Posts By Anthony Bennett On SolarQuotes

An Installer’s Take On Sungrow Inverters & Batteries

Sungrow inverters and home batteries

Sungrow inverters and batteries are a popular choice for Australian solar systems thanks to their proven performance and accessible pricing. I thought I’d take a closer look at what makes Sungrow inverters such great value, along with some of their limitations. [Read more…]

When Switchboard Upgrades Are Crucial To Getting Solar (A Pictorial Guide)

Solar power systems and switchboard upgrades

My eternal shame is that I couldn’t save this piece of hand-painted switchboard craftsmanship from a demolition crew.

At SolarQuotes, we’re often asked about peripherals that aren’t as cool as the glass on your roof or the monitoring app you can show off at someone else’s barbecue. [Read more…]

An Australian Installer’s Take On Home Battery Brands

Home battery brands - a solar installer's view

We recently polled installers in the SolarQuotes network to discover their favourite home batteries. Tesla, Sungrow and BYD batteries took the podium.

This post looks a little deeper into the winning brands from an experienced battery installer’s perspective. [Read more…]

Home EV Charging For Tightarses (Like Me)

Tips for charging an EV from a standard power outlet.

Tricks and traps when charging from a standard powerpoint. 

Spent all your spare cash on an electric car and don’t want to incur the expense of a hard-wired home EV charger? Then this is the post for you.

For five years, my two EVs have only ever been plugged into a powerpoint. [Read more…]

What Solar Installers Want From A Solar Inverter

What solar installers want from inverters

I asked fellow installers what they wanted from a solar inverter, and they answered decisively:

More current, please. [Read more…]

Installing Solar On A Tiled Roof? Why You Need Spare Roof Tiles

Installing solar panels on a tiled roof - spares tiles are a must

As a qualified builder and roofer, I should disclose that I really don’t like tile roofs.

They’re heavy, they’re porous and get heavier as they soak up water, they leak heat and dirt, they’re hard to install on, and sadly, as many people find out, water leaks lead to recriminations. [Read more…]

Why Australian Solar Installers Love Austrian Fronius Inverters

Fronius inverters - an Australian solar installer favourite

Fronius for the win! 

Not everyone in Australia is engaged with SolarQuotes and the gongs we hand out. But for Fronius to win our top spot for the third year in a row with nigh on half of all votes cast is something that can’t be ignored. [Read more…]

Hey, Solar Panel Manufacturers! What Installers Really Want.

What solar panel installers want

I don’t know about homo erectus but homo sapiens is being asked to lift a panel that’s 2.4 metres tall. These images aren’t much out of scale!

After what seems like days of research and consultation with hundreds of members of the Australian solar industry (more than I can sensibly count on my fingers anyway), I’ve come up with a wish-list of what installers want when it comes to the solar panels they are bolting to roofs: [Read more…]

Kevin And The Case Of The Missing Kilowatt Hours

Electricity consumption mystery in a solar/battery powered home solved.

Be careful when engaging non-battery-savvy electricians to work on your battery-powered home…

There was so much red ink, it looked like a murder scene.

Not long ago, in a suburb not too far away from SolarQuotes HQ, a solar/battery system owner made contact. He was engaged in an age-old battle, arguing with his electricity retailer about what seemed to be excessive charges on his power bill. [Read more…]

Installing Solar Panels with Raked Ceilings: Challenges and Solutions

Solar panels and raked ceilings

Spot the screws poking through…

They say that happiness is directly proportional to ceiling height.

Having grown up in a substantial c.1875 stone house, with ceilings closer to 4 metres than the standard suburban 2.4 metres, I can attest to the extra space offering some comfort – even if it’s just lower temperatures during hot summers. [Read more…]

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