SolarAnswers Community
Let's talk solar.
From choosing a battery to making sense of a quote. Explore the conversations, then ask about your own home.
Example conversations with fictional members. Animal and cartoon avatars from Pixabay.
Community conversations
Batteries
10 kWh or 20 kWh? The quotes are miles apart
We've already got rooftop solar and a smart meter. We're out most of the day, then everything goes on at dinner time. One installer reckons a 10 kWh battery is plenty, the other is pushing 20. Same house, same bills. What should I ask them to show me?
Mia83 · Sydney4 replies
Quotes and installers
Battery going in next week. What should I ask before they leave?
Reading the installation stories has made me a bit nervous. I've got the quote and warranty emails, but no idea what a proper handover looks like. What do people forget to ask on the day?
JackW · Melbourne5 replies
Tariffs and bills
Free power at midday... but we're all at work
Keep seeing these free midday power offers. We already export solar at lunch and buy most of our power after dark. The car comes to work with me too. Am I missing something, or is this just not a great fit for us?
Priya S · Brisbane3 replies
Batteries
VPP offer looks good. Not so keen on someone else running the battery
The joining offer is tempting. We've already had backup circuits fitted, and I'd like to keep some charge aside for a blackout. If I join this VPP, can I still set that reserve myself? The brochure has plenty about earnings but not much about that.
liam_west · Perth4 replies
Quotes and installers
One quote says 'backup ready'. Does that actually include backup?
Two quotes, very similar panels and battery size. The cheaper one says 'backup ready' and the other lists extra hardware. I just want the fridge and a few lights in a blackout. Are they quoting the same job?
Sophie · Adelaide5 replies
Batteries
Fridge and lights only. How long would a battery last in a blackout?
The quote includes backup for the fridge, internet and a few lights. The salesperson said 'overnight should be fine', but didn't say how much charge that assumes. How do I get a useful estimate instead of a best-case answer?
weekend_tinkerer · Canberra3 replies
Inverters
One shady corner of the roof. Do I really need microinverters?
The neighbour's tree shades part of our roof in the morning. One quote says microinverters are essential, the other uses a string inverter and leaves that section empty. Both sound certain. I'm less certain after every phone call.
littlewombat · Hobart4 replies
EV charging
Car's home two weekdays. Is a solar-aware EV charger worth it?
Car's home two weekdays and most weekends. Is that enough to make a solar-aware charger useful, or am I overthinking it? Mainly want something simple that won't leave me short of charge on Monday morning.
Ben_76 · Newcastle5 replies
Rebates
Installer might move the date. What happens to the rebate in my quote?
Quote has one big 'after rebate' price. Now the installer says the job might slip into a different rebate period. Before I pay a deposit, I want to know who wears the difference. Anyone know what wording I should ask for?
toastandtea · Geelong3 replies
Solar panels
Trying to get solar onto the strata agenda. Where do we start?
We've got a decent roof and a committee meeting next month. Half the building wants cheaper common-area power, the other half wants solar for their own flats. I'm the lucky person who's agreed to put something together. What would you take to the first meeting?
Ollie M · Darwin4 replies