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 power equipment, whether it was installed with us or not. They’ll check your installation thoroughly, detect and correct any existing issues, and determine their origin in order to prevent them from causing failures in the future.

How does a solar health check work?

1. Symptoms and Diagnostic

First of all, our operators will collect as much information as possible about your solar power system (when it was installed and by whom, how often you’ve had it serviced, if you’ve ever encountered issues before and what they were) and work to determine the origin of your issue in order to give it the appropriate response. Here are four common issues:

• You’ve noticed that your inverter is switching off and trying to restart during the day: this may be because the grid tolerance parameter is set too low, the grid voltage at your property is set too high or because of a faulty meter.
• Your isolator is burned out and the export to the grid is dropping: this can be due to a poorly terminated, tightened or polarised cable.
• One of your panels has failed by going into open circuit: there might be a diode failure that’s causing your inverter to run at a small percentage of its capability.
• Your inverter is failing to start in summer: this is probably due to the hot temperature of the panels and can be fixed by spraying panels with cold water or installing additional panels. 
   

There are as many possible causes to your problem as there are solutions to solve it!

2. Examination and Tests

Then, our experts will inspect your entire equipment and make sure it’s in good condition, functional and well-maintained. This includes your:

• Inverter
• Panels
• Cables (fly leads, pinched cables…)
• Isolators (wiring termination, tightening, polarity)

They will also take your system’s vitals by measuring voltage and run a number of tests such as inverter live and dead tests, VOC and ISC checks.

3. Preventive Treatment

Optimising your power consumption

Our specialists can estimate your savings and provide guidance on how to use your system better in order to reach your financial and environmental goals. For example, using your electrically intensive devices in the daytime will allow you to use more of what you produce from solar and reduce what you need from the grid at peak rates. Using these items during peak solar production times (10am – 4pm) will see you use more of what you produce, resulting in savings on your energy bill.

Keeping your solar panels clean

We also recommend washing your solar panels regularly in order to maintain them in good condition. However, the associated cost of soiling tests and cleaning of solar panels to the increased performance output does not stack up financially. Do not get us wrong, washing panels at the time of the electrical health check is warranted, but unfortunately, we have seen the rise of window washing companies with no electrical qualifications recommending in some circumstances 3 monthly washes, which is a complete waste of money. A regular shower every 6 months is enough to remove the transient soiling for the more stubborn. Soiling every 12/24 months is more than enough.

Get best-practice advice from our qualified staff!

4. Curative Treatment

Even if your inverter is no longer covered by warranty, we can still help! Replacements begin at $750 for a 1.5kW inverter. Our experienced technicians can carry out an inverter health check to test your system for faults. They can resolve minor faults on the spot and can provide an onsite quote to resolve any larger issues.

If they determine that your inverter cannot be repaired, they can install a replacement inverter during the same visit, saving you further down time and additional call out fees.

Get your solar health check quote now

Let us take care of your inverter headaches. Book your system in for an inverter health check by calling us on 1300 73 93 55 or by completing this form.

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 electricity every single day. While this doesn’t sound like much, the following examples give you an idea of just how much energy that actually equates to.

You use this everyday

Despite being small enough to fit into your pocket, smart phones have become a big part of everyday life. It takes 3.8kWh of electricity to fully recharge an iPhone 6 every day for an entire year. This means 1kWh is enough energy to fully recharge your phone for 96 days and 16kWh (the average energy consumed by an Australian household each day) will keep your phone charged for over four years.

Every Google search you do uses energy

How many Google searches would you do in a day? Have you ever thought about how much energy they take to run? The energy used in five Google searches is enough to run a 60-watt light bulb for about a minute and a half. 1kWh of energy would enable you to do 3,333 Google searches, while 16kWh is enough energy to run 53,328 Google searches.

A Mars a Day...

If all those Google searches have made you hungry, consider this. One 47g Mars Bar contains 888 kilojoules (kJ). Like kilowatt hours, kilojoules are another measure of energy. The energy in 1kWh is equal to the energy contained in approximately 4 Mars Bars. So if the average Australian household consumes roughly 16kWh of energy each day, that’s the same as the energy in 64 Mars Bars. That’s a lot of energy to help you ‘work, rest and play’. 

Speaking of eating

If chocolate isn’t your thing, how does 150 kilograms of grass, leaves, fruit and bark sound? This is how much food one adult male African elephant eats on average each day (in captivity). The energy contained in 1kWh would be enough to feed 12 elephants, while 16kWh would be enough energy to feed 192 elephants for a day.

One heck of a stair climb

Those elephants might be handy for this next challenge. The energy in 1kWh of electricity is the same energy required to carry one backyard swimming pool worth of water (36,000 litres) up a flight of stairs 10 metres high. If we refer back to our average Australian household energy consumption of 16kWh per day, we’d need to carry that swimming pool even higher than the very top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge (which would be the equivalent of 13.4kWh since it is 134m high). That’s a whole lot of energy!

Think before you flick the switch

So next time you turn on the television or leave your air conditioner running, have a think about what your energy consumption really means. It’s fascinating to consider how much energy we actually consume each day and what it equates to in other scenarios, especially since flicking a switch requires so little energy on our part.

Choosing the right battery for your solar power system

As an increasing number of Australian households are embracing solar power, we now have greater access to new and more efficient battery storage technology. But how do you work out which one best suits your needs? This guide offers an overview of past, present and future battery technologies, including our recommendations based on years of experience working with these systems.

The end of an era – lead acid batteries

We’ve come a long way since the days when lead acid batteries were the only option for storing solar electricity. You know the ones—those heavy, brick-like batteries that you still find in most cars; that require regular maintenance and are filled with toxic lead.

Previously the battery of choice for most photovoltaic off-grid enthusiasts, lead acid batteries are reliable, relatively safe and cheap. However, lead acid batteries also present a number of limitations as they:

• tend to deteriorate in hot and humid climates
• aren’t suitable for deep cycling
• have a short lifespan if not maintained correctly and
• require good ventilation.

With dramatic improvements in battery technology over recent years, we now have a much wider range of battery systems to choose from. Plus, as demand increases and competition drives prices down, many of these new technologies are becoming more affordable than ever before.

What’s in a name? Quite a lot when it comes to lithium ion batteries.

There are lots of different lithium ion batteries on the market, each comprising various active materials such as cobalt and magnesium which determine a battery’s properties like portability, thermal stability and lifespan. However, in order to understand their differences, you first need to understand the way lithium ion batteries are named, based on their chemical makeup.

For example, a Lithium Iron Phosphate ion battery is abbreviated using the chemical symbols for each component, LiFePO4. It can also be shortened to Li-phosphate, based on its most active component, phosphate.

Likewise, a Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide ion battery can be abbreviated to LiNiMnCoO2, however it is more commonly shortened to ‘NMC’ based on its active combination of nickel, manganese and cobalt.

So which Li-ion battery should I choose and why?

If safety is your priority, Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries like the Fronius Solar Battery Range and the Enphase AC Battery are worth considering. They can withstand high load currents and are less stressed under full charge conditions than other Li-ions, making them the safest type of Li-ion batteries available. They also perform better in hot conditions with very little thermal runaway and they complete more cycles per day than many of their competitors.

In contrast, a Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide ion battery (or NMC) like the Tesla Powerwall is lighter and smaller than a LiFePO4 and it can deliver more power for the space it occupies. Yet, while these benefits are essential for portable electronic devices like mobile phones, laptops and power tools, factors like size and weight become less critical in residential battery systems.

Good news on the horizon for NMC storage will be the arrival of the new LG Chem battery technology which will offer increased cycles per day. Developments like this make NMC technology still worth considering.

Even though a LiFePO4 is heavier and will take up more space than an NMC, we believe it’s currently a better option because it offers a longer life span, greater safety and endurance—features which are critical for energy storage in the home. However if space is your priority, some of the new forms of NMC storage about to enter the market may better suit your needs.

One to watch in the future - flow batteries

While Li-ion batteries are becoming more and more popular, new battery technologies are always in development. Flow batteries (such as the Australian made Redflow ZCell Battery) are one such new technology which are yet to prove their effectiveness in small-scale applications.

Flow batteries rely on an electrochemical reaction which occurs between two separate liquids as they are pumped through the cell. Compared with Li-ion batteries, they can be opened up and serviced or repaired as needed. However with a lot more moving parts, like pumps, flow controllers and storage tanks they may be more susceptible to mechanical failures than Li-ions.

We’ve found that because the Redflow ZCell Battery is only a new technology, it is still quite expensive. Being a low voltage battery it is also hard to pair with a decent inverter. And when look at the big picture, a good quality inverter is the most important component of your solar power system. It does most of the work, providing back-up power when needed, whereas the battery is just a storage unit.

So, although flow battery technology still isn’t your best bet right now, as it improves and is further tested in domestic applications it will certainly be another battery storage option to keep an eye on in the future.

Keen to include a battery in your solar installation?

We have years of experience designing and installing tailor-made solar power systems with the latest battery technology. Beat the rising cost of electricity and never be left in the dark again during local emergencies. Contact us to speak with one of our knowledgeable customer service representatives today about the best battery technology for your household by calling 1300 73 93 55.

A number of DC Isolator switches have been recalled by the Australian Government and if you’ve installed solar power it’s well worth checking your system is not affected.

The DC Isolator switch is an essential solar power system component. It’s responsible for stopping voltage in times when your system needs to be worked on, as well as in emergencies or during blackouts. For solar inverters at a ground level, there will be two feeds connected to the unit for output and input – each of these will typically have an isolator.

There are currently seven DC Isolator switches which have been recalled after being identified as potential fire starters. You can view the complete list here.

The latest DC Isolator model to be recalled is a switch supplied and sold by the company I Want Energy.

The model in question is the HGN4-32DC and is being recalled due to faulty contacts within the device which are a potential fire hazard.

If you’ve installed solar panels, it’s important to check whether your DC Isolator Switch is amongst the recalled list. If it is, it must be changed immediately to avoid a dangerous outcome in the future.

In most cases, you will be able to use our guide to check whether your DC Isolator switch is amongst the recalled models, but if you’re unsure, contact our service department for help.

If your Isolator is not amongst the recalled list, it’s still a good idea to keep an eye on announcements. You can check our website as well as follow us on Facebook and Twitter to help stay abreast of any developments.

Whether you originally installed with Solargain or not, we can assist you to remove your faulty isolator and to replace it with a safe model. Don’t put your home or your safety at risk, be sure your isolator is not a fire hazard.

The Australian Government’s small-scale technology (STC) certificates scheme will begin phasing out from January 1, 2017.

Though it’s not technically referred to as a ‘solar rebate’ the initiative effectively works like one and so we’ll call it that for the purposes of this article. Introduced in 2011 as part of the Australian Renewable Energy Target (RET), the solar rebate has helped encourage over one million Aussies install solar power, making the technology more affordable.

Currently, most homeowners receive a discount of about $3,990 for a 5kW solar power system. Rather than being stopped immediately, the rebate will be phased out gradually over 15 years until it eventually ends on December 31, 2030 (see below graph).

Solar Rebate Phase Out

When Should I Install Solar Power?

Over the next few years as the solar rebate drops you’ll likely see advertising from solar power companies encouraging homeowners to ‘get in before it’s too late’. Of course, there’s an element of fact to this – the rebate provides a great incentive and so if you can afford to install now, it’s definitely a good idea.

However, as outlined below, even post-rebate, solar power prices will continue to drop naturally as we’ve seen over the past five years… So the million dollar question: when should you install?

Ultimately, if you can afford to install solar power now (or soon), not only will you reap the benefits of the rebate, you’ll be slashing your electricity bills, saving money and paying off your investment sooner than later. Indeed, there’s no time like the present. But, if now is not the time, don’t fret, solar will always be a sound investment and the cost of the technology is likely to continue dropping.

Will Solar Power Prices Become Unaffordable?

Short answer, no.

Longer answer: The price of solar power has dropped dramatically in the past decade. For example, in just four years the price of a 5kW system has more than halved. That’s a decline of over 15% a year – and even better, you’re paying less for more sophisticated equipment as technology continually improves.

Even if the reduction in costs of purchasing solar power stabilise between 8-10% they’ll still likely  neutralise the impact of losing the rebate. 

One variable which could affect this is if the rebate is removed immediately and not phased out.

Whilst this is unlikely, the Renewable Energy Target has come under threat by the Government before and if the Liberal Party is re-elected, there’s a chance they could try to end the scheme early. As already evidenced by the People’s reaction in June last year, this wouldn’t be a popular move – but it’s worth keeping an eye on.

What About Solar Hot Water?

Solar hot water systems receive a rebate too and this will also be phased out. This is due to begin at the start of 2022.

How Do I Find Out More?

No matter when you plan to install solar power, it will always be a sound investment for most average homeowners. To find out more about installing or the solar rebate, talk to us today.

The New South Wales Solar Bonus Scheme is a solar feed in tariff program paying homeowners either 20 or 60 cents per kilowatt hour for the power generated by their solar energy system.

The scheme, which was designed to encourage solar power installation, closed to new participants in 2011 and applies to over 140,000 residents in NSW.

Set to finish by the end of 2016, the Solar Bonus Scheme has provided its lucky recipients with fantastic financial benefits – but with its demise, these same homeowners may soon experience a shock.

When the Solar Bonus Scheme ends, electricity bills will likely skyrocket for those affected.

If you’re a homeowner who has benefitted from the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme, use this guide to better understand the situation and how you can avoid a dramatic increase in bill costs.

Why Will My Bills Go Up?

The Solar Scheme is based on a gross system, that is, pay-back benefits are based on all of the power being generated by your solar power system (not just surplus energy). That’s great when you’re receiving up to 60 cents per kilowatt hour – but not ideal once that figure plummets to as little as 4.7 cents next year.

Since most homes under the scheme have been fitted with a ‘gross meter’ – a meter which measures all solar power production, these homeowners will be exporting their unused solar power into the grid for next to nothing, and then buying it back in the evenings for a huge premium. 
How big?

Some reports suggest that a home in Sydney with a 5kW system will pay over $4,000 a year in extra electricity bill costs if they make no changes.

What Can I Do To Reduce My Bills?

Fortunately, there are a number of preparations current homeowners under the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme can make to help neutralise their imminent power bill increase. With more than 140,000 homes affected, it’s wise to act sooner than later in order to avoid time delays.

1.Change Your Meter

As mentioned, basically all homes under the Scheme will be fitted with a gross meter which measures all solar power output.

This will need to be changed to a net meter which only records surplus energy and enables solar electricity to offset expensive grid power consumption. For homeowners no longer receiving the Solar Bonus Scheme rate, you’ll be able to access far better value from the solar electricity you generate.

Even better than a net meter, you also have the option to install a smart meter.

These offer high-tech features and can record your consumption and production of electricity at regular intervals (e.g. 30 minutes), communicating that information back to the electricity retailer for monitoring and billing purposes.

These meters can usually be configured to work in either net or gross metering modes.

As part of the NSW smart meter roll-out, under the Electricity Supply Amendment (Advanced Meters) Act March 2016, most energy retailers will be offering to change old meters. However, this is likely to be on an ‘opt-out’ basis, meaning you could lose your current feed-in tariff bonus rate early – it will pay to ask before signing up.

If your energy retailer is not going to change your meter (or you’re going to upgrade your system capacity) Solargain can help fit a new meter to your home.

2. Upgrade Your System

The price of solar power has dropped considerably over the past eight years.

It was common for homeowners prior to 2011 to install smaller-scale systems in order to keep costs down. Expanding your 1.5kW, 2kW or even 3kW system can make a significant difference to your savings. For example, whilst a 1.5kW system can typically save you up to $590 a year (depending on your location and the installation), a 3kW system has the potential to save you up to $1180 every year and a 5kW system as much as $1990.

Most existing solar power systems are easily upgraded and as previously mentioned, for a fraction of the cost compared to installing solar power over five years ago. Other factors, such as your available roof space and current electricity usage, also come into play.

Talk to Solargain for more information about upgrading your existing system to reap greater electricity savings.

3. Consider Storage

Solar battery storage is now a viable option for many homeowners. The next generation of solar battery storage units are lighter, smarter are more affordable than ever. Battery storage units work by collecting and storing excess energy created by your solar panels through the day, for use at night time. They can help reduce your dependence on the grid, in turn reducing the cost of your power bills. Learn more about battery storage.

4. Consider Solar Hot Water

Heating water remains one of the most energy-intensive processes in homes today. Like solar panels, installing solar hot water is more affordable today than ever and will help slash your water-heating costs as much as 80%. Solar hot water is safe, reliable and a sure-fire way to reduce your energy bills.

5. Find The Best Utility

Not all energy retailers are equal. If you have a solar power system, it definitely pays to shop around to find a retailer with the greatest benefits for solar supporters. These may come in the form of special incentives, discounts as well as competitive feed-in-tariff rates.

If you’re having trouble comparing energy retailers, get in touch with us and we’ll help you identify the top contenders.

6. Act Early!

Whatever you do to help neutralise the price hike, we recommend you start sooner than later. With over 140,000 other homeowners going through the same situation, the solar power industry is gearing up for a lot of demand in a short amount of time. To avoid delays, start a conversation with us today to assess your options.

Solar panels although simple they are far from boring. It’s only until you learn how solar panels work that you truly appreciate how clever they are.

So, how do solar panels work?

The first thing to know is that panels rely on light from the sun, not heat. In fact, most solar panels become less efficient in extremely hot conditions.

Solar panels convert sunlight into DC electricity. When photons from sunlight strike the silicon cell in the solar panel, electrons are released. The freed electrons race around and, with the help of an electric field, create energy in the process.

The electrons flow through the panel and string (which connects each of the panels on your roof in a traditional set-up) eventually making their way to the solar inverter.

The inverter converts the DC power from the panels into AC electricity for your home. Your inverter also changes the voltage from the panels to match the voltage in your house (which is around 240V).

In most residential set-ups, excess power created by your solar panels is fed back into the grid, meaning your utility may credit you the next time your power bill arrives. Increasingly, homes are being fitted with solar batteries which store additional power for later use.  

More on solar panels

Solar panels are made up of interconnected ‘silicon cells’ joined together to form a circuit. They may look the same at face value, but they come in different sizes, styles and are available for different purposes. A typical residential panel uses a 60-cell configuration, with larger 72-cell panels often fitted in large-scale installations.

When space is tight or flexibility is the order of the day, smaller panels (coupled with micro inverters) are also an option.

It always pays to choose premium quality solar panels over cheap and inferior alternatives. We’ve covered this extensively in a previous blog, but basically, premium panels will have cells that contain purer silicon (to prevent micro-cracks), less deviation between the cells (eliminating mismatch) and higher efficiency and longevity. This all combines to give you a smoother solar energy experience and one which is more likely to meet and exceed your savings expectations.

Find out more

If you’d like to find out more about individual solar panel specifications, check out our products page. Here you can research and compare performance and specifications of solar panels from a range of leading global brands or contact us to find out more

Eggs, milk, flour & butter. If you gave those ingredients to a toddler, would you expect them to make a delicious soufflé? Or a mess of your kitchen? Plenty of customers shopping for solar go through hours of research to identify good panel and inverter brands, but then make the mistake of choosing a solar company to install those products for the cheapest price. That's a recipe for disaster!

Choosing good solar panels and a quality inverter is only the first step towards a smooth experience.

In a recent study by CHOICE on solar power installations, 25% of people said they had to report faults with their system and needed support. Interestingly, less than 20% of these were due to faulty panels or inverters. Low quality equipment like breakers, cables and isolators are often to blame, as is poor workmanship.

When solar power systems are not installed properly, you risk roof leaks, poor system performance, and even fires. Also worrying, is when product warranties are unknowingly voided because manufacturer's installation instructions were not followed.

Think you’re covered by workmanship warranty? Hundreds & hundreds of solar companies have disappeared over the years, leaving customers up the proverbial creek when it comes to after-sales support.

People searching for a long-term solar power investment, need to identify a quality-focused solar company– not just quality products.

Here’s what you need to know about what it takes to be a quality solar supplier:

1. Solar power companies come and go, as do warranties

Countless solar power companies have disappeared in the last few years, and when they vanish so does their customers warranty support. These customers now have to try deal directly with the manufacturer if one of their components fails. Australia purchases less than 2% of China’s PV production, so it’s hard to imagine these large manufacturers (some with no Australian subsidiary) treating Aussie customers as a priority when it comes to faulty equipment.

At Solargain, we’ve been installing solar power for over 21 years. We’ve seen every rebate, downturn and shake out. We’ve proven we’re capable of honouring long-term warranties and we’re here for the long haul.

2. High voltage DC electricity is not safe

Electricity in general is not safe, and in solar power installations, it’s not uncommon to have DC string voltages over 500V. This is more than double the standard voltage in your house.

High voltage DC power is the primary cause of fires in solar power installations, as it has an increased chance of electrical arcing caused by low-quality components and poor workmanship. As such, experienced electricians and high quality components are a must if you want to keep your home safe.

Solargain is one of the most experienced installers in Australia with over 100,000 installations under our belt. We audit many of our installations in accordance with our quality certifications. This is part of our quality process and helps us deliver high quality installations, consistently.

Additionally, to further protect your system from DC arcing, we recommend inverters with the latest Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) technology

3. There’s a right way to install (and a wrong way)

A government audit of 36,956 solar systems determined that over 21% were sub-standard or unsafe. Pretty shocking stats! On the 'Crap Solar' Facebook page, you'll find some of those dodgy operators named & shamed, along with numerous examples showing the risk of choosing cheap solar.

Following correct installation practices is critical to the overall safety & longevity of any solar power project. At Solargain, we put great emphasis on:

• Using AC cabling and wiring that’s compliant with AS/NZ 5033 and AS/NZ 3000 quality and safety standards - including AC breakers, switchboard wiring and switchboard identification
• Using DC cabling and wiring that’s compliant with AS/NZ 5033 and AS/NZ 3000 - including DC isolators, DC cable in roof, module cabling and configuration
• Ensuring all inverter products are compliant with AS/NZS 4777
• Mandating that PV arrays comply with solar panel clamp zones, and frame manufacturer specs, including the correct mounting feet spacing and edge exclusion zones.

4. Everyone claims "High Quality" – sort fact from fiction.

There’s not a solar energy company out there that doesn’t claim to do high quality work, so you need to seek independent proof. 

When choosing a solar provider, check whether they are a New Energy Tech Approved Seller - www.newenergytech.org.au/why-buy-from-an-approved-seller. New Energy Tech Approved Sellers must pass annual audits to prove they comply with industry-best-practices.

5. Everyone has thousands of happy customers, so find them online

So many companies boast about their countless happy customers. When this is true, they should be easy to find online. Seeking the opinion of previous customers is a great way to understand more about the company you’re considering, and we highly recommend you take a moment to uncover them. If you can’t find many reviews on a company, then perhaps they haven't been in business very long.

Solargain has consistently scored around 4.5 out of 5 stars on Product Review, Google & Trust Pilot from over 3,300 reviews. The opinions of our customers and other industry experts on independent forums is also something you should consider, and we encourage you to do so.

6. Service departments are rarely as good as they claim

Over 800 solar companies in Australia have failed, leaving over 650,000 "Solar Orphans". For those customers who chose a reputable brand, they can fortunately seek warranty support from the manufacturer's Australian subsidiary.

Manufacturers of solar products know the industry very well, and they know the companies they can rely on to service their equipment. For this reason, it’s no surprise that so many manufacturers choose to partner with Solargain for their servicing needs. 

No other company in Australia commits more to assisting these Solar Orphans than Solargain. We have performed more service calls to solar owners around Australia than any other company, and buying from Solargain gives you priority access to our dedicated Service Team & Service Technicians. This is peace of mind that no other supplier can provide.

7. The Bottom Line: Choose A Quality PV Company

For the reasons listed above, we can’t stress enough how important it is to choose a quality-focused solar provider. This will ensure your solar energy system provides you with the best ROI as well as many years of reliable operation.

With a proven track record for safe and compliant installations, be sure to get a Quote from Solargain.

How To Monitor Your Solar Inverter

So you’ve installed a solar power system. Now all you have to do is sit back and relax for the next few decades whilst it takes care of all the hard work. Right?

Sort of.

If you’ve installed a good quality system, there’s no reason why it won’t run smoothly and efficiently for many years. But nevertheless, switching to solar isn’t a ‘set and forget’ exercise. It’s still important that you service your system annually as well as monitor your inverter regularly to ensure it’s doing what it’s supposed to. Once you’ve mastered monitoring your inverter, you’ll have the added pleasure of measuring just how much free, clean energy your panels are producing. It’s a good feeling.

How to monitor your solar inverter? - Monitoring your inverter helps you to detect simple system glitches as well as more serious complications that may need the attention of a technician. The earlier these are detected, the less time you’ll spend off the grid (and the more cash in your pocket). So here are 4 ways to help you understand how to monitor your solar inverter

1. Check for warning lights

Depending on your inverter model, different warning lights will display if there is a fault with your system. Most solar power inverters these days are able to manage glitches by resetting themselves. However, there may be cases where you’ll need to manually shut down your system. Don’t worry, this sounds more difficult than it is. Plus, we’ve provided step-by-step instructions which are easy to follow.

2. Listen Out

In the morning and late afternoon as some inverters are turning on or off you may notice a flashing light and hear a clicking noise. These are normal functions of the inverter so there’s no need to stress. It’s only when your inverter continues to display an error light throughout the day that you should reset it (using the instruction above).

3. Monitor performance

Consistently monitoring the performance of your inverter is the most important way to ensure it is working correctly. Pretty much all inverter models sold today have an in-built functionality to check ‘yield’ – which is the amount of solar energy your system is producing.

Higher end inverters such as Fronius have additional monitoring such as a Fronius Smart Meter which will maximise self-consumption of the solar power you generate. It has a portal called Solar Web which presents a clear overview of energy use within the home, and intelligently coordinates the energy flows and optimises your energy management.

Fluctuations in system yield can occur for a number of reasons – from changing seasons and shade over panels, to simple inverter malfunctions and more complicated technical problems you have Regular monitoring helps you to detect irregularities early.

Generally, inverters will provide you with daily yield data, some will also provide monthly averages as well. If yours does not, you can simply record your daily yield at the start and end of each month and then divide the difference by the number of days in between.

To get instructions for checking yield, consult your inverter handbook or find yours online using our inverter directory.

4. Check your data

After installation, your solar power retailer should have provided you with paperwork detailing the estimated output of your system. All Solargain customers receive a Solargain Customer User Manual in a black handover folder on the day of installation. To check that your system is working correctly you can compare the data you record each month with the figures provided by your retailer.

In the case where your system performance is falling short of estimated production (and there is no obvious explanation why), you should get in touch with a certified solar power repairer for support.

Solargain services all solar power systems, including inverters sold by companies which are no longer in operation. Get in touch on 1300 73 93 55 or contact our team if you need solar power support!