Going Solar - advice please

We are just about to start some extension, which means I will have nice north facing roof suitable for solar panels. 

Over the past few months we emailed several companies in Melbourne, and had not single answer.  Finally, yesterday we got one from EURO SOLAR, who with the first very basic quote (we are not sure exactly what we want) sent their banking details for deposit - bit too desperate for my liking.

 

Anybody in Melbourne has solar installed?  Can you recommend the company you dealt with?

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Going Solar - advice please

Yes you can do it supanova.

 

Instead of connecting to the grid, you install an off the grid system. They do it in remote areas all the time. A friend of mine generates her own power in a bush hut she built 10 years ago. 

 

I am not 100% sure how it all works but I understand her panels charge up batteries and this provdes the power she needs to convert to 240v electricity. Her power is completely self sufficient.

 

I am sure there must be companies out there that can help you with this. Or there must be environmentalist blogs out there that you can ask questions to. 

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Going Solar - advice please

Going Solar - advice please

Best place to look for a company to deal with for stand alone solar is searching for companies that service areas where

 

linking to the grid in your state is expensive and then searching for suppliers of the same brands closer to you or use

 

'stand alone solar' in your internet solar search efforts. some local companies that I trust

 

http://solardepotbellingen-px.rtrk.com.au/

 

http://solardepotbellingen-px.rtrk.com.au/stand-alone-power

 

SA company below looks good. Solar water pumps are pretty well the 'new" technology at the moment

 

http://www.energymatters.com.au/stand-alone-power/

 

A reputable company will advise you to also install a back up generator to fully charge the batteries and use it

 

regularly.

 

Solar cells on their own cannot fully charge storage batteries.

 

Battery bank size is dependant on draw and also governs the 'bump' charge required.

 

You can easily 'experiment' cheaply now using led globes,  a voltage regulator with diode and just a vehicle battery

 

although they are not really designed as a storage battery ( and need regular bump charging to remain effective).

 

Real storage batteries are quite expensive.

 

 

 

 

 

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Going Solar - advice please

mugssy65
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To be perfectly honest I wouldn't do it! I have ten panels and it will be YEARS before it actually pays for itself and the ACC came out yesterday and said that they are going to be clamping down on the industry for the claims they make!
Yes if you had your panels installed when the buy back was 20c per unit you will be saving but now it's 8c and less there is very little. I save about $9 per bill!
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Going Solar - advice please

I agree with Mugzy my son has recently looked into it done the math and decided the cash is better off staying in his offset account.

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Going Solar - advice please

Have to add though solar hot water systems are fantastic here in WA.
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Going Solar - advice please

He has the solar HW Mugzy.

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Going Solar - advice please

Knew I likes the boy! Lol
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Going Solar - advice please

my inlaws have solar panels. They dont pay an electricity bill anymore

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Going Solar - advice please

Are they on the 20c a unit buy back? If they are then they have probably had their unit about 7+ years the guaranteed 20c per unit ends at ten years then they will drop to the same rate as the rest of us.
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Going Solar - advice please


@***super_nova*** wrote:

We are just about to start some extension, which means I will have nice north facing roof suitable for solar panels. 

Over the past few months we emailed several companies in Melbourne, and had not single answer.  Finally, yesterday we got one from EURO SOLAR, who with the first very basic quote (we are not sure exactly what we want) sent their banking details for deposit - bit too desperate for my liking.

 

Anybody in Melbourne has solar installed?  Can you recommend the company you dealt with?


Have you tried these websites?

http://www.solarchoice dot net dot au/blog/best-solar-pv-power-deals-melbourne-vic/

https://www.solarmarket dot com dot au/victoria/melbourne

 

Also I would stay away from modern as they are expensive and pushy, and Mark Group as they are OTT expensive and rude and abusive.

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Going Solar - advice please


@mugssy65 wrote:
Are they on the 20c a unit buy back? If they are then they have probably had their unit about 7+ years the guaranteed 20c per unit ends at ten years then they will drop to the same rate as the rest of us.

Yeh, theyve had theirs for at least 7 years.

No idea of any other info as we dont talk to them anymore

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