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SOLAR FAQ'S
More than 2 Million Australian Homes have Adopted Solar Power!
Make a Wise Choice for Your Home Now!
Do you have questions about solar energy? Our FAQs are designed to give you an overview of solar technology, solar installation, and solar economics, so you’ll have the confidence to go solar. Don’t see an answer you’re looking for here? Contact info@
Solar technology
Can I install solar panels now and add battery storage later?
Absolutely! Many home and business owners chose to go solar today – leveraging the immediate cost competitiveness of solar to start saving money on their electric bills – and install batteries in the future, once hardware costs fall. There is nothing that prevents you from adding battery storage to an existing solar system.
How do solar systems work?
Solar power works by converting light from the sun into electricity. This electricity can then be used in your home or exported to the grid when it’s not needed. This is done by installing Solar Panels on your roof which generate DC (Direct Current) electricity. This is then fed into a solar inverter which converts the DC electricity from your solar panels into AC (Alternating Current) electricity.
How long does a solar system last?
Think of your solar system as a 25-year investment. Solar panels will produce electricity for at least 25 years. (See “Do systems come with warranties?” question for information on the warranties you’ll receive with your system) Panels will continue to generate electricity after 25 years, but at a decreasing rate. While microinverters will likely last for the duration of the PV system, you may need to replace central inverters after 15 years.
Will my system need maintenance?
Solar is a simple, minimum-maintenance technology. Unlike other energy technologies, solar PV contains no moving parts. This means it’s not likely your equipment will fail. You should not have to replace your panels at all during their lifetime. Wiring is the part of solar PV that most commonly requires maintenance because squirrels and other animals may tamper with it. Even in those cases, damage tends to be minimal. Solar panels do not need to be washed, as rain and snow naturally clean them. We do not recommend climbing up to your panels to wash them.
How do I get credit for my solar electricity production?
You will earn credit for the solar electricity you generate through a policy called net metering. Net metering allows you to offset your utility electricity consumption with the solar electricity your array produces. When your system generates electricity, that electricity flows into your home or building and is consumed on-site. When your solar panels produce more electricity than your home or building needs, the excess electricity is sent out to the local grid, where it is consumed by your neighbors. Through net metering, you receive full credit for the excess electricity you feed onto the grid. Once you install solar, your monthly electric bill will be calculated to reflect: the total amount of electricity you consumed minus the total amount of electricity you produced (i.e., the solar electricity you fed onto the grid).
What happens on cloudy days?
Your system will still produce electricity during cloudy days however production will be less than on sunny days.
Installing Solar
Will solar work on my roof?
There are four factors that determine if your roof is a good fit for solar:
Orientation:
Once you know how big your system needs to be, you need to decide where you’re going to put it and how best to position it to collect the maximum amount of sunlight. This may or may not be an easy decision, depending on your home's situation, but there are some basic guidelines to follow to ensure you're getting the best results.
North facing - North-facing panels will usually give the greatest energy output. That’s because Australia, being in the southern hemisphere, experiences a sun that is mostly directed from the north
West Facing - Produce approximately 15% less energy than north facing panels and still generate in the morning, but generate more power during the afternoon so perfect for those that don’t deal well with the Sydney summer heat!
East Facing - Produce approximately 17% less energy than north facing panels, generate most in the morning, yet still generate in the afternoon and have best chance of capturing any winter sun more for those that can’t stand Sydney winters!
South Facing - Produce approximately 28% less energy than north facing panels. South facing panels angled at less than 20 degrees still produce really well in NSW. In summer the production is on par with a west facing roof, if not better as the sun tracks above the roof all day. In winter as the sun is lower the production does take a hit, but still a great year round production option! In most cases a south facing roof can out perform a shaded north roof space!
Shading:
Once you’ve determined that your roof is oriented in the right direction, the next step is to ensure that your roof is not shaded. The portions of the roof where solar will be installed should be free of shade for most of the day, as shade can significantly reduce electricity production. Trees, chimneys, dormers, and HVAC vents are factors that can cause shading on a roof. If you’re not sure if your roof is shaded, your installer can use a tool called the “solar pathfinder” to figure out if trees or other objects will cast shade during the day.
Surface:
Solar arrays are most efficient when they are installed in a large, uninterrupted space. Things like dormer windows, chimneys, vents, skylights, and air conditioning units can be obstacles to installing an array.
Durability:
Finally, if your roof is more than 15 years old, you may want to consider replacing it before installing solar panels. Most solar vendors recommend using roofing material that will last as long as the system (minimum of 25 years).
How long does it take to install a system?
1.5kW – 3-4 hours
3kW – 1 day
5kW – 1 to 2 days
Based on a “standard” installation.
Roof Area Needed
A 3kW Solar System will require around 20m2 of roof space for installation.
Do systems come with warranties?
Solar installations come with below warranties:
- Product warranties & power production warranties
- Installation warranties.
What if my system has problems?
If you believe your solar system is experiencing problems, contact your installer directly. The majority of systems will be installed with an online monitoring program that tracks the production of your array. You can use the data in your monitoring system to verify if your system is still producing energy at the same rate as before. Note: Keep in mind that energy production fluctuates from day to day, month to month, and year to year based on weather conditions and other natural factors. Despite these fluctuations, you should see a consistent curve of energy production over time.
If you believe something is wrong with your system, contact your installer and send over any monitoring data you have. In some cases, installers will be able to view the production data themselves, and in others you’ll have to give them access to your monitoring system. Either way, they’ll be able to easily assess the problem and determine the best course of action. In extreme cases where the installer needs to dispatch a crew member to fix the problem, be sure to ask whether the costs are covered by their labor warranty.
Is the system installed by qualified electricians?
Yes, our expert installers are qualified licensed electricians accredited by the Clean Energy Council of Australia for the design and installation of your system
Do I need a new meter?
In short, the answer is yes. As part of recent government regulations, every home that gets a new Solar PV System installed needs a new digital meter to be installed in their meter box. Although you may already have a current smart meter installed at your property, it would still need to be changed or altered to accomodate for a bi-directional digital meter.
The reason for this is that your existing electricity meter is not programmed to perform the functions of picking up your Solar energy production from your new Solar panel system, and may need to either be replaced, or simply re-programmed by your electricity retailer.
This meter will allow live data to be sent back to the grid as well as your electricity retailer, providing data on your electricity consumption, solar PV system production as well as the amount of kW’s you export back into the grid.
Once your Solar panel system is installed, your electricity retailer will come out and install your new Solar net meter in your meter box, most retailers do this free of charge to the customer and usually within 27 days after your new Solar PV system has been commissioned.
As part of our promise to deliver the highest quality customer service in the Solar industry, we look after all applications and paperwork to the grid on your behalf. After your Solar panels have been installed, our applications team then liaise with your electricity retailer to ensure they come out and have your new Solar net meter fitted at the earliest.
Solar economics
How should I read my electric bill?
Even before you install solar, reading your electric bill can be confusing. There are several charges and different line items to keep straight.
Once you install solar, your monthly bill will look slightly different. Most notably, the bill will take into account “solar export credit,” or the solar electricity (kWh) you’ve exported to the grid in moments where it wasn’t needed at home. It’s important to be able to read your bill in order to verify that your utility company is accurately crediting you for your solar electricity.
What factors affect system pricing?
Several factors dictate the price of your system, not just the cost of the panels themselves. Other factors include the price of the inverter, racking equipment, and engineering time as well as design, labor, and permitting. Many of these components are soft costs that are not based on the price of physical equipment. We aims to reduce these costs so home and business owners can see more savings when going solar.
Can I insure my system?
Yes. The system can be covered under home and contents insurance. Contact your insurer for further details.
How much money will i save with solar panels?
The amount of money your household will save on power bills by going solar is affected by a number of factors, including:
Your energy consumption and the size of your solar power system – if you use more power than your system is capable of producing, your savings will be reduced. This can be avoided by choosing the right-sized system for your needs.
Your feed-in tariff – this is the amount your electricity retailer pays you for any excess power your solar panels generate.
Your usage patterns – solar panels can only generate electricity while the sun is shining. This means that households that use a lot of power during the day may attract greater savings than those that consume most of their power at night. However, you will still receive a feed-in tariff for any excess electricity you generate during the day.
Where you live – some areas of Australia receive a lot more sunlight than others, so a solar PV system in Sydney will usually generate more power than one in Hobart.
Electricity Generated By The System
Depending on where your business is located a 3kW system can generate between 4,000 - 47,00kWh per annum. This equates to around 11-13kWh/day on average.
Solar Maintenance
Will my solar system work at night?
Your solar system will turn off at night as there is not enough sunlight to sustain operation. Once the solar radiation is high enough the inverter will start to operate automatically again each morning – it will start off with a self test before feeding the grid with electricity. It is completely normal for inverters to turn off when no power is being produced (i.e. at night).
Will my solar system work during a power blackout?
Your inverter will automatically shut itself off within a few seconds of a blackout, this is a safety feature to avoid the potential of a dangerous “brown-out” in your home and to prevent back feeding into the grid. Therefore even though you have a solar system during a blackout you will not have power available.
Why is my bill higher/the same since I installed solar?
your electricity retailer cannot tell you how much power your system has produced, they can only tell you how much power you have bought from and sold back to the grid. They cannot determine/see how much of the power from your system has been used in your home.
There are many factors which can effect your electricity bill. Some of the most common reasons why your bill may be higher than expected are:
1. Estimated meter reads vs actual reads
If your previous bill was an ‘Estimated reading’ and your new bill is based on an actual read, there may be a variation on the bill to account for the difference between the estimated and actual readings. If you used more energy than was estimated, the additional energy usage will be included on your new bill, resulting a higher than usual bill. To find out if your bill is an estimated reading, look for ‘Estimated reading’ written on your bill. If it doesn’t have this statement, your bill is based on an actual meter reading.
2. Has your meter recently been changed
If you had an old analogue meter before you your solar system was installed, then your meter will have been changed to the new bi-directional meter. This can sometimes cause a change in bill amount as your old meter may have been faulty.
3. Changes in your energy use due to weather
During extreme hot or cold weather, the heating and cooling systems in your house will have to work harder to keep the temperature at a comfortable level, resulting in higher energy bills.
4. Number of appliances in use
New appliances recently installed could be using more energy. Old or faulty appliances can use up more energy than well maintained ones.
5. Changes to your household size
If the amount of people living in your home has increased, or the amount of time spent in your home has increased, your energy usage will also have increased.
6. Check your meter number is correct
If your meter has been changed recently it can be a good idea to check that the meter number printed on your bill is the same as the meter at your house.
7. Check how many days are in the billing period
If you have changed your billing period from monthly to quarterly then your bill would be higher to reflect the increased number of days billed.
What do I do if there is an error/fault description displaying on my inverter?
Check the solar supply main switch in the switchboard is on – turn it on if it is off
Follow the shut down procedure;
1. Turn off the AC ISOLATOR adjacent/below the inverter.
2. Turn off all “PV ARRAY DC ISOLATOR(S)” located adjacent/below the inverter.
3. Wait for the inverter to turn off – this can take up to 20 seconds.
Follow the start up procedure;
1. Turn on all “PV ARRAY DC ISOLATOR(S)” located adjacent/below the inverter
2. Turn on the “AC ISOLATOR” adjacent/below the inverter
If your system is still showing an error, please contact us.
I think my system production has decreased, what should I do?
- Please check the data from your inverter against our production checker to determine if your system production is where it should be.
- Please note you cannot obtain this information from your bill. Your bill only tells you how much power you have bought from and sold to the grid, not how much power your system has produced.
- If your system production is down, it’s likely to be the result of either;
- Bad weather/a change of season i.e less sunlight reaching your panels
- Dirty panels – click here for advice on cleaning your panels
- Damaged panels – if you think your panels have been damaged, please contact us
- Shading from neighbouring buildings, trees or other structures
- An inverter fault – please see answer for question above
Should I clean my panels?
If the panels are dry, before tackling the modules with water, brush off any loose materials first – this will make cleaning easier and faster. ... Given the nature of good quality solar panel glass, clean water and a little scrubbing with a coarse cloth covered sponge or soft brush should remove the most stubborn grime.
Should I get my solar power system serviced?
An annual inspection & maintenance check of your system is recommended.
Will solar panels work on cloudy days?
The answer is yes - just not quite as well… which means up until recently clouds and rain cost solar homeowners money.
Solar Battery/Storage
What are the advantages of a battery?
You can store your solar power to use when you desire, meaning you are less dependent on grid power, which makes you more self-sufficient. Some batteries can also protects against blackouts, which can be a big concern for some people. They might have a generator, but they want to replace the generator with a battery.
I’ve heard about ‘single phase’ and ‘three phase’ power, what does that mean?
Most homes use single phase power. But some larger houses or businesses run three phase power, which can handle heavier loads or machinery.
A three phase power outlet.
The Tesla Powerwall 2 has a single phase inverter, so we can only do a single phase installation for those batteries.
However, a Tesla Powerwall 2 can be installed on a three phase property. But it will only supply power to the phase to which it is connected, so you would need to make specific queries about that. The Powerwall 2 can also still provide a partial backup to selected circuits on three phase sites.
Do I have to switch the battery on if a blackout happens?
Let’s say it’s daytime, hot, and the air-conditioners throughout the house are running. The power goes out. If the battery can’t handle the load it will shut itself down. Then you will have to switch off the air-conditioners and switch the battery back on.
But if you’re not running a heavy load, the battery will automatically switch on the moment the blackout occurs. Meanwhile, the battery is still charging from the solar panels in the background even while it powers the house. (Keep in mind this will only work if your house runs off a single phase power supply.)
If the battery is fully charged, how long will it last?
It depends on what you are running on it. If you have a few lights on and you’re watching TV, doing some cooking, then the battery will last about 12-13 hours. But as soon as you add a big power consumer, like air-conditioning or a dishwasher, you are going to drain the battery much more quickly. It can then last around two to three hours.
If you have single phase power and there’s a blackout, you can potentially back up the entire house – as long as you’re not running more than 5 kW of continuous power.
Can I feed power from the home battery into the grid and get the feed-in tariff?
Let’s say it’s summer, 7am, and your solar panels are already generating power. If you have a smart meter installed the meter is going to check in every 15 minutes or half an hour, depending on how it is set up. If it finds there’s excess solar power, it uses that to charge the battery.
Let’s say that by 3pm your battery is fully charged. From that point until sunset, you’ll either be using the power your generate or exporting it to the main grid.
Sometimes your power distributor can put a limit on how much you can export, so you should check that.
Should the battery be outside or inside?
It should go in a covered area, like a garage or a shed. We like to have it close to the electricity switchboard too.
You can retrofit the Tesla Powerwall 2 to your existing solar panels.
It can be installed outside, but because the sun shining on the battery can cause it to heat, we need to put it on an east or south aspect. It can be mounted on the floor or on the wall. Most of the installations we do are on the floor, because it’s more stable.