Frequently Asked Questions

Here is a list of commonly asked questions regarding the installation of Solar Power, to see the answer to the question simply scroll down the page to find the answer.

1. What is a grid connect solar power system?

2. How much does a grid connect solar power system cost?

3. What can affect the amount of solar energy received?

4. Does roof orientation really matter?

5. What is a feed in tariff and how much will I get paid?

6. What size system will I need to power my home?

7. Is my building suitable for a solar power system?

8. How long will my grid connect solar power system last?

9. What types of warranties are supplied with the system?

10. What can affect the costs of installing a grid connect system?

11. Is my grid connect system insurable?

12. If my energy requirements increase, can I upgrade the system?

13. What happens on overcast days?

14. What does a typical home solar power system consist of?

15. What are the maintenance requirements?

16. Is a solar regulator necessary in a grid connect system?

17. How does electricity get stored for use after sunset?

18. A blackout? What happens with grid connect systems?

19. Can you retro-fit battery backup into a grid connect system?

20. How does a solar system connect into current house power?

21. Where do you place the inverter?

22. What is the difference between solar power and solar hot water?

23. How much roof space is required?

24. What shall the installed solar system weigh on the roof?

What is a grid connect solar power system?
Grid connect systems, often sited in urban areas, supply solar electricity through an inverter directly to the premises and to the power grid if the system is providing more electricity than the home requires. When power is supplied to the mains power grid, the householder generally receives a credit or a payment for that electricity. This is called a feed in tariff.

How much does a grid connect solar power system cost?
A system cost will be individually calculated by our solar system calculator depending on your needs. Small solar power system costs start at around $2,000 after rebates. Currently the Federal Government rebate are multiplying the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) rebate by 3 times up to a 1.5kwatts which is up to $3200 for a 1.5kw system.

What can affect the amount of solar energy received?
The strength of the solar energy (radiation) available is dependent on the time of the year, time of the day, and latitude of the generation point. The amount of energy generated can be further affected by dust and water vapour in the air, cloud cover and any shading of the solar panels. You can learn more about solar radiation levels for your local area in our solar power system builder.

Does roof orientation really matter?
Certainly does. For example, a system with solar panels facing in a westerly direction will generally produce less than one with a northerly outlook..

What is a feed in tariff and how much will I get paid?
A feed in tariff is whereby a grid connect system owner is paid for the electricity their system generates by a utility or government agency. The two different tariff types are gross and net. A gross feed in tariff pays a premium on all electricity generated whereas a net feed in tariff pays only on surplus energy created by the system. The amount paid is generally above market rate, but this does vary from state to state.

What size system will I need to power my home?
That depends entirely on your energy consumption and your geographical location and feed in tariff in your state. A 1.5kW system is currently the “entry point” for grid connect and attracts the most rebate per watt .It will cover between 16 and 25% of the energy consumption of a medium household. A 4 kW system will cover 100% of the energy consumed in a medium energy use household

Any size grid connect solar power system will reduce your yearly power consumption and your power bill. Of course, the bigger the system, the bigger the benefit.

To make the most of solar power, the key is to implement basic energy efficiency strategies. It is easy to conserve power by using appropriate lighting and efficient appliances. Running high power usage appliances such as electric bar heaters, electric hot water systems and air conditioners etc. is not economical.

Is my building suitable for a solar power system?
Several factors will need evaluation to determine if your home is a good solar site, such as orientation, available space, shading on the space available and your current electricity consumption. An ideal site will be one with adequate north-facing roofs that have no shade. Variations on that will affect the productivity of the system.

How long will my grid connect solar power system last?
Solar modules have been tested in the field indicating small reductions in power output after 20 years, generally because the glass surface becomes slightly dull and reflects more light. Our solar panels carry an output warranty of 25 years. Currently there are solar panels delivering power in Australia that were installed over 30 years ago. The electronic components such as inverters, being the most sensitive, will last 10 -15 years.

What types of warranties are supplied with the system?
• Solar Panels:  10 year product warranty, 25-year warranty to produce 80% of rated output (manufacturer)

• Inverter: 5-year warranty. Can be extended to 10 years for an additional charge (manufacturer)

• Mounting System: 10-year product warranty (manufacturer)

• Workmanship: 25 YEAR warranty on workmanship

10. What can affect the costs of installing a grid connect system?

A base rate includes the grid connect system installation on a pitched metal roof facing north with the necessary surface area available. Extra costs will be incurred for a flat or tiled roof; any equipment upgrades and extended warranties.

Is my grid connect system insurable?
Most insurers allow you to include the system under your home and contents insurance, but please confirm this with your insurance company first.

If my energy requirements increase, can I upgrade the system?
Yes. Additional solar panels can be added at any time to increase generating capability but you may have to install a second inverter or a larger inverter. Alternatively you could buy a larger inverter when installing the system initially and then plan to add some extra solar panels later.

What happens on overcast days?
In a grid connect system, as you are still connected to the mains power supply, so any deficit will come from the mains grid.

Solar power system components

What does a typical home solar power system consist of?
A simple grid connect system consists of a few solar modules and an inverter which converts the DC electricity into AC. The inverter is connected to the power grid by way of the electricity meter.

What are the maintenance requirements?
With a grid connected system, very little maintenance is required. Electronic components should be maintenance free.

Electrical and installation

Is a solar regulator necessary in a grid connect system?
No, the inverter handles the incoming charge and converts it to AC electricity for use in your home

How does electricity get stored for use after sunset?
Grid connect systems direct excess electricity generated during the day back into the local electricity grid. You then receive a credit for any power that your system supplied to the grid. During the night when your system does not produce any electricity, you draw your power from the grid and your electricity meter measures your usage.

A blackout? What happens with grid connect systems
The grid connect inverter will automatically shutdown within a few milliseconds of a blackout, to avoid the potential of a dangerous “brown-out” in your home and to prevent back feeding into the grid. So, even though you have a solar system during a blackout you will not have power. If you want to keep on having electricity available during a blackout then you would require back up batteries installed as well, which will add to the cost of the system.

Can you retro-fit battery backup into a grid connect system?
Yes, battery backup systems need additional components – a solar regulator and batteries.

20. How does a solar system connect into current house power?

The solar system is wired into your existing meter box via a 20amp circuit breaker.

Where do you place the inverter?
Usually the inverter is placed alongside the fuse box. The inverter has a display which shows the electricity generated.

What is the difference between solar power and solar hot water?
Solar panels take light from the sun and make electricity. Solar hot water systems take heat from the sun and heat water. Here’s an easy way to remember:

• Heat from the sun heats the water.

• Light from the sun turns on the lights.

How much roof space is required?
A 1.0 KW system needs approximately 10m2, a 1.5KW system needs approximately 15m2 and so on.

What shall the installed solar system weigh on the roof?

The solar system weighs approximately 27 kilograms per square meter (a 1KW system is approximately 10 square meters).