Electrical and solar faq’s
How much does it cost to install solar?
The upfront cost of your solar system is affected by a number of factors, including:
- government rebates and incentives available
- contractor installation costs
- type and number of solar panels, which affect the output of your system in kilowatts (kW)
- type and size of inverter (the part of the system that converts the electrical output of your solar panels into AC electricity for use in your home or business)
- type of framing equipment and other system components
- height and accessibility of roof and whether it is tiled, metal or concrete
- any after-sales service agreements
You can see some estimated average costs for installing solar systems of various sizes on our cost and savings page.
About solar Batteries
The great thing about solar batteries is that they can be connected to any pre-existing solar system. The solar panels draw energy from the sunlight during the day and all the excess energy that is not used will be charging the solar battery. Once the solar battery is sufficiently charged, the unused surplus energy produced by your system will be directed into the grid at your current feed-in-tariff rate.
An advantage of solar batteries is that they can be set to discharge to best suit your use of electrical appliances in your home or business based on time and energy consumption. For instance, the solar battery can be set to kick in at a specific time of the day like when the sun is setting. If the electrical appliances require more power during the battery cycle, the solar system can draw from the grid into your home or business at the same time in a hybrid fashion. With a sufficiently charged solar battery, your home or business can be completely energy independent including during the night-time and blackouts.
Can I use my Solar Battery power supply during power outages?
Yes! If you have an Emergency Power Supply (EPS) device installed, hybrid solar provides your home or business with the additional benefit of using your stored solar energy in the event of a power outage or blackouts. This means you’ll never have to worry about being without electricity during a storm or rolling blackout making you energy independent. With EPS, the batteries will give you uninterrupted power. With our Hybrid Solar Systems, we offer EPS devices as an option depending upon your home or business needs. The most essential equipment connected to the EPS won’t be interrupted during power outages. Hurry up and talk to us now! Contact Thomas and the team at Electrical Solar Solutions Today!
How much money will I save by installing solar?
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. It’s important to choose 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 system in Brisbane will usually generate more power than one in Hobart.
Businesses have a couple of other things to take into account, including the tax implications of any revenue received from feed-in tariffs.
A Clean Energy Council Approved Solar Retailer must provide a site-specific estimate of your system’s energy generation. Many solar companies will also calculate the impact this has on your bill.
For more information on the factors that affect solar savings see our costs and savings page and download our free guides to installing solar for households or businesses.
What is a feed-in tariff?
A feed-in-tariff is the amount your electricity retailer pays you for any electricity your solar system generates that you don’t use and is fed back into the grid. Feed-in tariffs differ depending on where you live. You can read more about feed-in tariffs in our guides and government program page.
Can I still replace my old solar system without changing my high feed in-tariff?
Now, if you are currently on the (High Feed in Tariff) 44c feed in tariff, this may not be for you, as you will lose this FIT. Electrical & Solar Solutions can remove and replace your old solar system with a new more efficient solar system without losing High Feed in Tariff. This is something you can look in to, and we can do this for you.
What is a Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC)?
STCs are government incentives that help reduce the upfront cost of installing your solar system. The value of STCs your system receives differs depending on its size and location.
To be eligible for STCs, your solar system must be installed by a Clean Energy Council Accredited retailer.
For more information on STCs, visit the Clean Energy Regular website or download our guides for households or businesses.
Do solar panels work at night or during cloudy weather?
Solar panels do not generate power at night. Once the sun goes down, your home or business will start to draw power from the main grid as usual. Solar panels will still work on cloudy days but will not generate as much electricity as when the weather is clear and sunny.
What should I do if my solar system stops working?
If your solar system is still under warranty, you should contact the retailer you purchased your system from to arrange repairs. If you bought from a Clean Energy Council Approved Solar Retailer, your solar system is covered under warranty for at least five years. If your system is out of warranty, you should contact your retailer or an accredited solar installer. However, you may be responsible for the cost of any repairs. For more information on what to do if your system stops working, refer to our maintenance and warranties page.
What does a battery storage system look like?
A battery storage system for a typical residential home looks like a small fridge or hot water system. For small commercial applications, they can be larger ranging in size from a large fridge to a 20-foot shipping container.
How to Buy Solar Panels?
When you buy Solar Panels Adelaide, there is a short checklist you should check off:
- Is your Solar Retailer a clean energy council approved Solar Retailer?
- Does your Solar Retailer also install your Solar System?
- Is your Solar Installer a Licensed Electrician?
By checking off these 3 simple questions you can be assured your solar system will meet your every expectation from sale through to installation. And in the case of any warranty claim, your installer will have your back as your contact your Solar Manufacturer.
Who To Buy Solar Panels From?
Why Buy Solar?
If you Buy Solar for your Home or Business, you are guaranteed to save thousands of dollars on your electricity costs over the lifetime of your solar system. For a limited time, Electrical & Solar Solutions are offering $0 upfront cost on your solar system.
Can my local electrician fix my solar system?
Solar is specialized, and it is unlikely that your local electrician has done the extra training and exams needed to understand solar. Always choose a solar accredited electrician, as only they are licensed to install solar systems, so they are the best people to fix them.
How do I know if my solar system is working properly?
Unless you have a very old inverter with no display, your inverter should show how much power it has made since it was installed, and how much it has made so far up update. Compare these numbers to the projections your installation company should have given you, to see if it is performing as expected. You can also check with your energy bill.
What about if my inverter has no display?
This is harder to tell, but not impossible. Pick a day when you are going out for the day, and switch everything off in the house, then read the SAPAN meter at the beginning and end of the day (press menu 9 on your energy meter). This will tell you how much you have exported, and as you have used nothing, also what your system has made. You can also check with your energy bill or call you energy provider.
I’ve just had a power cut and my solar system isn’t working?
Solar systems only work when they are connected to the grid, and the power is working. When there is a power cut the solar system will switch off, but it should automatically start back up when the power is back. Unless if you have a battery install with a backup mode installed
The inverter isn’t working the power is back?
Sometimes when there is a power cut or the power flickers, the main switch can be tripped off. Check the main solar switch in your meter board/sub-board is on, as well as the AC and DC switches by the inverter.
Not sure what you’re looking for? If you have tried this and it still isn’t working, contact our specialize technicians.
How do I know whether my inverter is faulty?
Check if your inverter is displaying an error message, look in your inverter handbook for guidance on the error. In most cases the problem will not be the inverter, instead the inverter will be reporting an error somewhere on the solar system. Inverters do go wrong from time to time, but in most cases, it is not a faulty inverter. Contact Electrical & Solar Solutions for assistance if needed.
Can you give us any advice on buying a system?
Certainly Yes, as Electrical & Solar Solutions certainly can. We see lots of systems out there, so we have a good idea of what is good, and what is not.
What are solar water pumps?
Our solar water pumps combined the reliability of an electric pump with the versatility and sustainability of a solar powered system. This combination creates a water pumping system that is able to operate off grid with minimal maintenance required.
How Solar water pumps work?
Solar water pumps consist of an electric motor that is powered by solar panels. Receiving power from the sun, the electric motor then powers the submersible or surface water pump. These systems pump the water from bores, dams and freshwater streams into a storage tank. From the water storage tank, the water is then gravity fed into a water trough or used for drip irrigation.