Replacing a Solar Inverter Costs

• 

  poboy on 11/05/2017 - 11:23

  +1

  Initial install costs are subsidised. Plus your 6c kWh is just your feed in tariff. If you are using the solar instead of grid power, it's actually worth (grid - feed in e.g 25c - 6c) 19c kWh.

  mskeggs is always knowledgable about solar, so await her reply.

  • 

    Fergy1987 on 11/05/2017 - 11:41

    Is it even possible to use the solar instead of grid power? I was always under the impression with solar was that you got charged for using grid power, and then they offset that with 6cents for every kw you recover?
    How do you go about using the solar? Because I generate more than I use, wouldn't that make my bill a negative!
    Or am I not understanding that properly?

    • 

      mskeggs on 11/05/2017 - 13:38

      +1

      It depends on your meter and the feed in tariff you have available.
      Assuming net metering, any power you are using will be subtracted from what you are generating at the time.
      Any left over generation gets sent to the grid, for which you get the paltry 6c.
      And any time you are using more than you generate (e.g. at night) you must pay the power company their 25c per kWh, or whatever.

    • 

      Euphemistic on 11/05/2017 - 14:22

      Use your solar generated sparks by operating stuff during the day, when the sun is shining.

      Our system is 4kW. We can generate approx 15-20kWh per day depending on season/conditions. We export around 4-8kWh per day that hasn't been used by us. Our bill has come down by the difference, eg from around 25kWh to 17kWh per day. We have the pool pump on during sunlight hours, run the washing machine and dishwasher during the day etc. We could be more efficient, but don't need to be as our bills are manageable.

    • 

      wretchd on 11/05/2017 - 14:27

      You have already been using it.
      QLD is a net Feed in Tariff (FiT) I think you have a normal 'Grid Tie' inverter (no batteries etc). If it is sunny and your solar is generating, power in excess of what your house is using (at that time), you export to the grid and you get 6cents FiT for each of those kWh. Any power your house uses when solar is producing comes from your own solar first, if it is more than your solar is making at that time, then you also take from the grid. You don't 'make' money on this power that you self consume (it doesn't get to the grid). But it does prevent you from having to buy that equivalent power from the grid at a much higher rate than 6cents. When your solar is not working (night), all of your power is coming from the grid.
      Any power you send out to the grid earns you 6cents/kWh but electricity you use from the grid costs much more than 6cents. Look at your own electricity bill details, to see how much they charge you per kWh. They also charge a daily connection charge that also adds to the cost.
      It is still quite possible to have a positive bill even when generating more than you use. Because of the difference in what you are paid for your electricity (6cents), what you pay them for their electricity (x cents ?) and your daily connection charge.
      Hope that helps and doesn't muddy things!

• 

  jzx100 on 11/05/2017 - 12:48

  1. Fronius inverter should be made in Austria so it should have a higher price tag but $2.4k seems slightly high. Again it more the fact of being bothered to install an inverter. Is the Samil out of warranty? If you can buy an SMA inverter that comes with a 5 years warranty and is made in Germany. That thing will last 15 years without fault. It's funny how the Chinese made inverters come with 5-10 year warranties and all have faults within that time frame and the SMA I've had zero returns or issues.

  2. You can get a small system for around the $3k mark but the product will be all Chinese made.

  3. The actual rating for the Fro is probably higher than 2kw (2.6kw) so it will handle what you require comfortably. Euro branded inverters tend to understate so you can 'overclock' the inverters to run slightly higher. Chinese inverter tend to state peak and end up cooking the inverter. Personally I would go 3kw inverter as this is a common size and may possibly cost the same depending on what they stock and you can add panels to it in the future, if you have the roof space?

  4. If you are no consuming what you generate during the day, solar is pointless for you. Is there anyone at home during the day to use what is generate by solar? Washing machines, dishwashers….etc? if not then do your sums.

• 

  mskeggs on 11/05/2017 - 13:47

  +2

  Seeing as Chinese inverters on ebay start at around $150, I think paying >$2000 for a Fronius is too much.
  I don't think you are being ripped off, necessarily, I just don't think it is worth that much money.
  I figure the labour is under $500, so that is a lot for a box.

  There might be more work required than a simple switch over, if there is any remedial work required to get the rest of the system up to current standards.

  I'd suggest getting another quote, and asking them to give you a couple of options on the equipment.
  I'm inclined to view the inverter as a consumable with a 5-10yr life, so getting a $500 inverter replaced every 5 years makes more sense to me than getting a $2000 one replaced every 10.

• 

  Aust on 15/05/2017 - 13:50

  Highly recommend you ask this question in the green tech forum on whirlpool but yes seems expensive.
  My workmate just had one replaced that got damaged by power surge from lightning under insurance claim for $1900 installed.
  Believe that was a primo version though