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Posted 12 Nov
For most households, investing in solar can be a significant purchase which should be designed and installed to be long-lasting and continue to bring you benefits for the long-term.
It is important to identify the dangers of choosing a cheap, or the cheapest solar system that is quoted as it could pose a risk to your property and your safety.
When getting a quote for solar throughout NSW, it’s a general rule of thumb in the solar industry to avoid the extremely cheap solar systems and packages, as they mostly contain low quality solar panels and inverters and are usually subcontracted out to external installers where installation workmanship quality could be compromised.
Even though cheap solar deals may look attractive, it’s highly recommended that the customer get multiple quotes from various installers in their local area to compare pricing and identify the cheap to premium installers.
Whilst cheaper can be better, comparing quotes can show you the average cost and what companies are determined to undercut the market. Installers that come in way under other installers often ignore essential safety measures and compliance standards which are designed for long-term & safe performance.
Similar to a tradesman, investing in cheap tools will only get you so far.
Quality tools will be durable and perform long-term.
What’s wrong with cheap Solar Panels? Cheap solar panels typically look similar to the expensive ones but
consist of lower efficiencies and are prone to faster physical and performance degradation. Physical degradation includes weaker
protection and sealing against harsh weather or sun exposure, as well as vulnerability to hotspots or delamination issues.
Issues with low-quality Solar Inverters: The solar inverter is a common failure point for low-quality solar
systems. When the solar inverter goes down, the entire solar system shuts down and will require a replacement or repair. Budget
inverters may not also have monitoring displays which underperformance will be undetected until the next energy bill.
Don’t get us wrong, cheaper solar installers aren’t always bad. Some opt for cheaper but still reliable components, whilst others have less overheads. What we want to stay away from are installers who are significantly underpriced compared to all competitors for similar systems.
SAA-accredited solar and battery installers should opt for CEC-approved products with a strong reputation that will perform reliably.
For example, you may be looking for a 6.6kW & 10kWh battery system. A premium installer may suggest something like Trina solar panels and Tesla Powerwall 3, which may come with higher price tags but have extremely strong brand and performance reputations.
A dodgy solar installer may quote you unknown panel and battery storage brands, which is cheaper and the same size as the premium system, but will most highly-likely perform much worse.
Unfortunately, the solar industry, like any other, has its dodgy players that aren’t focused on providing quality solutions. Understanding the difference between Reputable and Dodgy installers can mean the difference in a well or under-performing system.
You can avoid dodgy solar and battery installers by combing the following red flags:
Whilst you may see dirt-cheap solar packages like the examples; ‘6.6kW solar system for only $2,899!’, or ‘10kWh battery for $3,000’, or other attractive pricing, it’s important to note that this won’t be the only price you pay for the system.
Elements like premature inverter failure or dodgy workmanship can not only render your system useless and halt any rewards, but it can cost you significantly to get your system up and running again.
The cost of likely service calls and replacements will far outweigh the initial discount you may have received initially on your solar system.
As installers in the Newcastle and Maitland area, we see this all the time. Property owners blindly invest in low-quality solar systems with the promise of multi-decade performance and support, but once their system fails prematurely, they reach out to their original installer and find out that they have seized operation. This means that all your workmanship warranty, service, and post installation support will no longer exist.
Because we provide solar health checks for properties throughout NSW, we see quite a lot of poor-quality solar installations and workmanship that is dangerous to both the customers and their property.
The combination of poor design, planning, and installation not only makes your system likely to fail, but can significantly increase the chances of spontaneous fires, and damage to your electrical systems and appliances. Elements like faulty or unreliable components, dodgy wiring and connections, and poor electrical planning can cause significant issues.
Part of becoming SAA-accredited, licenced solar installers is going through compliance hoops to ensure every system meets Australian standards and is safely designed and installed to minimise the risk of damage to the system, customers, and their properties.
Not only does it cause headaches for the property owner, but a bad solar installation affects the grid and anyone who has to work on or troubleshoot your system.
To make matters worse, because your installer sold you a system before going bankrupt or seizing operation, you are left with finding a new installer to help rectify current and ongoing issues. (This is very common!)
Whilst installers may provide solar health checks, some may be hesitant to even touch the existing system depending on the status, and may just recommend a fresh slate and a completely new solar array and system.
By attempting to fix the previous installer’s issues, the new installer naturally becomes the new point of contact who will be called for every issue that arises, regardless of whether they installed the component or not. This causes frustrations for both the customer and the installer.
It’s much easier for the new solar installer to recommend a brand-new solar system to ensure they have complete control over the components, design, and configuration for tailored reliability.
It’s also important to note that the federal solar subsidy can only be claimed once for each property. This means that if you get an extremely cheap system that fails and requires a replacement, you won’t be able to claim the solar rebate again on your next system.
This also goes for battery storage, where the Cheaper Home Batteries program can only be claimed once per property… so choose wisely!
Moral of the story? Stay away from dirt-cheap solar systems, they will only cost you more in the long run. Invest in quality solar systems to take advantage of the full potential that your rooftop has to offer.
Investing the extra amount of money and choosing a reputable installer will ensure your system is made up of quality components and workmanship to set you up for long-term success.
If you’re unsure about finding the right solar or battery system, we highly recommend getting quotes for the same system across your area and comparing prices and system designs. This will not only give you insight into commonly recommended systems, but contextual pricing throughout the market.
If you've already invested in a cheap solar system, we highly recommend booking a health check with your local authorised solar electrician who should identify any errors that may or already occur.
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Not only are we specialists in solar power, but we pride ourselves in being leading installers in battery
storage, as well as EV charging for homes and businesses. For solar and battery systems, we offer both on and off-grid solutions for a
range of applications.
Newcastle's leading solar installers, providing long-lasting residential and commercial rooftop solar systems.
Experts in both residential and commercial electric vehicle charging station installations from 7kW - 360kW+.
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With decades of electrical and industry experience, our fully-qualified & licensed electricians are here to help.
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