OT: Solar Panels

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

We are very lucky living out in the Hawkesbury as we have big blue skies, no trees to cause shading on the panels, main roof profile faces due North
One of the doorknockers basically said
We will install it all for free at xyz $ then they take the govt rebate off that and the difference abc $ is calculated and paid for by me over 40 months from the savings (suggested 80%) off the power bill.
So in effect no $ from me but no savings off the power bills until the system is paid off and of course I pay the same $ as I pay now (subject to increases of course) but own the system after the 40 months and then keep all the savings.
When asked if I just paid up front for everything to get the savings now of course the system is cheaper by $1,200 so much for costing me nothing over the 40 months offer.
Part of the issue is working out what savings we can make by utilising power at different times of the day (both retired).
Gas hot water and cook top
Have LED lights throughout
No pool pump
Air con/ heater used sparingly
Dishwasher & washing machine used during the day
Night time of course is TV / lights / oven (occasionally)
As possum would say the power industry is a mess and it is not easy to work out what is value for money.

Trouble is unless you go off-grid your bill will always contain the daily connection charge. You will be up for $120-140 per quarter before you even use any electricity. The more people install solar panels, the more the suppliers keep jacking up this component of the bill. To get your bill down to zero your solar will need to cover for that as well as any electricity used. If you are on the 8c/kWh feed in tariff you will need 4 kW of solar just to cover the connection charge. Not sure what the answer is.

 

[muzby]

We are very lucky living out in the Hawkesbury as we have big blue skies, no trees to cause shading on the panels, main roof profile faces due North
One of the doorknockers basically said
We will install it all for free at xyz $ then they take the govt rebate off that and the difference abc $ is calculated and paid for by me over 40 months from the savings (suggested 80%) off the power bill.
So in effect no $ from me but no savings off the power bills until the system is paid off and of course I pay the same $ as I pay now (subject to increases of course) but own the system after the 40 months and then keep all the savings.
When asked if I just paid up front for everything to get the savings now of course the system is cheaper by $1,200 so much for costing me nothing over the 40 months offer.
Part of the issue is working out what savings we can make by utilising power at different times of the day (both retired).
Gas hot water and cook top
Have LED lights throughout
No pool pump
Air con/ heater used sparingly
Dishwasher & washing machine used during the day
Night time of course is TV / lights / oven (occasionally)
As possum would say the power industry is a mess and it is not easy to work out what is value for money.

My advice to you:

Don’t go with anyone who knocks on your door.

 

[muzby]

Trouble is unless you go off-grid your bill will always contain the daily connection charge. You will be up for $120-140 per quarter before you even use any electricity. The more people install solar panels, the more the suppliers keep jacking up this component of the bill. To get your bill down to zero your solar will need to cover for that as well as any electricity used. If you are on the 8c/kWh feed in tariff you will need 4 kW of solar just to cover the connection charge. Not sure what the answer is.

You mean a corporation is working out how to keep boosting profits despite a reduction in useage of their core product?

The jerks..

 

[BLM01]

From my bit of reading scientific articles battery technology is set to take off in the next few years. Lithium, which is very expensive will be replaced with more common, efficient and cheaper alternatives and economy of scale will further push prices down as more people jump on board. Even electric cars will be cheaper and have longer range and won't be just for billionaires pushing their green credentials. Might be worth waiting a few years. Also I believe there is a growing problem with the power grid not being able to cope with the rapid growth of solar panels.

Oh dear we need whoever it is to go back to the over 40's and the various nationality escort sites.

Correct and hope so, and then my share price for investing in this new beaut battery technology

OT with Solar Panels sounds all too completed. Just pay your 1/4 elec bill if you still can.
You will spend more in time just trying to understand and work it all out.

My understanding to what people tell me Solar Panels is great for rural properties who rely on it for running farms etc and have big systems
The local domestic suburban house does it really save you anything

I am with Red Energy and they have just announced the 10% bill reduction for paying nearly straight away no longer exists.(scrapped last week when i rang up about changing address and their rates)
Then they baffle you with the scientoific approach to the step process of how they charge and their new plan offerings but dont know how the electricity provider will enforce some of their readings that they are offering you a potential reduction on (i.e. certaiin appliance saver plans)???
Go figure..it is all designed so they lay person dont ask questions and could not be bothered to change or work it out.

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

You mean a corporation is working out how to keep boosting profits despite a reduction in useage of their core product?

The jerks..

Given that it is an essential service we're talking about, then yes, they are jerks.

 

[Old Kogarah Boy 1]

Going through the same dilemma at the moment. I got a quote from the spruikers at the trade show. They are all about cheap and quick. They talk a good talk but they want to whack the panels in where its most convenient for the installers, not where i want them to go for best output and to keep my roof access. They talked up the brand of solar panels they carry and talked down the alternatives. The written quote was cheap, but was based on 16% efficiency panels when i know you can get 18% ones.

Also got a quote from the local solar guy who has been in business for years and is highly regarded in the community. He will do everything i want and use 18% panels. But the quote is 50% more.

Still haven't made a decision.

I know which way l’d be going.
Think about a poorly installed system with a leaking roof from slap happy installers.
Easy decision.

 

[Old Kogarah Boy 1]

Whoever is thinking about ot do some reserach on the rebate system and talk to people that have them. Cost V Savings.
Of course people that got them earlier were entitled to good rebates.... not so sure now.
Sure some will say I dont have electricity bills..so if you spent $7,000 - $8,000 or more for a decent system how long does it take to recoup your money? i.e. years to recoup money based on your current bills. Then how long before you start spending money on the system to keep it going.
Just do the research and the math OT......or just ask Mary

The cheap quality systems will rust out / breakdown before they pay for themselves.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

I am a clean energy certified designer/installer, what do you need to know?

 

[BLM01]

I am a clean energy certified designer/installer, what do you need to know?

Where have you been?..Your the go to gal or guy on this thread!...PC these days
I will know leave all this in an experts hands.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

View attachment 33745

This is what a door knocker will get you. We have a heap of door knockers that have come down from Sydney, targeting pensioners. I had to go and inspect 150 of their jobs. None passed 70% with major faults like this. The old forgot to do up the terminals on the DC isolator trick.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

Where have you been?..Your the go to gal or guy on this thread!...PC these days
I will know leave all this in an experts hands.

I have been at work...

 

[41yearsaint]

It's all or nothing with solar.
Speaking of all or nothing. I upsized my medium quarter pounder meal from McDonald's today.

 

[muzby]

It's all or nothing with solar.
Speaking of all or nothing. I upsized my medium quarter pounder meal from McDonald's today.

Soft.

Come back and talk to me when you’ve upsized a medium triple quarter pounder meal..

 

[Old Kogarah Boy 1]

I am a clean energy certified designer/installer, what do you need to know?

..... FCD, there will be a small surcharge per customer for any referrals l pass your way, ok!

Ladies & Gentlemen, let me introduce you to my good friend, Mr FCD.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

..... FCD, there will be a small surcharge per customer for any referrals l pass your way, ok!

Ladies & Gentlemen, let me introduce you to my good friend, Mr FCD.

Haha i don't install a lot these days its rubbish work, i just do inspections and solar farm work with the odd government job. I do know that if you go with a door knocker you will get a shitty Solax inverter and panels that will be lucky to last 10 years. If you buy a crap inverter it might have a warranty but the warranty is no good if the company doesn't exist in 5 years.

 

[boardlumps62]

Haha i don't install a lot these days its rubbish work, i just do inspections and solar farm work with the odd government job. I do know that if you go with a door knocker you will get a shitty Solax inverter and panels that will be lucky to last 10 years. If you buy a crap inverter it might have a warranty but the warranty is no good if the company doesn't exist in 5 years.

Wasn't it you Forbes CK that wanted to leave us and we all cried and you stayed? Well glad you did ever heard of AAE Solar Hot Water my tempering valve pulled a hammy out til plumber comes to replace had since 2012 that's ok. Backup from company always helpful that's a plug. Have panels and inverter Chinese company just crapped out awaiting repairs 12 months old hmmm I have questions with generating power with solar panels and saving money. But solar hot water ok
Ok is it next March yet.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

Wasn't it you Forbes CK that wanted to leave us and we all cried and you stayed? Well glad you did ever heard of AAE Solar Hot Water my tempering valve pulled a hammy out til plumber comes to replace had since 2012 that's ok. Backup from company always helpful that's a plug. Have panels and inverter Chinese company just crapped out awaiting repairs 12 months old hmmm I have questions with generating power with solar panels and saving money. But solar hot water ok
Ok is it next March yet.

Solar hot water i have no idea, solar i'm not the world expert on but i am qualified. The advice i would give to anyone is have a read through the Solar Quotes website. Finn is extremely knowledgeable and talks no shit, everything is explained in a way in which your average punter who is not a sparky will understand.

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

Just received notice from AGL that my electricity discount has been cut from 32% to 7% plus an increase in c/kWh
So much for the “big stick” from ScuMo and crew as it represents a yearly increase of at least $700
Not happy Jan
So now looking at solar and trying to negotiate the minefield of door knockers and the countless offers from pop up screens etc.
Would greatly appreciate any input/advice from the forum members.

The rebate you will get is not technically a rebate as such unless your local council is offering something extra. It is called STC's Small Scale Technology Certificates. You will get a certain amount per kw installed back and usually the installer will give a quote which for arguments sake is 10k, they will add how many STC's you should get back say $3800 for example so your cost will be $6200 after this is taken out. How they get you is they buy the absolute cheapest panels/inverters that are on the CEC list, and sometimes the STC's actually more than cover the cost of parts for the installer. So the remaining amount will be just for the most part be labour. There will likely one CEC Sparky signing off and a heap of labourers installing it.
When they say about it will be free and come off the bill, they really mean you will setup a payment plan but it should be free due to the savings they forecast.
If you are bored read the Solar Quotes website its really good, and i would recommend upsizing your system, as the STC's are calculated on the kw's of panels not the output of the inverter so for example you might have a 5kw inverter, but can fit 6kw of panels i would go that way as it will compensate for any losses that will occur and be running at peak more often.
Sorry about the long and probably incoherent post i'm a sparky not a literary genius.

 

[Old Kogarah Boy 1]

Haha i don't install a lot these days its rubbish work, i just do inspections and solar farm work with the odd government job. I do know that if you go with a door knocker you will get a shitty Solax inverter and panels that will be lucky to last 10 years. If you buy a crap inverter it might have a warranty but the warranty is no good if the company doesn't exist in 5 years.

Beautiful stuff mate.

Your comments are exactly what l would caution prospective customers about.
You and l have see all the dodgy work over the years and when you try and explain that to people, they, naturelly struggle to comprehend such bad workmanship.

I've been building for 40 years and still, shake my head at what l see each week.
Many people go with the cheapest quote, thinking people like myself who have quoted higher, are ripping them off, however, sometimes one rings back and meekly request l come back to rectify the non conpliant work from the shoddy contractor.

As they say in the classics, you get what you pay for............... most of the time.