• Household size is closer to 6 or more — the natural range then becomes 300 or 330 litres depending on the model.
• Guests stay for long periods, or the household is expected to grow soon. Changing capacity after installation is harder and costlier than getting it right upfront.
• Kitchen use is heavy (a lot of daily cooking) or the washing machine regularly runs on hot water.

The recurring mistake: "I'll take a bigger one to be safe"

Capacity beyond your requirement isn't extra safety — it's extra cost: a bigger tank, more collectors, more roof area you don't need, and water heated that never gets used. The reverse is equally true: too little capacity makes the home lean on the backup heater more often, which erodes the very savings you came for.

Both are avoided by one calculation: the calculator asks about people, bathrooms and usage and returns a starting capacity in a minute, and the free inspection confirms it on-site.

Which model offers 200 L?

The capacity is available in Apollon (the most common for homes — double-layer enamel, 10 cm insulation, natural circulation, 5-year tank and 10-year collector warranty on a replacement basis), Hyperion (added corrosion protection — suited to coastal areas and harder water), plus Aelios and Solfos. The differences are laid out in the comparison.