I recently answered a query from an excited soon-to-be EV driver looking to set themselves up with the necessary gear for electric car charging. [Read more…]
Why Builders Get Solar Wrong And How You Can Get It Right
Stink pipes, clear sheets, aerials, low pitch, small planes, a new roof, redeploy old solar panels …and add more capacity. This one had all the complexities.
In this series, I’m pitching a case for better buildings that can make housing more comfortable and more affordable to live in. [Read more…]
There’s No Such Thing As A Badly Oriented Roof For Solar
1.85kW left vs 10.85kW right
In Australia, the ideal solar panel orientation to maximise annual energy yield is north. If you’ve been holding back on solar power because your roof’s orientation is east, west or even south, it’s time to reconsider. [Read more…]
Decoding Tesla Powerwall 3’s Electrical Specs: Implications for Australia
There she be… Powerwall 3
Photos are doing the rounds of a Tesla Powerwall 3 installed in the wilds of Burgeristan (the USA) , so I thought I’d add a few words to the stream of excited comments. [Read more…]
Backup Your Blackout Plans. Why Hybrid Solar Needs A Bypass Switch
The green parts are thanks to SolarQuotes. In normal operation, grid energy goes in the hybrid inverter through the red line, out along the brown line, and into the home’s essential circuits via the green line. If the inverter fails, it can simply be bypassed with the green switch.
Home batteries used to be a niche market for tech enthusiasts and those needing emergency power. But as battery-backed hybrid solar systems proliferate, the solar industry is learning that even the best plans can go awry. [Read more…]
Should You Install An Industrial Socket For Home EV Charging?
Standard Australian socket and plug for 32 amps 400 volts 3 phase power.
TL;DR: Hell, yes.
In Australia, the wall socket pictured above is your go-to option for a 3-phase electricity supply, while this one is for single-phase: [Read more…]
Copper Hot Water Systems & Solar: A Timeless Combination
Finally, something that’s genuinely German in the solar industry… sheet copper is no longer made in Australia, sadly.
If we’ve noticed anything of late in the SolarQuotes office, it’s that water heating isn’t just a mundane task; it’s a subject passionately debated and deeply entrenched. Who would have thought? [Read more…]
Talking Solar To Builders – We Need Better Thinking From the Roof Down
Perfectly simple skillion roof. Image Credit: Josh Sheppard Electrical
As a qualified solar electrician, roof plumber, licensed contractor and supervisor, I have seen the ugly truth behind Australian roofs first-hand. [Read more…]
Can You Install A Smart Solar Meter On A Strata Townhouse? YES!
Smart Meter Installation Woes in Sydney.
Recently we wrote about an instance in Queensland where a solar meter changeover on a detached suburban home had gone sideways. As it happens, another example that caught my attention involved multiple meters in a strata-owned switchboard. [Read more…]
Solar’s Hidden Metering Cost – And Tips To Avoid It
Inaccessible, no hinge, ceramic fuses, disintegrating chipboard, duct tape! This is a hamburger with the lot.
Solar Electricity Meters – The Situation Is Unhinged [Read more…]
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