At Electrical Sensations, our Clean Energy Council accredited designers have done the hard yards of researching and comparing the multitude of solar products available. We are totally confident in the performance, reliability and longevity of every product we choose to install.
When you are investing in a solar power or battery system, you need the system to perform well for you, for as long as possible, without giving you any headaches. There are literally hundreds of different solar products on the market and it can be really hard to distinguish between them all. With solar power systems, the old adage “You get what you pay for” rings very true. We apply the following criteria when choosing which products to recommend to our customers:
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How long has the manufacturer been in existence and producing that particular product?
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How financially stable is the manufacturer (looking at factors including their Altmann Z Score)?
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What is the general ‘reputation’ of the product from industry and consumer reports?
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Do they have an Australian office to handle any potential future warranty issues?
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What is the warranty claim/failure rate?
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Not only, what is the length of the warranty, but also how difficult and onerous is the warranty process? The devil can be in the detail of the warranty Terms and Conditions.
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Would I be confident and happy to have this product on my home?
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Solar Batteries
Solar batteries are a logical extension of solar power systems and are increasing in popularity at a staggering rate.
Essentially batteries store unused energy produced by your solar panels, to be used overnight, in times of inclement weather or when power is charged at premium rates (Time-of-Use tariff customers). Batteries are a sustainable way to create your own energy supply rather than relying on energy from the grid (Ergon, Energex etc).
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The main purpose of solar batteries is to store your excess solar power generated through the day time. It can then be used while the sun isn’t shining. That means you are less dependent on grid power and more energy self–sufficient. They will also provide ‘blackout protection’, which can be a big advantage for many households in areas where the grid reliability is not fantastic. Be aware that not all batteries can provide power in a black–out.
Solar Battery Brands
Things to Consider.
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Not all batteries can provide power in a black–out. If that is something that is important to you, it is imperative to make that known to your designer from the outset.
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Know that there is a difference between the ‘nominal capacity’ and ‘usable capacity’ of a battery. Most batteries keep some energy in a kind of ‘reserve’ to avoid being damaged. The usable capacity is the number that matters and is typically around 90% Of the nominal capacity.
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Be aware that every battery has a limit to the amount of power it can output at any one time. So, if you plan to use your air-con, oven, microwave, clothes drier (for example) at the same time, your battery will not keep up and you will be buying the excess from the grid. Staggering high usage items will result in the more efficient use of your batteries.
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Having a battery doesn’t mean you are off–grid. The vast majority of solar and battery systems will maintain a grid connection to give you the power you need to get through the bad weather days or periods of increased consumption. For off–grid systems – think remote locations where getting power to the block is not possible, practical or economically viable.