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.
Mistake number 1 – Not considering your locale
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.
Mistake Number 2 – Not Installing a large enough system
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.
Mistake number 3 – Not moisture proofing cabling
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.
Mistake Number 4 – Not calling in the professionals
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 electrical 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 1300 206 r a free, no-obligation quote?
