Tuesday 15th November, 2016
Do you want your solar PV system to produce as much energy as possible? Increasing the array-to-inverter ratio, using a technique known as ‘maximising’, can help ensure you’re getting the most out of your system.
What is maximising?
Maximising is when you install a solar array that has the ability to generate more electricity than your inverter’s maximum output capacity. For example, you...
Wednesday 9th November, 2016
Cell optimisers vs panel optimisers vs micro-inverters
Once upon a time, if you were installing solar panels on a home with an unusual roofline or shaded areas, you’d use micro-inverters to ensure your system was delivering as much energy as possible. Micro-inverters allow for panel level optimisation, which enables panels to be managed individually - ideal for these challenging installations....
Wednesday 2nd November, 2016
Want to add more panels to your solar PV system? Here’s what you need to know.
On 9 October 2016, changes to AS4777.2:2015 (the Australian Standard for ‘Grid connection of energy systems via inverters - Inverter requirements’) took effect which are likely to influence your plans to upgrade your existing solar PV system.
What has changed?
Legislation regulating solar power installations (...
Wednesday 26th October, 2016
Are you still undecided about investing in solar PV panels for your home? If you’re put off by the cost involved, it’s time you had another look because solar panel prices are lower than ever before, meaning now is an excellent time to buy. The reason for this lies in China.
Background
In the first six months of 2016, China experienced a massive surge in the uptake of solar PV systems. In...
Thursday 6th October, 2016
Overloading your system makes financial sense
As the cost of solar panels continues to decrease, so too has the cost of adding capacity to your solar PV system. By adding extra panels to your system when it is first installed, you are benefiting from increased production straight away and lower installation costs compared with adding the extra panels at a later date.
With panels facing multiple...
Thursday 6th October, 2016
When was the last time you thought about your solar hot water system?
It’s one of those things we take for granted when it’s working properly. However, we recommend you start researching a replacement well before your current system stops working. Otherwise you’ll be left with no hot water, no idea what to buy and no time to research your options. Yet, with a little forward planning, you’ll know...
Tuesday 4th October, 2016
You’ve already invested in a solar PV system for your home (or are thinking about doing so) and, now, you’re wondering how you can maximise your savings by adding battery storage into the mix. Read on to discover just how easy it is to retrofit batteries to your solar power system.
Battery storage is the way of the future
According to the Climate Council, Australia is expected to be one...
Wednesday 28th September, 2016
There are so many solar myths out there and, here, at Solargain, we hear them all the time. From misleading web pages to misinformed uncles (we all have one), the truth is that the wrong information leads to poor choices which can cost you big bucks.
Today, we set the record straight – separating solar facts from fiction!
Here are the most common ‘solar stories’ along with the facts which are...
Wednesday 21st September, 2016
Are you experiencing issues with your solar system? This may be due to faulty panels, wiring, inverter or even grid issues. Determining the cause of an underperforming solar system can be tricky, which is why you should always get CEC Accredited Installers and Designers to check your equipment.
Our solar technicians are fully licensed professionals who will help you get the most out of your solar...
Wednesday 14th September, 2016
Have you ever thought about how much energy your household uses each day and what that actually means? When you look at your power bill you might see your electricity usage recorded in kilowatt hours (kWh) or in some cases it’s referred to as one ‘Unit’ of electricity (which is the same as 1kWh). But what does 1kWh actually look like?
The average Australian household uses about 16kWh of...