Solar - Which Way Should I Go?

Lsolo60 on 06/06/2017 - 09:25

Hi All,

After getting an outrageous power bill ($1400) for a quarter, I am on a mission to bring down my energy use and costs.

Some nitwit decided that it was a great idea to put 98 halogen downlights in the house we own and moved into last September. I have just finished pulling all of those fixtures out and replaced them with led down-lights.

Now its time to look at solar.

What i have decided to go for:
6.48KW system - Tier 1 Trina Panels.
Fronius Inverter.

Now for the question: Who should I go with?
* Origin - $7500 - but will do 24 months interest free, with a 12c feed in for 12 months, they are point of call for all warranty.
* local reputable supplier - $5950. Been around 10 years, mainly do commercial, so should be around for the long haul.

With the local supplier, i would get an amex or something and reap the benefits off that? I cant seem to find a good amex deal though.

Help me
- What are your experiences with the budget sub 5K installers and the chinese inverters they use?
- What is the best amex card / other card around that could get me some offset benefit in the form of woolies/fuel/ day to day credit points.

Thanks for your time..
solo.

Poll Options

  • 1
    Origin - Premium system
  • 24
    Local supplier - Premium system
  • 2
    Dodgy bros solar - Cheap system
Home & Garden

Comments

  • Ryanek on 06/06/2017 - 09:36
    +5

    Have you identified the major cause of your usage? Will moving to solar fix that?

    • ESEMCE on 06/06/2017 - 10:05
      +2

      ^This
      With a low Feed in tariff, Solar is more about how much power (that you would normally use) can you use when the sun is shining and therefore "save" paying to your electricity retailer.

      Generating 20kWh/day is useless if you just have the fridge running through the day then get home from work at night, turn on the Oven, washing machine, dishwasher and RC heating after the sun has set..

      Forget any feed in tariff bonus rates, feed-in is still negligible compared to what usage you can time-shift into the day (ie washing machine and dishwasher on timer so they run through the day).
      Also higher feed-ins are usually offset by higher charges for supply and usage.

      • solo60 on 06/06/2017 - 10:44

        the summer qtr we were using 59kwh/day.. basic rundown of summer appliances: (have gas cooking and hotwater)

        • two large fridge/freezers (540 and 600)
        • 59" Plasma (on most of the day from 530am till 10pm)
        • media computer - probably 100w
        • laptop 4-5 hours a day - 130w (big dell xps beast)
        • 42" plasma (bedroom on 2 hours night maybe).
        • xbox 360 - during day maybe 2-3 hours
        • server - n40 microserver with 5 drives - 120w - 24/7

        • modem, router, hills home hub appliances (coax amp, house sound system) 24/7 (dunno will have to look at the power supply for the gear).

        • dishwasher night run (will obviously move this to daylight hours)

        • washing machine (again will move this to day).
        • oven (dinner 2-4 times a week).
        • slow on 06/06/2017 - 10:45
          +3

          Just curious as to why you have the TV on all day from 530m to 10pm - is someone actually watching it ??

        • ESEMCE on 06/06/2017 - 10:51
          +9

          !!!!!
          59kWh/day with Gas cooking and hot water!?
          No pool?
          Something is seriously wrong with your consumption…
          Do you run ducted AC to every room 24/7?

          Get a whole house consumption meter installed…
          then go around flicking stuff off until you find the energy vampire!

        • solo60 on 06/06/2017 - 11:18

          @slow:

          kids and a wife that turn it on then go do something else.. drives me up the f'n wall!

          kids are especially bad.. they were to culprits with the lights.. im sure that 50% of the time over the school holidays, my 3 year old daughter had left the halogens on in her room… hence why i targeted the halogens first with replacement leds(whole fitting, not the stupid gu5.6 fittings).

        • solo60 on 06/06/2017 - 11:22

          @scubacoles:

          no pool..

          ducted is 4 zone, hopefully wife uses it appropriately. it was on 75% of the time over summer, only on in main bedroom at night.

          ducted also set to 26 degrees 90% of the time.

          i really need to take a close look at the https://www.hills.com.au/hills-home-hub-s3399-1000-series-en… and see if i can move to a passive coax splitter (line of sight to brisbane tv towers (though across town out at Manly) - im only using ONE coax point and the media centre streams channels over the lan.

        • ESEMCE on 06/06/2017 - 11:36
          +1

          @solo60:
          Doubt that the Home Hub pulls more than 100W and likely far less, so no more than 2.4kW/day.

          I think it's your AC, not necessarily the system, but the usage. 75% of the time over Summer seems excessive.

          Maybe one of your fridge's/freezers is knackered and running continuously.

        • solo60 on 06/06/2017 - 11:43

          @scubacoles:
          yeah i think you could be right. A fridge came with the house, and the control panel is stuffed on it, it just has a baffle that controls the air flow from the freezer part into the fridge that i just set manually to get the temp. i do hear the fridge duty cycle so its not on all the time, but its probably on more than required.

          i love air con.. maybe i need to readjust my relationship with my air con :)

        • ESEMCE on 06/06/2017 - 11:48
          +1

          @solo60:
          As above.
          Get a whole house consumption meter installed. It will help you identify what stuff is chewing power.

          Handy for your solar install too as you can determine when your peak usage is and subsequently how to distribute your panels (For us having an East/West configuration is best as we tend to use most power at breakfast/morning and at evening/dinner) and in the future, identify when best to turn on appliances to make the most of your generation..

        • Sunshines bright on 06/06/2017 - 20:17

          damn… we use only at most 15 kwh/day

          with using one hot water, avg size fridge and small freezer, two TVs, 2 laptops which are on most of the day, lights in the rooms we are in, and one modem, electric stove top used about 5x a week, dishwasher used about 3x a week, and washer about 3x a week.
          There are only 2 of us in the house, maybe that is the difference?

          I just put in a 4.77 KW system using 18 tier 1 German engineered Q Cells and a 4.6 kw frontius inverter. Cost all up was about $6,500 for full install including updating my meter. A bit higher then you are being offered by your local supplier considering your getting a larger system.

          I could have gotten a 5.13 system for about 6,000 but I was told the solar panels (Seraphim solar panels)were not as good a quality, which was why the system I purchased was more expensive.

          I wonder if our location has an effect on the cost of getting solar?

        • Sunshines bright on 06/06/2017 - 20:20

          @solo60: agreed about the air con!

  • solo60 on 06/06/2017 - 09:38

    over summer, my wife is home (school teacher). So most of the use is ducted air.

    the down-lights would have been a major contributor, as my kids like to leave them on, and use them during the day as well…

  • Nugs on 06/06/2017 - 09:39
    +2

    we chose a smaller operator based on the 'feel' we got when he visited to quote.
    He was an electrician that decided to get into solar when the rebates were upped, had been installing for a couple for years when we went with him (5 years ago).
    was mid range price from the four quotes recd.
    able to answer any questions we threw at him.
    Italian Aurora inverter and Trina 'Honey' panels.
    His website looks like he is still in business.
    Install and follow up was smooth.

    Might you consider a solar and battery system?

  • solo60 on 06/06/2017 - 09:45

    the inverter is battery ready, however based on my current usage pattern, i would not generate enough solar to charge a battery enough.

    I will consider adding a battery down the track once i understand my usage better.

    • ESEMCE on 06/06/2017 - 10:10
      +1

      A 6.68kW system should generate excess power to your daytime consumption needs.
      Unless you're using 20+kWh/day through Winter and upwards of 30kWh/day through Summer, in which case, do an audit of what's sucking down so much power!
      It doesn't generate 6.68KWh/day, it generates that per hour (assuming optimal sun angle, no shade, clean panels, no cloud cover etc etc)

    • ChrisLevo on 06/06/2017 - 13:45

      Our 5.8kW system charges our 7.6kWH battery to full every day, even when overcast.

  • redfox1200 on 06/06/2017 - 10:17
    +1

    just get a cheaper quote and get origin to price match it

  • solo60 on 06/06/2017 - 10:45

    what about amex cards.. anyone in the know?

  • solo60 on 06/06/2017 - 11:29

    I've sent an extract of the competing quote off to origin.. wonder if they will come to the party.

  • baytrail on 06/06/2017 - 12:42

    sub, interested also. our elec bill is 1.5k avg every qtr also, im building a house at the moment and would like to add solar from day one. a house of 6 ppl.

  • chumlee on 06/06/2017 - 13:29

    I have looked I into Energy Australia as they have the tesla powerwall and offer 60 months interest free.

    Haven't pulled the trigged yet

  • tassieeagle on 06/06/2017 - 13:55

    Sounds like a heating/cooling issue to me. Is your house adequately insulated? You mention AC so I assume you live somewhere warm, I have little experience with this as I'm in tassie but can you not use a more passive way of cooling like opening windows?

    What do you do in winter? Do you have heating turned up and still walk around in shorts and tshirt? (Not saying you do this but I know plenty of Queenslanders who are scared of putting on a jumper and trousers)

    As for solar definitely worth it if you have a good feed in tariff, or someone is home who during the day to run appliances while the sun is shining.

    P.s. Get the kids to turn off the tv and lights if they aren't using them

    • solo60 on 06/06/2017 - 14:15

      Live in Brisbane QLD.

      House has insulation, but is a large double story. I get a good sea breeze and have lots of windows to get the most of the breeze.

      im always turning lights and tv's off (when im home), and harping on about it, but… kids.

      Winter - no heating. We are about to get out the oil heater and i will time it to run from 4am-6am to heat up the lounge room. but i have alot of glass onto the back veranda, so we can lose a lot of heat that way.

      we can put the dishwasher on in the morning, and time things like the washing machine to take advantage going forward.

      • tassieeagle on 06/06/2017 - 15:38

        Sounds like your a sensible guy, I can't offer much more, just keep harping.

        One last thought, do you close curtains/blinds in rooms that receive direct sunlight? They will still heat up but not as fast

        • solo60 on 06/06/2017 - 16:06

          not yet.. we need some window/sliding door coverings for the lounge.. on the long list of things we need :)

      • Cliche Guevara on 07/06/2017 - 11:39

        If your air con is reverse cycle then you should use that, not the oil heater, as it will use less energy (and probably warm a larger area).

      • [Deactivated] on 08/06/2017 - 20:55

        You live in Brisbane and you get a sea breeze?
        The sea is at least 20 ks away!

  • ggrant on 06/06/2017 - 14:03

    WA, don't bother, check actual payout rate.

  • [Deactivated] on 06/06/2017 - 14:24
    +1

    Point it towards the sun.

  • timthetoolman on 06/06/2017 - 18:43
    +1

    If you're looking at a premium system look at the LG panels, they are head and shoulders above the rest.
    Factor in if there is any shade and if you need micro inverters etc as well.
    Fronius inverter is good.

    • solo60 on 07/06/2017 - 13:56

      zero shade. got LG as alternate quote, came in at 8K.

  • mmecholet on 07/06/2017 - 10:02

    Bought my sytem from Origin in 2008; 3 levels of installers; no communication between them plus the plan-to-scale of existing meters that I supplied to middle level (in Tasmania!) was not forwarded to actual local installer (then unknown by me until the day he turned up to install - without having completed the promised pre-installation inspection )- consequently I lost out on net meterage which would have made me eligible for extra 44c QLD govt grid-feed scheme until 2028.
    The 20c per Kw Origin promised to pay me - without any cut-off specified was then cut to 6c per Kw. Avoid them; they are just 'agents' who farm the work out to others over whom they apparently have no control.
    Also - Lumo Energy (now 'Red') only charges about 87cents daily supply charge. Check Origin's; it's typically around $1.30!!

  • boccos on 07/06/2017 - 10:06

    Yes, Solar will reduce your costs by around $360 per qtr, provided you take advantage of consuming as much electricity during the 10am to 2 pm period daily. I.E. HWS, Dishwasher, Washing machine, Stove, Heating etc. We have a 7kw system with a 5kw inverter. I recorded daily for one whole year. This is the result, value of Solar consumed during the day $992, Value of Solar energy returned to the grid $431. This is what you will approximately save in one year.
    Then each time you purchase a new appliance, buy an energy efficient/saving unit, especially refrigerators, freezers. Go gas for anything related to heating except for air conditioning.

  • solo60 on 07/06/2017 - 10:49

    well origin took $500 off the quote for the system. I think i will just go with them, considering i can get 24 months interest free and 24 months of 12c feed in tariff.

    so only $7000 - i am going to go origin, as i like the fact that they are single point of contact for any issues with the system, not to mention had great service and correspondence with the rep.

    thanks all for the input.

  • solo60 on 07/06/2017 - 13:31

    well.. about to send the accept email and got a lightbulb moment..

    origin using 260w trina panels

    reputable local using 270w trina panels..

    omfg… my head is spinning…

    time to shop for other retail power/solar feed in plans. and time to shop for amex / cc points scheme to take advantage of.

    arrrrgggghhh!!!!

    • Sunshines bright on 07/06/2017 - 19:55

      Laughing with you !!! ;0 - I feel your pain.

      I paid a deposit on mine and after all my research, wheeling and dealing to get the best price and the best product, 2 days from install I realized they were quoting a smaller system then I originally wanted. I had to ask them to add some panels and it cost me a bit more… so yes I feel your pain.

      I went with Green Incentives in the end.

  • Roney on 08/06/2017 - 15:25

    Can anyone recommend a supplier/installer in WA? I dont mind paying a bit more if there is an option for better reliability.

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