Solar Installers
Guide to Buying Solar > 8. Solar Installers
Who should I buy solar from?
When buying solar, it is important to get good quality products. It’s also important to know how the system works so you get the most out of it and understand when there is a problem, and of course, it’s essential to pay a fair price. However, the most important decision when buying solar is who to buy your solar system from. The reason is simple: if you find the right person to buy from, they should be able to guide you through the labyrinth that is going solar. In addition, you can have the best quality products money can buy, but if the system is not installed well, you will not be getting the most out of them.
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Whilst everyone talks about panel and inverter brands when buying solar, there is actually a multitude of other components that are needed to install a system, from wiring to racking. From a safety point of view, one of the most important parts of a solar system is the isolators as they provide a safe way of isolating the high DC voltage produced by your solar panels from the inverter, as required during an emergency or maintenance. Furthermore, how the components are installed is perhaps even more important because even the best quality equipment can be installed poorly - meaning it may not work correctly or even be dangerous.
Example of a neat solar installation using good quality REC solar panels.
How do I find a quality solar installer?
At this point, you are probably wondering how you can know if a system with top-quality components is installed correctly. The simple answer is that you cannot. However, you can find a reputable company with good reviews and recommendations so that you can be confident you are getting a high-quality installation. The good news is that there are many high-quality solar companies out there. In the early days of solar, there were a lot of “cowboys”, selling and installing poor quality and frankly dangerous systems. However, regulations and training have improved, and you can be confident that most accredited solar installers are highly competent and understand the risks of poor-quality installations. For that reason, I do not want to overstate this point, but you should be aware that there are still plenty of solar companies in operation that are far more interested in making a dollar rather than providing high-quality solar systems, and one thing they are good at is selling.
Even if a system is perfectly installed with high-quality equipment, there is still a chance that something will go wrong with it in the future. A few of the largest solar companies in Australia only 5 years ago are no longer operating today. That would be very frustrating for anyone who purchased from them and who now has an issue with their solar system with no one will honour the warranty. This is a good reason to buy the best solar panels and inverters, which we discuss further below, but also a reason to be a little wary of the most prominent and fastest-growing companies. Steady or slow-growing solar businesses, or local electrical businesses that were around before solar, are generally, in our opinion, more likely to last longer than some of the big, fast-growing companies that popped up recently.
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Get multiple quotes and ask lots of questions.
The reality is that there are a lot of salespeople and companies out there that do a great job of getting you locked into a purchase before you have a chance to think. A number of them may be reputable, upstanding solar companies with really good intentions to do high-quality installs, sell the best products, and be around for decades to come. However, jumping in and buying from the first company you get a quote from reduces your chances of getting the best quality and best-priced solar system.
That’s why we recommend getting quotes from a few different companies because it at least gives you something to tell any pushy salesperson, bides you time, and allows you to compare the humans you are dealing with. It is not about bidding them down to the lowest price (in fact, if they are willing to pass up your business rather than dropping their price, that is probably a good sign). The process of getting quotes should not be passive, and you should ask the salesperson everything you do not fully understand and see if they have good answers for you. Follow up with them after they leave, and see how easy it is to contact them (remember, this is what you’ll need to do if anything goes wrong with your system).
Questions you might want to ask:
Are you (the salesperson) an accredited solar designer? If not, who will design the system?
Who will do the install, and are they an accredited installer? Do they work for the same company as you, or are they a subcontractor?
Who would I call if there was an issue with the system after installation or in 5 years? What if the business is no longer operating?
How long has the company been operating?
If I were to go ahead, when would the installation take place?
How much electricity will my system generate on average per day?
Are there any significant factors that will reduce the electricity output for my system (derating)? (Things like shading and roof direction can significantly reduce the output, and a good solar company should be very upfront about that.)
Take your time; don’t rush into buying solar.
Before getting any quotes, take your time to read through this guide and find out enough information to have a rough idea of what solar system you want to buy.
After getting any quotes, do not feel pressured into purchasing from age-old sales tactics like “this price is for 24 hours only”, etcetera. Prices do not fluctuate that much, and as discussed above, you will save more money in the long run by buying the right system than by getting a bargain. Make sure to feel 100% comfortable with the company and quoted system before purchasing.
Try your local electrician.
In Australia, solar installers need to be qualified electricians. That does not mean that all electricians are qualified solar installers. However, if you know a local electrician you have used before and trust, you should ask them if they install solar. They might install solar themselves, or otherwise, they are likely to know someone else who does. As discussed above, a local electrical business may be your best chance of buying from a company that outlasts your solar system.
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