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Thread: Solar Panels

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    Default Solar Panels

    Hey Guys,

    I'm looking to invest in Solar Panels for my home but I don't really know too much about them.
    What are some good companies to look into?
    Is there is a government rebate?
    How much approx. do the the solar panels cost?
    What is the difference between the different panels you can get? What's better?
    (There are only 2 in my household with a bub on the way)
    How much do they save? Can you actually earn credits with power companies if your consumption is not too high?

    Can you get solar panels as an alternative for the hot water system instead of using gas? Are they the same panels for the electricity as well?

    Just trying to get some info from someone who has solar panels.
    I'm located in Melbourne.

    I have seen a couple of commercials on tv but thought i would get some info first.

    Cheers.
    Last edited by Tech City; 27-03-11 at 02:08 PM.



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    Hi Tech City,

    I went with a company called Eco Kinetics in Hallam.

    My rebate was near $5K and for the 1.5KW system I ended up being $2.7K out of pocket.

    I was happy with the work and service given.

    My system has peaked at 1.6KW on a brillantily sunny day just after installation, then the bloody clouds rolled in and have stayed since lol.

    generated near 200KW in about 6 weeks!!! Thats 200KW I dont have to pay for!!!!!

    I noticed the other day when up at Eco Kinetics paying my balance, they have single 250W panels! Mine were 190W panels, 8 of em.

    the inverter I got was a CMS1500.

    Still, you may find a better price if you do some more research, I did however her that the rebate was either being dropped or lowered around june, best to get in soon I reckon!!!!

    regards

    porkop
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    Statistically, if you wait long enough, everything will happen!

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    You'll need to read up on , but flyers from Harvey Norman for NSW (based on a Sydney installation) gives lots of excellent detail on energy produced and pay back periods etc.

    In my opinion the key thing is your current daily kWh consumption.

    This can be read from your last 90 day bill.

    Let's say its 20kwh per day.

    This means to be energy neutral your Solar system must be capable of producing on average 20kWh per day.

    If you check the Harvey Norman , their premier 4.7kW system produces (Sydney) 6,690KwH in a year, or 6,690/365 = 18.3kwh.

    So this system for an outlay of some $20,000 gets you close to energy neutral.

    I'll leave others to comment on buying cheap n cheerful Chinese panels vs others.

    You'll also need to understand .

    Vic is Net so it is very difficult to work out pay back periods. You'll have to try to work out how much excess power you will produce to estimate your pay back period.

    "Gross vs. net feed in tariff

    A net feed in tariff, also known as export metering, pays the PV system owner only for surplus energy they produce; whereas a gross feed in tariff pays for each kilowatt hour produced by a grid connected system. It's a very important difference. "
    Last edited by Farmsky; 27-03-11 at 09:40 PM. Reason: Added Gross and Net

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    Im getting a 1.5 kw System installed shortly. Would have liked to go bigger but cant afford anything more right now. The system does come with a 2kw Eaton invertor which allows me to get some extra panels later and get it up to 2-2.2kw

    Im going with neco. They seem pretty good so far $2490 installed

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    Techcity ,

    You have started off on the right track by asking questions , my best advice is to ask many more and read , read , read !!.
    If you remember anything it is that whoever you speak too is selling "The Best" on the market and everything else is junk!.
    Don't get sucked into "This company has been in the business forever rubbish".

    There are so many different names and brands popping up everyday in the solar industry all to make a quick buck , many I have never heard of and I research and follow this stuff daily. , Solar panel companies claiming to make millions of panels every year with staffs of 6000 and factories big enough to house Victoria! , of course the webpages with the little guys in white lab coats and clip boards to make it all look legit!.

    Honestly this is a big long term decision , most of these companies have only popped up in the last 12 months , they are offering 25 year warranties etc!! Do you really think they are going to be around to honor these warranties when the Government subsidies finish up !

    A lot of people all over Australia and thinking they have just landed the best deal available , All I can see is short term saving turning into long term nightmares that we are yet to experience over the next few years.

    One question that confounds me recently is why all these people lately are signing up for systems when the salesmen utters the words " be quick , it wont last" bullshit ? , Trust me I used to sell cars and vacuum cleaners.

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    More reading over in this section too.


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    Cool

    Quote Originally Posted by Learjet View Post
    More reading over in this section too.

    Learjet you crazy bastard , you did a circular link & I nearly disappeared up my own bum

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    Thanks for the info guys. Looks like the decision might not be as easy as I thought. The One is that price before or after the rebate? Which company is it through?

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    Quote Originally Posted by watchdog View Post
    Learjet you crazy bastard , you did a circular link & I nearly disappeared up my own bum
    Saved you a colonoscopy though eh?

    The mods moved the thread, hence the time loop. Sorry.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Tech City View Post
    Thanks for the info guys. Looks like the decision might not be as easy as I thought. The One is that price before or after the rebate? Which company is it through?
    After the rebate.
    Neco.com.au

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    Quote Originally Posted by The One View Post
    Im getting a 1.5 kw System installed shortly. Would have liked to go bigger but cant afford anything more right now. The system does come with a 2kw Eaton invertor which allows me to get some extra panels later and get it up to 2-2.2kw

    Im going with neco. They seem pretty good so far $2490 installed
    have been looking into this also, don't know a lot about them yet to know what to look out for, see plenty of systems advertised around $2000 after rebate for a 1.5kw system, $4000 for a 2kw system, seems like an illogical price to step up so there's obviously more to it, just about every ad you see includes the obligatory asterisk for some extra terms/charges etc, looking around but not easy to know who to go with or what to get

    if anyone has anyone worth recommending in Sydney I'd be interested in hearing about it

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    Anyone know how much the rebate is for Vic for a 1.5kw system? I cant seem to find info on the rebate.

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    Unhappy Solar system installed by NECO

    Hi there....

    Now NECO has gone belly up .. OH YAYYY I know now I have done my install warranty at least BUT what about the warranties on my components ??

    How would I go IF I needed to contact the component makers of the gear ??

    Conergy panels ... SMA inverter ...

    From everything I've seen recently at least it seems they were known for using good quality components to bad about the rest :-( :-(

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    Quote Originally Posted by Learjet View Post
    Saved you a colonoscopy though eh?
    bet you had a few, hahahahaha.

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    Quote Originally Posted by BigG66 View Post
    Hi there....

    Now NECO has gone belly up .. OH YAYYY I know now I have done my install warranty at least BUT what about the warranties on my components ??

    How would I go IF I needed to contact the component makers of the gear ??

    Conergy panels ... SMA inverter ...

    From everything I've seen recently at least it seems they were known for using good quality components to bad about the rest :-( :-(

    You will just need to do your warranty through the manufacturer.
    SMA has an Australian headquarters, not sure about Conergy but I assume they would as they are quite large.

    Just make sure you have all the warranty paperwork and invoices from NECO
    DM600 & 85cm Motorised Dish

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    SYDNEY installations
    i can recommend

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