Published: March 18, 2019 Last Updated: July 30, 2020
So you've decided to go green and invest in solar panels. After all it sounds easy enough? Simply have them installed and watch as your energy bills go from hundreds of dollars per month to virtually zero.
While this is good in practice, the truth is shoddy or incorrect installations are a big problem. To prove a point, in a recent audit carried out in New South Wales, 658 panels were inspected and surprisingly 19% (122) of those had major installation defects. What's more a staggering 63.5% (418) had minor defects.
To avoid your solar panels being part of this alarming statistic, here are 4 common mistakes you really need to avoid.
While it may seem bizarre to those in the trade, one of the biggest mistakes when erecting solar panels is not knowing the difference between north and south.
Okay, so that's not strictly true but some installers will put up panels without really knowing the best direction to maximise the greatest amount of sunshine.
That's a concern for any customer because if the panels are placed in the wrong position, they simply won't get a return on their investment.
People might think that they can install smaller non-grid systems to power larger items that use the largest amount of electricity. These include things such as refrigerators and air conditioning.
While it's understandable that they might think this way, the fact of the matter is that fridges and air conditioner systems are the biggest users of power in most homes. Therefore a solar panel system that isn't attached to the grid will have trouble powering these elements.
If you are considering having an off-grid installation to save money, consider wiring it up to smaller items such as computers, lighting, or your TV.
It's considered that the standard longevity for a solar panel system is around 25 years. That's only if important elements such as cabling and connectors are moisture proofed. When they aren't it could potentially shorten the life of the system from decades to just a few years.
Installers need to make sure that any cabling installed is well protected and carries a high temperature rating.
In reality, solar installation is only as good as its weakest link.
Most of these problems can be avoided by using quality parts fitted by a reputable solar professional who understands the intricacies of the project.
A professional solar installer is likely to test every aspect of your solar power system once fitted to make sure it's running at optimum levels. These are factors that a common or garden electrician looking to turn a quick buck might miss. While hiring the latter may save you money in the short-term, it will most definitely cost you in the long-term.
If you're considering installing solar panels, then you might want to contact Static Electrics. Our highly-skilled fully-licensed team have successfully installed solar panel systems for a wide variety of domestic and commercial clients, so we have the experience and the know how to carry out a great job. Why not contact us on 07 5445 8305 for a free, no obligation quote?
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At Static Electrics, we are passionate about our work and offer a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee on every job. From the initial booking, through to the completion of the job, we will take pride in every step of the process. Our customers can expect to be greeted by a friendly office team member, either by telephone contact, email or SMS. For more specific electrical or air conditioning advice, customers’ requests may be transferred through to one of our experienced estimators for further assistance. Onsite, our Electricians and Technicians will be respectful and will not leave any mess behind. More so, they will never compromise on the safety of our customers, their homes, their business or the products we use.
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