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10 tips for buying your solar power system.

Buying a home solar power system can be a very exciting experience, but don't get too carried away by advertising - be sure to focus on the important aspects of your purchase as it's a substantial investment and one you'll be living with for a long time. Here's some tips on what to look for when buying a system.

Tips for buying a solar power system

Recommendations

Ask friends, family neighbours or colleagues who have had solar PV systems installed; they'll be able to tell you about their experiences and perhaps alert you to any problems they experienced - ones that you'll be able to avoid. Learn more about potential issues in our consumers guide to solar power - avoiding tricks and traps.

Length of manufacturer’s warranty

Take note of what guarantees the manufacturer offers. If the manufacturer is reputable and the warranty period on the panels is substantial (at least 25 years) you can expect your solar system to last long for a long time, long enough to pay for itself and make you a profit.

Do not be overly concerned about efficiency ratings

This is not a straightforward concept when it comes to solar systems. Efficiency is somewhat an overrated concept because the source of the energy, light, is free, and most people in Australia have more roof space than they can fill with solar panels. Regardless of efficiency ratings, a 120 watt solar panel will generate 120 watts. Make sure your north facing roof space is large enough to accommodate your system. Allow approximately 8m² of roof area for each 1Kw of solar panels

Have realistic price expectations

If you are paying less than many other similar size systems quoted you may find poor quality equipment and/or poor installation work. Quality equipment and installation isn't cheap and, like all other purchases, you often get what you pay for. Compare components and warranty periods and check into the company providing the installation. While large, well established companies can pass on substantial savings due to increased buying power, other companies often reduce costs by cutting important corners.

Solar panel certifications

This applies to all solar panel purchases, but especially to the purchases that could attract a government rebate. The certification on solar panels indicates the type of testing that has been done on them. For instance, TUV IEC 61215 confirms that the solar panels have been tested by an independent laboratory and have met their advertised specifications. Other certification types are often self-assessed.

Decide on the type of panels

If you have limited roof space you will need highly efficient mono-crystalline solar panels. If you have a lot of roof space you may still want to consider using the most efficient type of panels, since filling up your roof with inefficient panels will affect your ability to add more panels at a later date, and does not maximise the power output of the space. If you have partial shading then thin film amorphous solar panels may be more appropriate. No solar panels will produce a significant amount of power in full shade; anyone who says otherwise is not being honest with you. Learn more about monocrystalline vs. thin film panels.

Solar panel mounting

Make sure that the roof, ground mounting or tracking system is engineer certified for the area you are in. For example, if you live in a cyclone prone area make sure the mounting system and mounting brackets are also cyclone rated. Quality systems are wind certified, after all you do not want your system to take off during a wild storm . The mounting system is a very vital component and some suppliers skimp on this item. Make sure you ask about wind certification, warranty arrangements and get copies of relevant documents.

Choose an efficient inverter

A power inverter is the box between the panels and your appliances that converts DC electricity from solar panels to AC; suitable for use in your home. Power Inverter efficiency will have a direct impact on the amount of time it takes for a system to pay for itself. Look at the inverter efficiency before purchasing a system. Obviously, the more efficient the inverter the better – as your energy does not get wasted in the conversion process. The industry preferred inverters for grid connect systems in Australia are SMA, Fronius and Latronics. Stay away from the “exotic” and generic type brands.

Get a few quotes

It always wise to get a few quotes when making a major purchase as you will find that prices vary widely between providers; but don't be just swayed by price as inferior components can be used to reduce the up-front cost of the system - but they may wind up costing you more in the long run in terms of reliability and efficiency.

Avoid high pressure sales people

If someone is in your home for more than an hour and they spent most of that time talking about the system, rather than surveying your home, the sales person is probably trying to soften you up for a very high price. Try not to make decisions on the spot, just ask the person to let you consider the offer. If it’s as good as they claim, it will still be a good deal tomorrow. Pressured decisions on the spot often turn out to be less advantageous in reflection.

High pressure sales people are only one of the pitfalls that may await you when you shop for a solar power system. Learn more about the potential issues and how to avoid them in our consumers guide to solar power - avoiding tricks and traps.

Need some help with selecting a home solar power system? Try our free system builder or instant online quoting tool. You can also contact our friendly team of experts for no-obligation, no-pressure and free advice on 1300 727 151 or via email.