Posts By Anthony Bennett On SolarQuotes

About Anthony Bennett

Anthony joined the SolarQuotes team in 2022. He’s a licensed electrician, builder, roofer and solar installer who for 14 years did jobs all over SA - residential, commercial, on-grid and off-grid. A true enthusiast with a skillset the typical solar installer might not have, his blogs are typically deep dives that draw on his decades of experience in the industry to educate and entertain. Read Anthony's full bio.

Don’t Bet The House On Cheap Batteries – We’ll All Pay Twice


After 17+ years experiencing the ebb and flow of the solar industry, the sheer number of new battery brands available right now is mind boggling.

To me the only thing more confusing is this; why do people peg their expectations so low when they see a rock bottom price?

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FranklinWH – The AC Coupled Answer To VPPs

Franklinwh batteriesFranklinWH are busy making themselves a compelling reputation for Australian customers.

So should you consider one for your place? Yes, if it’s an AC coupled solution you need.

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Submissions Close On AEMC Plan To Raise Fixed Charges

Are the authorities running Australia’s main grid quietly out to ruin us all? Certainly seems they are.

Read on as I explain the lunacy – there’s a proposal on the table that could restructure how we all pay for electricity. They want us all to pay more in fixed charges.

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NSW Finally Opens Up The Garage Door To Batteries

Good news for battery customers in New South Wales – you can now join the rest of the country, installing battery systems within 600mm of garage door openings and other similar applications.

What exactly does this mean? Simply that NSW has now adopted the pragmatic approach everyone else takes to interpreting the rules.

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Fire Safety For Solar Homes: Get Your Gutters To Clean Themselves

A roof with gutters

With fire season in full swing, it is worth considering what you can do to maintain your home, even if solar on the roof makes things a little tricky.

Clearing gutters is a never ending chore but the question that’s always bothered me is; why can’t anyone offer a self cleaning solution that really works?

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Pour Decisions: When Concreting Goes Wrong

Concrete pouringHome electrification isn’t just the work of electricians, but also their natural enemy: the concreter. I’ve tried my hand at the dark arts of concreting over the years, and found that some jobs are about as painful as beating your head against a cement wall.

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Clean Up Your Solar Before A Bushfire Does It For You

A bushfire rating sign with solar

With record-breaking heat and bushfires sweeping the country, times like these serve as a sobering reminder of why we need more solar – and also as a reminder that those of us living in at-risk areas ought to prepare and maintain our rooftop PV arrays appropriately.

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Beware The Safety Switch Trap Burning Battery Budgets

Unless your house was built in the last couple of years, installing a house battery will likely require at least some switchboard upgrades.

It’s a basic electrical regulation so why are some solar battery salespeople ignoring the need and setting expensive traps in the process?

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Owners Left In The Dark With Manual Battery Backup

customer looking confused at a switchboard

Imagine buying a home battery that offers automatic blackout protection, only to discover that when the lights go out, the installer set it up to require manual operation? It’s a trend that’s plunged far too many households into the dark across Australia. Here’s what to watch out for.

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Portable Air Conditioners Suck (Hot Air Into Your House)


Are you thinking of a portable air conditioner? Don’t. Step back. Put your wallet away.

I can’t think of a better way to waste time, money and energy than buying a portable air conditioner – although there are a couple of exceptions that have their place.

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